U.S. OPEN

September 8, 1992

Wayne Ferreira

Q. Wayne, what happened in the third set?

WAYNE FERREIRA: After I won the first two sets, got a little bit-- you know, tight, because I didn't want to miss too many balls and I didn't go for my shots. I kind of made him play. He got into it. He played a pretty good third set. I didn't go for as many balls as I should have.

Q. Was it because the first two were pretty easy for you?

WAYNE FERREIRA: No, I just wanted to get the match over with. I didn't want to start missing. Instead of carrying on hitting the ball the way I was, I kind of slowed down and took it too easy.

Q. Because it looked like you were following his style, his game, and he was sort of dictating the game in the third set?

WAYNE FERREIRA: Yeah, he was -- you know, first two sets I was hitting the ball well and putting a lot of pressure on him going for winners. In the third set I got a little bit scared because I didn't want to start losing the match and maybe I tightened up a little bit, got a little bit scared to hit the ball. Once you get in the groove and play his kind of tennis he is very difficult to beat.

Q. Do you have any problems with your serve?

WAYNE FERREIRA: Only problem is I am not getting as much percentage-- a high percentage as I like. But besides that, I am getting a lot, I am serving really well and pretty good. Just the percentage, I think, is something that I got to work on for the next few matches.

Q. Wayne, you have quietly slipped into the quarterfinals as one of the people-- not one of the celebrated people. How does it feel?

WAYNE FERREIRA: It feels great. I felt I could-- somebody here I have been playing really well this year; had a lot of good wins. I felt if I carried on playing the way I am, the way I was this year, I would have a good opportunity to be here. It has been nice for me, having to play all my matches on the outside courts, and not having all the media and everything around me, which has been very nice to know just to squeak into the court without anybody really knowing. It has been really relaxed for me, which is the way that I like it.

Q. Do you prefer being almost anonymous here?

WAYNE FERREIRA: Well, you know, sooner or later, once you get to the quarters and semis, you play on the bigger courts and that kind of thing. First few rounds, I think it is better for me to play on the outside because I concentrate a lot harder. There is not that much commotion going on; not that many things to distract you which I find it a lot easier to play in.

Q. How about your next match, Washington or Chang?

WAYNE FERREIRA: Both tough people to play against. They are both-- I have played both of them once before and I have had a real tough time against both. I am going to have to serve really well and return really well and just concentrate, you know, the whole match, not try and let them in if I am ahead.

Q. Do you think that your game is going better and better with every match because you start off very well?

WAYNE FERREIRA: I didn't start that well. I had a tough first rounds and very tough second and then my last match I played really well and today I played you know, really well. I am happy that I am getting better as the matches are going on. When the matches are getting tougher, I am playing a lot better against the tougher people, which is-- it is a boost for my confidence; makes it easier for me to go out there.

Q. Is it usually the way you play with tougher players, you have play better tennis?

WAYNE FERREIRA: Well, you know, I need to get the match practice, each match I play I start feeling a lot better and more confident then; obviously in the first few rounds you are not going to play as tougher guys as you would like now. In the quarters and semis, so, the first few matches were good confidence wise for me.

Q. Do you follow your political life in South Africa?

WAYNE FERREIRA: No, I don't. Not at all.

Q. Anything else? Thank you.

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