ATP TOUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

November 14, 1997

Jonas Bjorkman

Q. That was kind of a nice Davis Cup warm-up for you.

JONAS BJORKMAN: Definitely, definitely (laughter).

JONAS BJORKMAN: The positions?

JONAS BJORKMAN: Well, since I beat Bruguera yesterday and Kafelnikov did his job, I saw this opportunity to just go in and have this win or lose match against Michael. But I definitely felt that I've been playing really good the last couple of weeks; I've been improving a lot since we played last time. I just really felt that I really have a big chance. Just when I woke up today, I had so much energy, all the way up till the match started. Then finally when I got onto the court, I just came in a good start, played aggressive, played some really good tennis, I think. In this kind of big match, I don't think I played better before, in this type of match, with so much things around me, and how important it is. So I think first it was just top tennis, and then second set was still good, but he managed to come back and play a little bit better. I just felt -- still felt strong, even if he broke me back. Just to finish the match out was the best feeling I had so far in my career.

JONAS BJORKMAN: Yeah. The atmosphere here, everything around it. With the way I played, I'm just extremely happy about it.

JONAS BJORKMAN: Well, I can't show it more (laughter). I mean, this is the best I had so far in my life. I can't find words how happy I am. I mean, I was coming here as a newcomer. I knew it was going to be hard to be playing against the top eight guys. In the same time, I felt if I played well, if I could keep up the tennis I played the last couple of weeks, I have a good chance.

JONAS BJORKMAN: Why are you asking me? I don't know (laughter). Have you seen anything different on the court? No, I think I didn't have any pressure at all when I went -- when I started this year. I was more happy to stay healthy because I have a problem with my right knee. I was just hoping to be healthy and try to do the better year than I have the last year. Didn't put up any big goals; just normal, easy. And I mean, I think, all of the work I've done in the past year is paying off a little bit. Then I think mentally I've been improving a lot as a person, both on the court and outside the court. I think that helped me a lot. Even my first title helped me mentally to improve this year.

JONAS BJORKMAN: Well, it's just going to be so much fun going in tomorrow. It's 1-6, so it doesn't look good. But we played some good matches this year. I beat him once this year on grass, and then I lost the other three matches. But it's been much better matches. It's been quite tight matches. I think I've come to him closer than I've been before. He's having all the pressure. I'm just going in as a big underdog. But I'm going to fight all the way and see how long I can make it. I'm going to try everything I can.