US OPEN

August 30, 2000

Justin Gimelstob

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Justin.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, he played much better tonight. I don't think I played quite as well, he was definitely a little injured at Wimbledon. He played well. He was out there ready to play and I got off to a decent start but he was just playing too good. I couldn't -- I didn't hang with him, and he just played much too good for me tonight.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I think so. The court's playing really fast. The court's playing really fast, I think it suits his style. He seems eager and ready to play. I think he's had just enough matches this year, this summer, not too many, not too little, I think he's pretty eager. Good conditions for him.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, he's always pretty relaxed. He seems even more relaxed now. I think he's pretty secure with his place in history. I think now he's actually playing for fun.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, he's seeing the ball well. He's obviously serving well. He puts a lot of pressure on you with his athleticism. As I said, I couldn't hang with him tonight.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, I was just trying

to -- yeah. I was just trying to hang in there and have some chances. I mean I had double break point in the first game and actually for him, he hit a bad serve. I didn't take advantage of it. I think I shanked it into the third row. Only have a few chances like that. I wasn't serving well, he was on my serve, I wasn't putting the ball close enough to the lines and he was on me, all over me.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, I mean four aces. You know, he was putting the ball -- even when I felt like I was on the ball, it was just a little bit out of my reach. It was -- even when I was guessing right and I felt like I was there, it would just skid away a little bit or he just has great movement on the ball. He was moving the ball around well and placing it well and obviously hitting it hard. It was pretty impressive. You guys don't have anything else? I mean come on.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I guess they're trying to position themselves so when Pete decides to become a recluse in his place in LA, they have something to fall back on. I think if everyone knows he's eager to play, it's going to be Old Balls Please, or His Balls Please. (Laughter.)

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, I am disappointed. You know, I have to be fair to myself; I didn't have much preparation here. I hurt my back for the 1600th time, had to take ten days off after I started to play pretty well in LA. That's disappointing. I didn't have the preparation I felt like I needed. Not that it would have mattered tonight. But I felt like I was proud of myself I fought out a tough first round match and put myself in a position tonight to at least try and compete. The preparation wasn't there and he was just too good.

End of FastScripts….