ATP TOUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

November 16, 1992

Boris Becker

BORIS BECKER: Yes, during the summer I had had a lull.

BORIS BECKER: Just because I worked hard since July. I didn't play in Rome. At the time of Wimbledon, I didn't play as was expected. The season didn't start that good for me, but I am back in form which I had the past years.

BORIS BECKER: I can't say when I was as good as now.

BORIS BECKER: No, it has been awhile that I have been playing this way. This is a tournament against the best players. I don't think that I can play better than this. It is a fast court. All players play well, just look at the number eight.

BORIS BECKER: And probably he is the only one of whom it is expected to beat me. The last time we played each other, he beat me. I think that this is the best start for me. I have a chance to win.

BORIS BECKER: I will try, but I usually only speak now loud when I am angry, but I am not angry at the moment.

BORIS BECKER: Just because I took a break. Since 1988, I haven't done anything else, but aim for a goal. I played tennis and played tennis and played tennis. In January 1991, I reached the goal. I was the number one; then I was the number one again. I would have liked to take the time and to enjoy my success, but it was within the season. In the long run, it is important that you take a break. I plan to play until I am 30, but, in between, I have to take my time. I have to take it easy, but I had a lull. I wanted to enjoy that what I achieved from time to time.

BORIS BECKER: I am basically -- this is a tennis tournament, so we should talk about tennis. Your question doesn't fit in. I don't want to talk about that now. Sometimes I talk about these topics, but not during a tournament.

BORIS BECKER: Take Jimmy Connors, he always said that he will stop playing. Now he is 40, and he is still playing. Of course, I want to win sometimes when I play the best player, but I will decide when the time has come, then I will ask myself this question.

BORIS BECKER: I like playing indoors. It doesn't matter if it is spring or autumn. I have eight days ahead of me. I want to play my best tennis.

BORIS BECKER: I am tired. I have played 18 or 19 tournaments in a row in the past six months, but we are all tired. I hope that it is going to be a good tournament; that I will get through.

BORIS BECKER: I have been ill from Monday to Wednesday. There was a misunderstanding in Rome. I called in order to tell them that I am ill, but because it was only one day before, I had to participate, so I went. I played against Stefan, and the next day I wasn't feeling well. I went home and relaxed. That is all -- that is it.

BORIS BECKER: Maybe to win a Grand Slam tournament and, furthermore, it sounds better if you say that you won Wimbledon five times than three times.

BORIS BECKER: I haven't won a tournament on every surface yet, but my career is far from being over. When one is good enough to reach the finals, one is good enough to win the finals.

BORIS BECKER: I am talking about my own profession. There are good and bad sides to it. It is only that I am wondering that it gets more and more every year while it gets less in other professions. Munich, for instance, the prize money is $2 million.

BORIS BECKER: Yes. It is too much. For the players it is good, we earn our living with it. For us it is better to have high prize money than low.

BORIS BECKER: It is a good trainer. He knows a lot about tennis. He could help me.

BORIS BECKER: No. I don't want to characterize him and I don't want to talk about our type of training, methods of training. That is our business.

BORIS BECKER: No. I knew him before. I have known him for five years.

BORIS BECKER: Yes. That is right, seven weeks, since Basel. I won that tournament, but I wouldn't say that it was, thanks to Gunther that I won that tournament. Bercy, maybe, was thanks to him.

BORIS BECKER: We will see in May.

BORIS BECKER: He is wrong.

BORIS BECKER: There is always influence from outside. Through the coach, for instance. Since I won Wimbledon at the age of 17 a lot has changed. I have been the number one. I have needed a break. That time is over now. I have shown the world and myself that I can make it. I enjoy tennis again. I am 25 and I have good years ahead of me. The age is not a problem. I am eager to play tennis. I have shown that in the past months. I have worked very hard.

BORIS BECKER: Sometimes one wants to earn the fruits of the hard work. I have been training very good for the past month.

BORIS BECKER: There are only hard opponents here at Frankfurt. I wish I could say that there was somebody here who should not play -- who is not good enough to play here. The pressure to play against Sampras is not that high as if I would have to play against Korda at the beginning. I think the pressure is on Sampras's side.

BORIS BECKER: I don't mind. It has been like that all the years except for '91. It is nothing new to me.

BORIS BECKER: It is the optimum to win here. I am looking forward to play tomorrow and then I will see. Everything step by step.

BORIS BECKER: It is hard to play here. The pressure is strong. The expectation -- they expect me to win. But that inspires me. I hope that the whole hall supports me. I can play better then.

BORIS BECKER: That has been the same the past years. There have been good days here. I have met fans who came because of the tennis; not because of the caviar. They supported me. I hope that it is going to be the same this year. I am in good shape.

