US OPEN

August 27, 2002

Gustavo Kuerten

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, for me was nice. I feel strong. As the match goes, I feel better on the court. Moving better. Well, was a great fight for me. Maybe I push a little bit higher for my confidence to the next match.

GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, I think like today wasn't to be a night match but it just took very long for us to go to the court. Guys like him, serving very well, it's not so easy to play. You know, wasn't getting too many balls to get my rhythm going. But as far as I get the lead, I think I start to play much better.

GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, I think for me, it will be a very important match. Maybe my motivation is gonna be high. I hope to be very enthusiastic and inspired in this day so I can, you know, play the same level as him and try to surprise him. For me, would be great.

GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, I think we know each other pretty well. Is like tough for one of us just overpower the other opponent. So, it's like, you know, a very hard match to play. The mind counts a lot, too. So it's gonna be probably decide by just a little bit.

GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yeah, I come to try to win a few matches. Like now it's -- I don't know if is good or bad. But just maybe it's the match of the tournament for me if I win against -- if I beat Safin right now. It's gonna be a big step up in my comeback. So it will be, yeah, the match of the tournament. I feel like I'm gonna be feeling perfect for the next year. So, as more match I can win this year, I'm gonna be, you know, more and more please about this.

GUSTAVO KUERTEN: Yes. I feel like it's much better now. I'm sure for next year it will be perfect, so I'm very happy about the way it's going.

GUSTAVO KUERTEN: I don't know the words, to -- (smiling). Maybe you can ask Diana here. She will explain in the sheet for you and give you the right words. But it's tough to tell when it comes to medicine. I'm bad about talking about things. Sorry (smiling).