ATP TOUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

November 15, 1993

Stefan Edberg

STEFAN EDBERG: 1993?

STEFAN EDBERG: Like I have said before, it hasn't been a great year for me. Obviously I am comparing it to the years in 1991, 92 which were fabulous years and this year, I have been in a Grand Slam final. I have won only one tournament and it still has been pretty consistent because I am still on the top in the world so things are not that bad. It could have been better.

STEFAN EDBERG: I am hoping to put my game together at the end of this year. I did play very well in Paris. I have been hitting the ball well last week. This week I am actually playing good tennis now. It is just a matter of continuing to work and do the things that I have done before and I think I could have a good year next year. I feel pretty relaxed about things now, and this year is sort of behind me now, soon after this week, and so I have nothing to worry about. I am on the tour ten years and I am actually going to try to enjoy next year more than I have enjoyed this year, because it has been tough just realizing that you have been slipping a little bit. So next year I can go out and feel a little bit more like an underdog, that sometimes is better.

STEFAN EDBERG: Major inspiration. I am looking forward to it.

STEFAN EDBERG: Not for me. It is good in a way because he deserves to be No. 1. There is no doubt about that, so may as well-- to me, it is still a good event. You have got 8 great players. To win it is a great thing which for me-- I like coming to this event. I can get to No. 4 if I have a good week, so it is something which I am looking forward to. Try to get up to No. 4. So --

STEFAN EDBERG: It is not a nightmare. I can't look at it in that way at all. I have had a great chance of winning it. I still give myself two more chances to realistically have a chance to win it. It is not impossible. It is very difficult but not impossible. Something for me to motivate myself, something to train for and I think at this stage in my career, I need to have the things to try to do well. That is one of the things. Basically have a chance to win. It is not impossible. It is very difficult. Might as well (inaudible) something for me to motivate myself. Something to train for and I think at this stage of my career I need to have things (inaudible) try to do well, compete for (inaudible) that is one of the things I work to--(inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: I don't think I have changed that much. I have changed a little. It is not for me to tell. I am just a very happy person; that is all I can say. That is what really is important to me. I mean, -- (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: The favorite year?

STEFAN EDBERG: Best chances here?

STEFAN EDBERG: I think there are a couple of names that I think can do well. Obviously Pete. Michael Stich, he has been playing very well in Germany this year, the home crowd, he has a chance (inaudible). Ivanisevic has been playing very well recently. So that is three names which I am looking -- they will do well here. It doesn't mean anyone else can win it. They still have chances.

STEFAN EDBERG: I will play doubles and probably the same way I have been playing this year (inaudible). I really enjoyed playing doubles this year for the first time in a long time. So I will play doubles next year as well. Not every where, but -- I will play with Korda, I think. We have had some good results together and he is good to play with.

STEFAN EDBERG: No, I think it is always comes to the stage in life I mean, he is not going to come (inaudible) sooner or later -- maybe if he is like losing. I can understand it. He has been -- to have a week off doing something totally different.

STEFAN EDBERG: I don't know what he is. I have no idea what he is doing. He will still be around.

STEFAN EDBERG: You have been hearing wrong things. That is all I can tell you. There is a lot of rumors, but it is not true. I do spend sometime down there. I still live in -- (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: When I will win it?

STEFAN EDBERG: I don't know any better than you. I always have a good chance of doing well at Wimbledon, playing on the grass. It could be next year. It could be the year after, who knows. It is something -- it is special to play Wimbledon.

STEFAN EDBERG: Yes. (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: No, I know I am the oldest one here. It is a good sign. I am still hanging in there. I don't know, maybe my ninth year in the Masters of the ATP Finals which is -- (inaudible) I don't feel like -- I just feel that I am part of the eight players here. That is the way I look at it.

STEFAN EDBERG: No, from my standard, no looking back the last couple of years, it hasn't been a great year. It hasn't been a bad year. It could have been a lot better than it has been.

STEFAN EDBERG: It is just that I haven't played well enough. I haven't played as well as I did the last three previous years. But I guess it is going to come sooner or later. You have three great years like I have-- you are going to have a setback sooner or later. It happened this year. It could have happened last year. There comes a time when things start to be a little bit tougher and it has been a little bit tougher this year. I am still looking forward to next year.

STEFAN EDBERG: (inaudible)

STEFAN EDBERG: It doesn't get easier, but I still have a lot of motivation to go out and work everyday. I still have a little bit left to do. At the moment it is really not a problem. It is tough every week to really get up and really, you know, want to be 100%.

STEFAN EDBERG: I am probably working harder now, which you have to do in order -- if I worked the same like ten years ago, it is impossible. In order to stay at the top, you have to work just a little bit harder each year in order to stay physically fit because you don't recover as quickly as you did when you were 17 or 18. Plus you cannot work as hard like you do today ten years ago because your body is not ready for it.

