COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 7, 1994

Sergi Bruguera

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, I think I was not -- I know it was very difficult year for me when I started the season because I have to defend a lot of things, the Grand Slam, for sure, and maybe I was a little bit surprised to win the title again because it was very difficult. I was very proud. I think it was maybe I was happy; a little bit surprised how well I did in the indoor tournaments and hard court also and even grass, and that makes me confident for the next year to play on these surfaces.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, I don't know. I think the people learn during the years and I think that maybe is the experience that everybody is talking that always when you get the experience, it is very important. I think maybe it is true, when you see a lot of things and you make a lot of mistakes and finally you realize why you are losing these matches or what you are making wrong, and you see it and then you can change it. And I think it takes awhile. Maybe they see -- they say what you are doing wrong, "this, this, this," but if you don't see, it is very difficult to change it. Maybe with the time I change it and well, I am listening to my father and I think he knows a lot in everything and I think finally I am seeing more what he is saying and I am trying to change it and I think it is a biggest step for me. Maybe that is the maturing that you say.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Yeah.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Yeah.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, I think he is doing maybe everything, like first he is father; then coach and also as a friend. He knows me very well. We have very good relation, and sometimes when I make the change like young boy to more man, it was hard time and we have difficult time like everybody, you know, father and son, they are very close and -- but I think we talk a lot about these problems. I think, for me, he is very important for me because I have 100% confidence in what he is saying to me in every sense and I know that he wants the best for me. He is always thinking and listening; talking with -- trying to learn everything for to teach me and be better in everything and I think he is very important in my career, my father.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, that you have to talk with my physical preparer. I have been with him since I was, I think, maybe 14, 15, like this. I think he is really good. He is very good and I am working a lot in gym. That is, I think, for me always I thought was very important physical condition and that is why maybe I work hard in that part and maybe that is why that I have the condition and I am very fast and also everyone has something with the muscles or everything that if you work more -- sometimes you have one characteristic; somebody is very powerful and is very powerful naturally, and I think I am fast naturally, but also I work on it.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, I think now I realized that I can play really well on all the surface. I play -- indoor is the most difficult court. I play semis in Milan; that I lost in three sets, very close, to Korda and semis in Stuttgart, fastest court, semis there, three sets, very close that I could win and then I played quarters in Stockholm; semis in Bercy and semis in the IBM/ATP and big tournaments winning good players, when sometimes maybe you play good tournament you think, well, it was my way, but when you are more consistent and playing that way and always very close matches, that maybe it is experience at that moment makes the difference and I think with the years maybe I can -- I am going to try to play at the same level on clay or indoors.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, I think I still have to improve a little bit on the other surface. I was -- well, I am 3, I was 3 almost all the last part of the year and if I would beat Andre in the semis in Bercy, I would be No. 2, so No. 1 is next just one step. But I think Pete was very good this year and I think nobody can take the No. 1 in the future. Maybe I think I can do it when you are No. 3, it is just two players ahead of you, so why not?

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, it is because I try to play a lot of tournaments in the past in indoors and hard court and well, I think it is the only way maybe to improve for us when you play in Spain because there is no indoor courts for practice and I think the only way is, you know, go to the tournaments and practice hard and when you play on clay, you normally win a lot of matches and then suddenly with people that you should win easy; then you are having trouble or you lose; then it is tough for the players, but you don't have to think about this and try to play to keep playing and when you are in the tournament practice hard and watching matches see how good players they do it and try to learn what is the tactics or tricks that --

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, yes, I am trying to adjust my game and trying to do the shots or the things that are more in these courts because, for example, maybe topspin that is the most painful shot in clay; here it is nothing. They bounce a little medium. It is no effect; then you can hit -- topspin is not that -- you have to change a little bit on this court.

SERGI BRUGUERA: I think -- I didn't improve like huge difference in nothing, but I think I improve a little bit everything myself. I am more consistent with myself. My volley, I improve it and I think my baseline game on these courts, I improve, to receive the ball because coming very fast; with the clay, you have very long shots and it is difficult to adjust a little bit again.

SERGI BRUGUERA: In Wimbledon, I cannot do it. Agassi is unbelievable. I think he is the only one that can do it, but I think nobody else can do.

SERGI BRUGUERA: No, but in Wimbledon, yes, you have to serve and volley for me.

SERGI BRUGUERA: That is what I did. Serve and volley first and second.