US OPEN

September 7, 2004

Tomas Berdych

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, today it was not really good, not really good my match because I was little bit tired after long three matches before and little bit feel something bad in my neck from air condition. So I was very tired on court. But in the first set I had a lot of chances. I had 6-3 in the tiebreak. I miss one easy forehand to the net, so that was the key of, I think, all match.

TOMAS BERDYCH: No, no, no, no. I am 19.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, couple days. So I was last year, last year junior, but this year I am first year only in men's.

TOMAS BERDYCH: How beat him?

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yes.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, of course. Tommy play very, very good match today. But, again, in the first set, it was up and down. I lost my serve. I break him. I break him one more. I lost my serve. And in the tiebreak I had 6-3 and I think that that was the point of the all match. Because if you make the first set, you know, your confidence is higher and you are one set up. So then I lost the first set, and I think that that was a change. Everything change.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, of course after each match you have a lot of experience any way - if you won the match or if you lost the match. So I think today I lost. It's not so good. But I think the result in this tournament is perfect. I was in fourth round. So I think it's very good for me. I am only 19 years old, so we will see what will be next.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, little bit tired. But I think more tired, I was like sinking on the court, not so good concentrate on the court.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Mentally, yeah.

TOMAS BERDYCH: I think Rafael Nadal. He's like 49, around 50, yeah. But he lost here second round, Andy Roddick. But he is one year -- he is 18 only this year, so one year younger than me. I don't know. There is few guys who is two years older, like Verdasco, Andreev. But same age...

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, Ancic is just one year older than me. Mayer also is two years older. But there is a lot, but they are two years older. So maybe after two years we will see.

TOMAS BERDYCH: No, no.

TOMAS BERDYCH: No, no, nobody.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Nobody. I'm trying to be myself and that's all.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, I remember, but I haven't seen him any time on the court because I was very young, so... I was starting to play. Okay, I know now who was Ivan Lendl, but not when he was playing.

TOMAS BERDYCH: No, no.

TOMAS BERDYCH: I think this September is the third, yeah, third year.

TOMAS BERDYCH: I think I start with one coach in my city where I born, so maybe he, because he start with me from the beginning. So that's really tough work with a small, small child to make this work. And then I play two years with one coach in Prostejov, when I come when I was 12 years young. Then I meet Navratil.

TOMAS BERDYCH: No, no, no, I don't think. I think he is very good person because he is little bit good with the Czechs because he had a Czech physio. His girlfriend is from Slovak or Czech, so he's fine with the Czechs. So that's the sport, and if he lost one time, what he say? So nothing special about if I saw him, say "hi," and "how are you," nothing special.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, I watch. Not all, but I saw the four goals.

TOMAS BERDYCH: No, no.

TOMAS BERDYCH: You mean like -- nothing like professional. I play hockey, but just for fun, and also like football and all these sports. But not when I was young, I wasn't playing hockey and tennis. I was, you know, thinking which sport. But only I start with tennis and playing till now.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Just tennis, at five years.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, five years.

TOMAS BERDYCH: No, I wasn't playing the sports, other sports, like for professional. I start with tennis, and tennis, just play hockey for fun. Not some special.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Sometimes, yeah. Sometimes, yes. Because we have some friendly challenge in Czech Republic after tennis seasons and all Czech players came to one city and we are playing hockey and football. But it's only one, two times in the year.

TOMAS BERDYCH: It's every time change.

TOMAS BERDYCH: No, no, no.

TOMAS BERDYCH: Yeah, Novak plays goalie, yeah (smiling).