DAVIS CUP SEMIFINALS: SWEDEN v USA

September 23, 1995

Jonas Bjorkman

Stefan Edberg

Carl-Axe Hageskog

CAPTAIN HAGESKOG: It would have been better with 3-0, but we are going home to watch television and watch another doubles watches, we see once more and then it is 2-2. But it is good that the match is alive and we are going to try hard tomorrow.

STEFAN EDBERG: Yeah, I think both of us played pretty a good match today. I was happy to be on the court there and to play well. That helps a lot too, so we played with a team that we thought was the best for the week, so I feel good about myself.

STEFAN EDBERG: I think it is possible. The cold is much better. For me to have played yesterday would have been very difficult, but, you know, it is always easier when you play the match. But I am not sure how long I will last out there. Playing doubles is a different thing, it is not as tiring as playing singles.

STEFAN EDBERG: Legally, I don't think we can switch for tomorrow unless somebody gets injured, but Enqvist chances about beating Agassi, I think he has a fair chance if he gets to play his best tennis, he has a chance. We have Mats playing against Sampras; that is obviously a tougher match on paper, but once you are in the fifth match, may the best man win.

STEFAN EDBERG: We both played Todd and Jonath with different partners. We knew just about how they were playing today. I don't think they played much together before. And we knew from last match that Jonathan Stark sometimes can miss a few easy shots and I think he was the weaker of the two today and that is the way it is. I think we played well today, but they were just a little bit off maybe because we were playing well. We know that they are both serving well; maybe they are not moving as well as we are around the court and that is an advantage to us.

STEFAN EDBERG: I think both of them they are tall. They are big boys. They both got big serves and it is very good when the ball is at hip height. It is different when the ball is coming low to them and they are jumping for smashes, it a little bit different. If you can get them to move around the court, we have an advantage, but once they start hitting the ball and you give them time, they hit it so hard and it makes it very difficult.

STEFAN EDBERG: Americans have always been very supportive especially once things going very well, but a little bit quiet -- they never really got loud today, but once they go ahead they can be very, very noisy.

CAPTAIN HAGESKOG: No, if Pete is playing 100%, I think Mats has not big chances, but if there is a fifth match, you know, everything can happen. I know that Mats is very strong in these situations and, yeah...

J. BJORKMAN: To play with No. 1?

STEFAN EDBERG: Be nice to me now.

J. BJORKMAN: No, I mean, it helps a lot. Of course I don't have to be so worried, I mean, I have to just concentrate on my own game and I know that I am going to get a lot of help from him, so I just keep going. I don't feel any big difference, I think a lot of people is having a lot of experience when you play with these guys, but of course, Stefan has a little bit more.

CAPTAIN HAGESKOG: Yes, I think so. I think Agassi has the pressure on him and Thomas, he has made his first match in Davis Cup, so he can play more relaxed, so I think definitely.

CAPTAIN HAGESKOG: We have to call for a doctor and he has to examine Mats and then we have to talk to the referee and they have to decide if Mats can play or not and in that case, I can play with another player, for example, Jonas Bjorkman or Stefan Edberg.

J. BJORKMAN: Yeah, I think so. If I get the chance I probably will try my best.

CAPTAIN HAGESKOG: Same thing.

J. BJORKMAN: You are getting nervous whether we are going to change?

CAPTAIN HAGESKOG: If the doctor decides that it is dangerous if you play, then he can decide it is wiser to let another player play.

J. BJORKMAN: Stefan is a righthanded and Jan is lefthanded.

J. BJORKMAN: Of course we play a little different because normally we are playing with Jan, we talk more between the points, but that is like, you know, we started like that and we always been doing that and now you know, we don't have to talk so much, you know, Stefan have so much experience, you know, we push -- try to push it as hard as we can a few times and that is maybe the difference.