BORIS BECKER: It is an advantage. He is the number 3 of the world. He is the best first opponent for me.

BORIS BECKER: Yes.

BORIS BECKER: He is here for the first time. I am alone on the court, and it was also -- it was also me who decided to work hard again.

BORIS BECKER: Idiot. Good, that is his opinion, I think that there are eight strong players participating and Boris is one of them. I have a good chance to win.

BORIS BECKER: As I said, nobody. In Paris, for instance, it was the number 9 who won. That was me.

BORIS BECKER: As I said, the pressure is on Sampras' side.

BORIS BECKER: You mean the 299,700? If such a man says such a statement, it is an honor for me. I can't judge this. You should judge this. I try to -- I am a German, but I was in Bercy to play tennis.

BORIS BECKER: No. During a tournament I only talk about tennis. In my free time I talk about other topics which concern me or are interesting to me. I have been doing this for years. That is my way.

BORIS BECKER: Yes. Actually, it was a wonder that I played the tour.

BORIS BECKER: In 1991, I had had a high. This summer I had a lull. Now I am back in form. Last year I won in Sweden. The autumn is a good time to play tennis.

BORIS BECKER: I have always been known -- I have always known to deal with my body.

BORIS BECKER: My problem was always my footwork. When I am at -- I reach a ball it is no problem for me to play it good, but to get to the ball is the problem. Sometimes I just badly position myself with the ball. I don't have this problem any longer.

BORIS BECKER: It wonders me that success and failure are always brought into connection with others. In the past month I have set up a good team around me and my girlfriend is a part of that team, but also a good physiotherapist, a good doctor -- a good doctor, a good, good racket expert, etcetera.

BORIS BECKER: I don't know what I have to expect. I have never played in that part of the world. I have heard something about it, but I am going to -- I will see.

BORIS BECKER: Thanks.

BORIS BECKER: I don't know. You have to ask the other players when they are going to let me again, but also it depends on me as well.

BORIS BECKER: Yes, but already two years ago some players have changed. Krajicek should have worn the trousers of Lendl, but anyway, we have -- we got our clothing from one of the sponsors here.

BORIS BECKER: I want to play for quite awhile. Of course, with highs and lows.

BORIS BECKER: Not only in Paris. Also the other tournaments I have played a good level. I hope that this is going to be for some time. I am not planning to stop playing tennis on Monday.

BORIS BECKER: It is part of my profession. Since 1985 my life has changed. I have got used to it. I try to live with it.

BORIS BECKER: So you can see, I have reached something at least. I don't understand it, but money makes the world go round, as one says.

BORIS BECKER: I have planned to play some exhibitions. The problem is the date. I can't play that week.

BORIS BECKER: In respect of the prestige, the most important tournament for me are Paris, French Open, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, but you can't compare them. I don't want to rank them.

BORIS BECKER: In the past the prize money wasn't that high, but we still participated.

BORIS BECKER: Here it is that you have to give your best, that you have to go to your limits.

BORIS BECKER: Yes.

BORIS BECKER: The former U.S.S.R. has a strong team, very good players. We are lucky that it is no longer one country because otherwise there would be even stronger players. I hope that we are going to play good match in Moscow.

BORIS BECKER: I don't have this problem any longer. I have a good racket expert. Because of his know-how and his contacts, he managed to supply me with rackets.

BORIS BECKER: Yes.

BORIS BECKER: That I am one of the two players and the opponent -- I don't care who the opponent is.

BORIS BECKER: It was in New York before. New York has character and charm. But it has a meaning to me because it is at home. The audience is on my side. But they also put the pressure on me, but I am in good shape.

BORIS BECKER: I haven't been in Leimen for a very long time.

BORIS BECKER: There are some companies which I could never work with because they are not okay, out of reasons I won't mention now.

BORIS BECKER: I try to express my opinion in interviews. I think on the court, I think one shouldn't express his opinion on the court.

BORIS BECKER: I am not a speaker. Now and then I make comments, but I am not a spokesman and you can't put me me into -- with a particular group.

BORIS BECKER: Yes, because he always brings some glitter and glamour into a tennis tournament, but it is also good because last time I lost against him.

BORIS BECKER: You have to choose priorities. He needed a break.

BORIS BECKER: Jim Courier. He played the best this year. He would deserve it.

BORIS BECKER: Surely he doesn't have as much talent as a McEnroe, but he has enough talent. He has worked very hard. He has had his success. He dominated the tournament in Paris like no other player.

BORIS BECKER: No. If John McEnroe had played tennis everyday, he surely would not have been as good. Sometimes you have to have a break.