EUROCARD OPEN

October 26, 1997

Richard Krajicek

Q. Is it possible that one shot can make such a big difference to a match, that backhand volley at the end of the first set seemed to change a lot?

RICHARD KRAJICEK: Well, I mean the whole first set I was serving okay, but serving good actually, but I wasn't timing the ball and then I am set point up and instead of making a play, I missed a return and I missed another return then I missed that volley. So, that was disappointing, but yeah, what was even worse was that I missed another volley on breakpoint first game in the second. Those two shots, I think, of the three shots, the one on set point that I missed the return, the backhand volley on set point down, and the forehand volley, those three shots really changed the match a lot, I think. And, I wasn't playing well, but, yeah, if you win the first set, then you maybe get into the match. But, I was really struggling with my game today. I didn't play a left-hander all week. I think that had a little bit to do with it. I wasn't reading his serve very well. I was having a tough time returning his second serve. I mean, I have played Pete and Boris and they have much bigger serves. But, yeah, somehow I had more trouble with a little bit slower lefty serve than with the faster right-hander server. So, that was, yeah, that was a big problem. Until 4-3 in the third, when I had the chance to go double breakpoint, I didn't have a chance. I didn't have a breakpoint. I didn't even have a chance to get to breakpoint. So, it was really -- I didn't put any pressure on him, his service games. That was also a big difference. But that doesn't matter if you win the first set, then things can change, momentum can change, the feeling can change.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: Oh, yeah. I know I can beat the big players still. I have a big game and especially indoors or on grass or even on hard court, clay, it is a little bit more difficult for me, but I think I still can beat anybody. And, after having such a good week beating Sampras and Becker, you should finish it off, and, I mean, that is a little bit disappointing part of this week that I didn't finish it off. I mean, I played Petr and he is a good player. He is playing well this week; still, I think I should have won today. Not that I had chances to win, but normally before the match, yeah, I really -- I expected to win.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: I had a little blood coming out of my nose. It wasn't really too bad, I just wanted him to come.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: No, no. It is dry there. The room is so dry, so, I think just came a little blood out so I just had him come over just in case it started to gush out and I might die because of lack of blood, so just in case. (laughs).

RICHARD KRAJICEK: Well, I think, with me, the problem lies maybe also somehow I have trouble with lefthanded players. I mean, I think of the four lefthanders I know Korda, Ivanisevic, Rusedski and Siemerink I only have winning record against Siemerink. All the other three, I am losing big-time - 2 and 5 against Korda, 2 and 8 against Goran, and, yeah, I don't know what it is. It is just - I just have a tough time. But, Korda, yeah, I have to - he has improved his serve a lot because normally you can attack his serve as I always. Somehow he was serving really big serves and he was sliding it all over the place, away from me, my body, and I really had a tough time adjusting. I was struggling with my timing anyway and the way he was serving made it a lot more difficult to get into my game. And, yeah, he just comes up with some big shots. I mean, he hit a few good passing shots and then he whacks a winner from the baseline and you cannot read it. I mean, his favorite shot is crosscourt. Then you are leaning crosscourt. Then suddenly he goes down the line. You just -- he is very difficult to play because he can hit a winner from any position. He is a very good front-runner and that is also a problem, of course, after I lost the first set that is why he started just playing better. Once he was in front, once he was a set up, he started making his forehand returns which is his weaker shot and he didn't make too many in the first set. Once he got a head, he starts playing better and better so it was very important for me to win that first set and, yeah, stay ahead of him even though I wasn't playing well. And, as long as he is not happy, he is not so dangerous as when he is winning.

RICHARD KRAJICEK: I didn't know they were doing that. But I think it is a good idea. I mean, the Spanish guys and Muster - I think those are the claycourters in the world, all the Spanish guys and Thomas Muster, and they have complained and I think they were right to complain that the whole year is grass, indoors, hard court and clay. So, you basically have two slower surfaces and two quick surfaces, so, you should try to find something in between. Yeah, I think with this court, it is much -- it is more fair to the guys who qualified because of the clay court results. And, I think still the best player will win. I mean, Sampras is the No. 1 player. He won it last year and he is also the best hard court player and I think the Spanish -- I don't think that the claycourters will do that much better because indoors is just a little bit different game, I think. But, I still think if it is only mentally for them, they have a feeling that they have a chance now because before I think when they came to Hannover they just had the feeling of the best 8. It is nice to participate and it was almost like the Olympics feeling, you know, just more important to participate than to win because they had the feeling they didn't have a chance. So, now, in a way, it creates equal chances. But, I still think that a serve and volleyer or a big server will win in Hannover.