STEFAN EDBERG: It is a tough question. The other one -- looking at things (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: Pete Sampras is always tough to beat. Bruguera had a great year. He is probably not as good as an indoor player, as he is playing outdoors, but (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: Pete Sampras is the best player in the world, (inaudible), he has got a very, very strong serve. It is the same thing with Ivanisevic, he has got probably the greatest serve, (inaudible). Bruguera is more a player -- (inaudible). You are going to get into a few rallies at least. He is a very, very good counter-puncher and (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: Everybody keeps asking why. It comes a time where things get a little bit tougher because you cannot stay at (inaudible) rest of your life. This has been the year that it, for what reasons (inaudible), maybe it is just nature, but at the same time, it gives my more motivation to play next year and try to -- (inaudible). It will be nice to start the new year.

STEFAN EDBERG: I am doing my best. I wish -- (inaudible). At the moment I am hitting the ball well and I have been -- (inaudible). I play as well as I did in Paris, (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: I don't know, it is -- well, I have been around for a long time. (inaudible). This is good opportunity -- Frankfurt is -- it gets a lot of peoples' attention, (inaudible). It is a good opportunity (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: I have had a lot of sponsors throughout the years, (inaudible), you have to give something back to the sponsors. (inaudible) like to do things -- (inaudible). I don't know, it -- (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: It helps. It helps.

STEFAN EDBERG: I don't remember something about -- (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: I don't mind (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: I think tennis has done very well the last couple of years. Always going to have people (inaudible). At the same time you have more rules today that is preventing you to say things so you really must --

STEFAN EDBERG: The way I have looked at it, I would like to be the best tennis player in the world that I can be. I don't mind being -- I don't consider myself being a big (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: I think it is a good combination because golf gets you outside in the fresh air, you go and see (inaudible) trees. Don't really affect your tennis like if you were playing something like --

STEFAN EDBERG: No. I still can play good tennis. I mean, it is hard to explain. I am really happy at the moment. That is really what is important to me and I am playing good tennis, I think, as of now. It has been a little bit of a tough year. There has been some changes in my life; having the baby changes the way you look at things, but I think it is really good.

STEFAN EDBERG: Goran, he is a great talent. He is a very good player. He has probably the best serve in the game and there is only one thing that is important that is winning a Grand Slam. That is what he needs to do. He has really become a great player.

STEFAN EDBERG: I think he is in the right direction what he is doing now. He had a great year last year. He lost track of things a little bit but now he is playing good tennis again. (inaudible). Hasn't been the best year. It hasn't been a bad year. I am still No. 5 in the world. That is not so bad. It could have been better. I still have motivation to go out there and work. (inaudible) they bring tennis to a new level. Hitting the ball very hard. They are always going to try to improve things and the competition is as hard as it has always been. So tennis is progressing.

STEFAN EDBERG: My form is good at the moment. I started to see signs in Stockholm-- actually I played some good tennis against Michael, but I did lose, I played --I played well in Paris last week. I have been hitting the ball well this week and I am still hitting the ball well, so I would say my form is good as of today.

STEFAN EDBERG: I would name three players.

STEFAN EDBERG: Well, it is mostly what has happened this year and is the question I get asked most because it hasn't been a great year this year. I think it is coming back. I think I have pretty good chance of beating him indoors.

STEFAN EDBERG: I mean, it always comes a time when McEnroe wasn't here a couple of years and Lendl wasn't here. Obviously, Boris has been one of the biggest stars in the game I have seen quite sometime (inaudible). Obviously it is a pity he isn't here because -- I think he has been great for the game of tennis and he is obviously a great inspiration for people here in Germany who come and watch him play. But (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: Not the way he has been playing this year. He hasn't really produced that much, maybe three tournaments. Maybe he hasn't been able to focus as much this year like in the past. I can't really say why (inaudible) that is one of the things that you -- that is the same with everybody, if you are not fit enough you just (inaudible)that extra yard slower. That makes the difference. That makes the difference.

STEFAN EDBERG: I don't think anybody knows how much it is going to change their life. Some people, it changes a lot. Some people it doesn't change at all. (inaudible). Things are going to be different. That is for sure. We have spoken in between the two of us obviously we have got something in common, and something to talk about.

STEFAN EDBERG: I feel great. Happened to me, something that I wanted to happen, just -- I think this has been a good year (inaudible) for me. It has been (inaudible). It hasn't been great this year. Everybody knows that. Everybody is asking the question why and I think looking at things realistically (inaudible), in 1991, 92 No. 1, two years No. 2 sooner or later you are going to have a let-down. It did happen this year, but it could have happened next year as well. It did happen this year, the way I look at it now it is next year, it is going to be pretty interesting. I am looking forward to next year and it is something to look forward to have a better year than this. For me things are not really terribly (inaudible) haven't been playing very well this year. I have been playing well at times. You see the difference for me has been couple of inches here, couple of doublefaults there. It doesn't take much to get -- (inaudible) I am still 27. I am physically fit. Closest fit as they are -- (inaudible). That is the most important thing and I have been around and I know how to play the game. So it is not (inaudible) I am possible target.

