THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 17, 1994

Jim Grabb

JIM GRABB: I was just coming into the net and changed directions and came back and just a freak thing, my ankle rolled and I don't know exactly-- they called it a Grade-1 sprain. It is not too bad. Just didn't seem to get my movement back.

Q. Did you consider retiring at any point there?

JIM GRABB: Not really. You get to this point in a tournament and there is a lot on the line and anything can happen in a match. Actually I thought I just played-- I didn't have all the clubs in the bag, so to speak, but I missed a shot at whatever, at 3-4 -- I think it was 3-All actually where I got broke; then I almost got the break back. So you never know what happens and he could have rolled his ankle, so I wasn't going to quit.

Q. Did you have to change strategy or did you play pretty much the same game?

JIM GRABB: Well, I just couldn't serve and volley and I tried to dominate the points a little from the baseline. I think that made me impatient took me out of my rhythm a little bit. I don't know.

Q. How frustrating is it after you have been out for nine months and then you get a big shot in a big tournament; you are playing well; up a set and then something like this happens?

JIM GRABB: Well, it's pretty frustrating. I thought I was having my way with him and felt very, very comfortable at that point and so in that respect, it is very disappointing because I feel I had a very good chance to be in the semifinals and who knows what happens at that point in the tournament, but you know, there is a lot bigger problems to have and I had a much bigger problem a year ago and I anticipate at some point I will have a bigger problem in my life than a sprained ankle. Right now, it seems like a big deal, but with the proper perspective, it is not that big of a deal.

Q. I guess the other side is how encouraging is it after being out so long; you are in the quarters of a major event like and obviously playing pretty well?

JIM GRABB: Actually really felt like I hit the ball here well. I won some matches thus far this year, but these -- this tournament, I felt like I was hitting the ball with the center of the racket; playing good tennis and winning matches for that reason also-- and that is very encouraging. You have to get your rhythm back after such a long time and I suspect I might lose it again in the next few months. I think it is encouraging. I feel each week I am making small improvements. Hopefully this is just a minor setback and I can get it together again when I go to Asia and keep the process rolling forward, but it is definitely encouraging.

Q. Is it important to you - you have certainly established yourself as a great doubles player - to establish that same kind of notoriety in singles as well; which you are now doing?

JIM GRABB: Yeah, I think that everybody grows up and the first thing you do is play singles and I like both events. Singles is a little more special. You are out there fighting on your own and I love to keep my singles results improving and get those in line with my doubles results, but I would never give up the doubles. I have a lot of fun. I have had good fortune to be playing with real nice guys and guys that I have not only played good doubles with, but had a good time with, so I will never give that part of it up.

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