COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 7, 1997

Boris Becker

Q. Boris, what does Henman have to do to improve to win a really big one like a Wimbledon or even here?

BORIS BECKER: Well, he improved already a lot in the last year and a half. He came from nowhere to be ranked now in the Top 30. He apparently likes to play on a fast court, so, Wimbledon one day he may win. Not to put expectations too high for him. I think he needs to improve his backhand a little bit. He likes it when the ball is coming fast; not so much when the ball is coming slow, which don't make a big difference on a quick court, but on a slower court it makes a difference. Altogether you improve by playing. He's just two years on the circuit now, I suppose. He already came a long way, playing many tournaments, circumstances, different surfaces, you're going to improve. Who knows how far he's going to get. He's got a great first serve, which is important these days. I'm actually surprised why he's not coming in more. Often, if I make a quick return, he stays on the baseline, he often gets -- I catch him on his heel. He has to play a defensive shot because he has a good volley, a good hand. He likes to play with a lot of feel. I mean, all in all, he's a player with a good future.

BORIS BECKER: I haven't followed the ranking concerning the final in this tournament. Everybody knows he's my manager. He's going to be pleased for the first time that I am in the final. I think after all, you know, whoever is going to be my opponent tomorrow, a tough player, probably better than the last three I had, which is normal. In a final, you expect the toughest match of the tournament. I hope we can all see an exciting tennis match. You know, hopefully me coming out on top.

BORIS BECKER: I thought for the first set and a half, it really was a close battle. You know, he had a few chances on my serve, a few breakpoints. I had a few chances on his serve, but it was more or less even. I think the tiebreaker was an important part. I managed to get a set ahead. I had an early break in the second set. But, he came back and played for like two or three games in the middle of the second set his best tennis. He had a chance to go up 4-2 with his serve. I managed to get back. And, I think I've broken his will a little bit. From the moment he got broken to go down 5-3, he sort of didn't play the level he did before. Then the third set was very easy. You know, that's how often a best of five match goes. We had two tough sets, down two sets to love, everything going my way, so he sort of didn't play as good anymore, and I raised because my confidence was very high and I felt like I had a good chance of winning.

BORIS BECKER: Yeah, yeah, full. It was no holding back on my part. As I said before, he has a quick hand. He comes up with surprising shots sometimes. I really had to concentrate on my service games to at least stay even in the games. Let's hopefully take some advantage in the tiebreaker, which was my hope. That's what I did. He gave me a couple second serves. I took my opportunity when it arises. As I said, he surprised me by staying back so much, with such a good first and second serve. He ought to come in more on such a good surface.

BORIS BECKER: I can't put it in percentages, but, you know, all three factors play a major role in becoming one of the best tennis players. One doesn't go with the other. You know, you can be as strong-minded; if you don't have the strokes, you're not going to make it. It's a combination of things, you know. I think each of the Grand Slam winners, all the top players throughout the years, have those three ingredients. That's what makes it or breaks it.

BORIS BECKER: Family is not a problem for me, obviously.

BORIS BECKER: I think the Europeans don't like it. The Australians like it. The Europeans have to leave right after Christmas. The Australians are home. They don't have big travel ahead of them. I think that's why most Europeans don't like the date. Nevertheless, I played it over ten times. I've won a few times. Right now it's really not an issue in my mind. I'm here to concentrate, to win this tournament, which I've never done in my career. Whatever comes in '97 will come anyway. You know, it's the first couple days in December, and I'm not going to bother thinking about the future because I'm living right now.

BORIS BECKER: I'm going to have problems with my family first (laughter). Then I'm going to spend Christmas with them. Then I'm going to start the new year with Doha.

BORIS BECKER: I'd like to think it's more than just experience. I'd like to think my capabilities are just a bit bigger than his. Obviously, being in that situation for many years, you know, year in, year out, match in, match out, of course you sort of get a coolness about it. You know, sometimes are already two points ahead. As I explained to a colleague of yours before, it's all those three ingredients: your physical endurance, your willpower, and your technique which is going to make you or break you. It doesn't matter the score, because breakpoints may seem an important point, but often a match is decided on different moments. If you're a good player, you sense those moments and you want to make sure that you win those points. They're not necessarily always in the tiebreaker or on sort of a big point, a breakpoint, they're often way before.

BORIS BECKER: I think Tim has the possibilities of becoming a very good player. How good -- I'm not here to judge because I cannot see the future. But my favorite of all is Mark Philippoussis because he just has a few shots others don't have. I'm talking about his first serve, his pure strength. If he's learning to channel that in the right direction, just think about the point instead of the speed, he's going to be a much better player. You know, Tim is playing differently. Tim, of course, has to improve in a few areas, but he has a good coach. They obviously made good work the past couple of years. On the other hand, the ones who are on top are not going to roll over this easily. You know, it's still a struggle for the youngsters to come up and to stay in, not just play good one tournament or one month, but 12 month. You know, the likes of Sampras, Chang, even myself, are still there. We all would like to be there a little longer, too.

BORIS BECKER: To be honest, when I'm going on the court, I'm not thinking about that. You know, it's something which happens with my first Wimbledon. There were times then when I had trouble to cope with the whole situation. But that's now 12 years ago and I have ways of handling it well. I sometimes even find different answers for people's reactions. But, you know, for me it always comes down to what I really like. I truly like to play tennis. I like to travel around the world. You know, if there's pressure on my shoulders, I often happen to play better because it just means a bit more, I'm just going the extra step. Why that is, you got to ask my parents how they brought me up. It's something way back. I've learned to handle that situation now for 12 years, and it's just my second nature. I don't think about it when I go on the court. I'm trying to do -- trying to be a very good tennis player. That's all I have to worry about.

BORIS BECKER: Well, there was a lot of talking about this with my coach. Yesterday, Thursday, we saw the match against Washington. In fact, this is how today's match started. Yesterday practicing, this morning we have tried to analyze his strengths and weaknesses. Well, we made a strategy. How could I act against this? It seems to have worked all right.