TMS - INDIAN WELLS

March 18, 2000

Thomas Enqvist

GREG SHARKO: Thomas will be attempting to win his third career Tennis Masters Series title tomorrow. He's the first Swedish player to reach the final here since 1990. That was also the last time a Swede won, in 1990. First question please.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Oh, it's tough to say. Just after this kind of match, it's always tough to describe. It felt like I was also beating myself a little bit today. But I played a great match, I think. I played very, very well the whole match. I did a little bit too many errors when I was, you know, try to close it out. He was going for his shots in the tiebreak 6-1. I think he made like four aces. It was tough, but I'm very happy to pull this off.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Well, it's always tough, I think, after you screw up five match points. But you have a choice: either you go away in the locker room and give up, or you play the third set. I decided to play the third set.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I tried to go for my shots a little bit, like close it off. Sometime it work, sometime it doesn't. Yesterday I finish off with a Love game. Today I lost Love.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I mean, I played great the whole match. I stick to my game plan, I think, continuously. Nothing different. When you come down to a tiebreaker, you know it's just going to be a few points decide. Hopefully you come up with the big shots. I did that finally on that match point.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I did. I think I returned really well today. I was seeing the ball good. Usually, that's one of my strengths, I think, the return of serve. That worked good today.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Well, today I'm not the good person to ask (laughter). I mean, that's why you practicing all days. That's why you play, for to be able to play these kind of matches. It's an unbelievable feeling to be out there playing, especially today when I felt I was hitting the ball really well. It's a lot of fun. Of course, you get frustrated, like today. It's always tough when you're playing well, you can't really finish it off. Against a good player like Mark, sometimes you don't even have to do bad shots. He did some unbelievable shots in the tiebreak there. Like I said, I was really a bit lucky to pull this off, I think.

THOMAS ENQVIST: That was the other way around a little bit, because I was down like two sets to love. Pioline was serving for the match at 5-3 in the fifth. I mean, when me and Mark played last time in the Australian Open, I also served for the match, I think, and lost. He get back, and we play the five-setter. He never gives up. He fights a lot. He come up with big shots usually when he needs it.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I can't remember that. I think I was pretty happy only get that one. If I should have showed you what I felt out there, I probably would in jail (laughter).

THOMAS ENQVIST: Well, I always try to give a hundred percent as soon as I step on the court. I don't have to think about it. I never give up, play until the last point is finished. Today it worked.

THOMAS ENQVIST: It's always tough to say. Sometimes like the day after you feel nothing, you feel really good. Usually two days after you can be a little bit sore. Sometimes you get a little bit tired. We see how it feel in the morning.

THOMAS ENQVIST: It's going to be a different kind of tennis as today. Me and Mark play a little bit similar. We standing pretty close on the baseline, hits the ball hard. Alex is far back on the baseline and hits a lot of topspin on his ball. It's going to be a different match. I have to figure out a way to beat him.

THOMAS ENQVIST: We pretty used to it. I wouldn't say so. It depends. Of course, sometimes it suits you better than other players. We've been beating each other, me and Alex. I think both of us know that we have a good chance.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I mean, I've seen him play a lot of times. He's a very tough, good player. He do amazing shots sometimes. He's also much more consistent now than he was before. I don't know what he felt, but I felt like both of us were playing good.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I felt that way.