STEFAN EDBERG: The best player today, yes.

STEFAN EDBERG: Definitely.

STEFAN EDBERG: (inaudible) is definitely the best player as of today he is very -- 2 Slams winning 6 other tournaments, there is no question he is No. 1 this year. He claimed the No. 1 spot last week. I think that is rely good because I wouldn't want to see any changes at the last minute being -- (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: Yeah.

STEFAN EDBERG: He is.

STEFAN EDBERG: He could-- well, I am sure he is going to have -- keeps his motivation, he could definitely have another 2, 3 unbelievable years. He has done it one year now. It is going to be tough next year. Because he is going to have excellent -- (inaudible) expectations on himself. Other people are going to expect him (inaudible) he is going to be (inaudible) I think mentally he is strong enough to have (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: That has been his (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: I think he is a little bit in the same situation. (inaudible). It is going to be really, really tough for (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: Because the way he plays. He is not going to get that many cheap points on the clay. He still can serve very well. He is going to have to work a lot harder for the points. It is a two week tournament and --

STEFAN EDBERG: He needs to have a good -- I nearly did it in eight (inaudible) and I wasn't --

STEFAN EDBERG: (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: Pretty much the same, I would say. It is still-- it is still a great event to come here and win it because it is very difficult. I say the only objection I have to it is if you look at the last three, four years, all the champions (inaudible) that is the problem what you have with a round robin. It is almost better to lose a match in the round robin because there is a better chance to win it because it is really, really tough to win five matches in a row here. That is I think -- (inaudible) what happened the last four years now.

STEFAN EDBERG: (inaudible) at the same time with a round robin you have a system where you can lose, you still have a chance to win. You can look at it both ways.

STEFAN EDBERG: Psychologist, I think it does help some people. (inaudible). I have never seen one. I don't think I really need to see one. I haven't thought about it too much. I know some people gain something.

STEFAN EDBERG: You can take a couple of months off maybe two, three months off.

STEFAN EDBERG: When he comes to win (inaudible) coming from Germany which (inaudible) can't really do anything without getting (inaudible) that is pretty tough. But I think Boris, he needs to get back to work. Maybe he is lacking a little bit on (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: There are some things under progress, maybe that is why. Like I said, you can never find a perfect system. You can find a system which is better than others. It has worked out pretty well. You just have to play with the system in place. I think that is what you have to play.

STEFAN EDBERG: I don't know. I can speak for myself. I mean, (inaudible) it is tough -- at the same time for me, it is an inspiration and depends which way you handle it too.

STEFAN EDBERG: If you think it is important, it is going to be a problem. If you don't think it is important, it is not going to be important because (inaudible) definitely don't make a big issue out of that. Some people make a -- (inaudible). I mean, it is something perfectly natural to happen.

STEFAN EDBERG: Not very disappointed, but I am disappointed because I am comparing with 1991, 92 which is in three great years, therefore, this year hasn't been (inaudible) I was still in the Grand Slam final this year. I have only won one tournament, but I have been pretty consistent. I have played some good tennis throughout the year. It has been one of those tough years to handle mentally, I think because things haven't really gone my way this year. I wouldn't say unlucky, but miss a volley here, miss a volley there, couple doublefaults. That has made a difference. Like I said, (inaudible) timing and confidence. My game really depends on how I serve. If I serve well, I play well. If I couldn't serve too well, (inaudible). It is tough to play guys like Sampras, Ivanisevic because if he is serving badly (inaudible)--

STEFAN EDBERG: Like I said, you can never find a perfect system. You just have to play with the current system. There is going to be a few questions here and there, and there are a few things in progress. There could be some changes (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: We all made suggestions something could happen very soon (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: Yeah, like I said, it could be better. (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: That would be the perfect scenario, but it is very difficult because you only got three, four grasscourt tournaments a year. (inaudible). Obviously that would be a perfect scenario, but it would be too complicated to put together. That would obviously be the best thing. If maybe you could have a ranking for -- (inaudible) could have a raking for each surface. The public does want ranking here, does not want ranking there (inaudible) it is just not going to work. (inaudible). You just look at the boxing (inaudible) tennis is an international sport. You have got one ranking.

STEFAN EDBERG: I mean, I would think it would.

STEFAN EDBERG: That is going to happen. Like I said, you can play. It is not really (inaudible). If you could come up with the perfect system, you don't need (inaudible).

STEFAN EDBERG: You definitely got a point. You can do whatever you want (inaudible) that is-- I think it is a very good idea putting it together at least in--

STEFAN EDBERG: I give you credit for that.

STEFAN EDBERG: He has had a great year. He proved he could win a Grand Slam this year by winning the French Open. I think he is-- like I said, he has had a great year. I think about tomorrow's match. I probably will have a benefit playing indoors because he has most of his -- clay court (inaudible) does play quite well indoors as well. I don't expect anything easy tomorrow. I think it may be a tough match.