US OPEN

September 8, 1999

Richard Krajicek

USTA: Questions for Richard.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: It's not too bad, except for the first set. That's really was a little bit my own fault. 5-4, serving for the set, I was pretty much in control. Yeah, the other sets I think I played pretty good tennis. It was very close, obviously. Fifth set, I say Yevgeny really picked up his game, served very well. I broke him four times in the previous two sets. Yeah, he really recovered pretty good from that, actually. Except for the first set, I should have won it. There were some close points and it was just a shame what happened after that.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: The crowd was good, really into it. It's a nice stadium to play. They're a little bit closer to the court than on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. It was a very good atmosphere. Even though it wasn't full, we had the feeling it was pretty full. I think they got their money's worth. Very interesting match, especially the last set.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: Doesn't happen too often. It was pretty obvious. I broke him more times. I basically did everything more. He just played I think two better tiebreakers. First set he played much better, of course, 7-0. The first set I think he also played a little better. The second set I had my chances. Yeah, I could have maybe -- maybe I could have or should have won the second set tiebreaker. Yeah, he just played well, and I missed especially second point in the breaker in the fifth, missed a relatively easy backhand volley. I gave him 3-Love straightaway. That was, of course, an easy position to play from. He was always ahead in the breaker from there.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: I don't know. Do I get semifinals for that in next Grand Slam (laughter)? No, I'd rather hit how many he hit, 15 or something, and be in the semis. Yeah, I was serving pretty good. He made me serve good. He was punishing, especially in the end, really punishing my second serve, even though I was serving pretty good. He's got a great return. I had to serve well obviously. With his return, only got broken once. I must have done something right.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: I don't know. Enough. I think a couple, for sure. The thing that happened is I play a really bad game in the first set. I think a lot of players would have broken me at 5-4 the way I played. I had two double-faults. I think he had one good return. I think I missed a volley or something like that. There was a big psychological key because I beat him the last three times. That would have been good. If I had one set, straightaway you would have thought like, "Here we go again," something like that. But then, yeah, in the -- actually in the second already I picked up my game. He played well. I don't know how many players, yeah, could have beaten me tonight. Yeah, I have to think for sure a couple. You have Andre and, I don't know, Pete. I was playing good tennis. I was serving big. Like I said, I mean, he only broke me once. That counts for something. It's half of the match is winning your serve. I broke him four times or five times, but only two sets.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: For a while I was interested in high ranking, which I had a bit of a sight for No. 1. At the moment, I'm just trying to play good tennis. I haven't done too much in a while. I'm very happy that after a couple of really bad months I played my best tennis in those couple of months here in the US Open. I don't try to focus too much on the Slams, but of course they're the most important tournaments in the year. I also found if I only think about the Slams, I put too much pressure on myself. Obviously I'd rather win a Slam than be highly ranked. Maybe No. 1 I like more than maybe winning a Slam now. I don't know about that. But anything besides No. 1, I think a Slam is much bigger, more important. Especially with next year's ranking, only the last week of the year counts, the rest of the weeks don't count anymore because it's like a race. Whoever wins the first tournament of the year is going to be No. 1 for one week, so on and so on. I think next year even tournaments are going to be more important, Super 9's, but especially the Grand Slams.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: Yeah, I think it's interesting. It brings out another part of the game. Actually, you have advantage. It's whoever is the fittest. It's just a little bit longer. But I think a tiebreak can be very interesting. He was 6-2 up. I saved three match points. I think, yeah, you can have nice drama in a short time. I'm not against it. I'm not for it. I mean, I like both ways. Something to say for both systems. I think it's pretty interesting. Today was for me bad because I lost already two tiebreakers. Things were not looking too good for me. But I don't think I can complain about that. It's fun and it's part of the US Open. I don't think they should change it. I don't think a lot of tournaments should go to tiebreaker, but I don't think the US Open should change. It's the way it is. I like it like that.