US OPEN

August 28, 2001

Jack Brasington

JACK BRASINGTON: I felt good. I mean, beginning, you know, I won the first two sets. I had a good game plan.

JACK BRASINGTON: Felt comfortable. My game plan, talking to the other guys, was just to go out and I was basically going after his forehand. His forehand, hits a flatter ball. I was trying to be aggressive and dictate. And so it worked out. I mean the first two sets I played well. I served well. Then the third set, I don't know, I kind of lost a little motivation. Wasn't dictating. I didn't keep going. I didn't keep at him.

JACK BRASINGTON: Never. I never played a five-set match. So, it was good to get through today and get the win but to know I can get through it. My fitness has always been good. I've always felt my fitness, that's one part of my game that I always work on. Because, yeah, definitely if you're not -- if you're tired out there, it's -- you're done. So that was neat, going to five sets today though. Especially here at the Open. It's been a -- it's been pretty unbelievable. I mean, as far as from the start. My qualifying, winning the third-set breaker. I mean, I could have been out of here in the first match in the quallies. Then it was good, I got that under my belt, the first match, the quallies, it's always an ice-breaker. Then I move on to my next couple matches and I finally settled in my third, my qualifying match against Agenor. Then today I felt settled in. But I don't know, it's something. Somebody likes me out there, I don't know. But it's just amazing. I mean, just kind of take -- you know, it's a great ride. I'm just keep -- I want to keep it running. So it's been good.

JACK BRASINGTON: I would have been like, "Yeah, all right." But I don't know, you always believe in yourself. That's one, you know, you tell yourself, "Keep going, you can do it." But it's pretty much, I don't know. It's just kind of -- just come along. You know, I haven't really -- it's just overwhelming I guess. I haven't really -- but it's something. I mean, I was always like, "You know, you can do this. You can quallie and win a couple rounds, maybe more." I guess it's one thing to think it and another to do it. I think this really helps me confidence-wise, knowing that I can do it. It makes you believe in yourself a little bit more. So that always helps.

JACK BRASINGTON: I got an IV and I was cramping a little, cramping up a little bit, but not bad. I think I really needed to eat some food. But IV kind of, that's my food. But I'm hungry for later. My appetite's good right now.

JACK BRASINGTON: Back at the hotel. I'll just order up, take it easy.

JACK BRASINGTON: At the UN Plaza.

JACK BRASINGTON: Oh, yeah, the whole time. Uh-huh.

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah. Well, it's a big mountain, I guess. In the beginning, that first match, just coming through and winning it, I think that helped me so much. Because I really didn't settle in to my matches until the second round. You know, I don't know. I was telling myself, "Settle in, don't worry, just take it as another tournament." But it was just really hard -- easy to say, hard to do. Just everything, the atmosphere, it's really hard to settle in and feel comfortable. Finally, it did. So...

JACK BRASINGTON: Oh, yeah. I don't know. I really try to just stay within the lines, you know, stay within the court and don't really look around too much and just kind of concentrate. You know, always focused, always concentrating.

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah.

JACK BRASINGTON: What happened? I don't know. You just kind of lose yourself there in the moment. I think it's good that I don't think too much out there sometimes. I'm just thinking where I want my shot, or reacting more so. I don't -- I mean, there are certain times when you're not in like a sudden death or like a critical position like I was in, you know, you get more time to think about it. But on points like that, when you're down, you're just -- I don't know how much you're really thinking. You're just trying to get the ball back and you're , I don't know, just trying to focus as much as you can and just giving it everything, you know.

JACK BRASINGTON: I've had a lot of close matches, and it's been funny how they just kind of roll my way, knock on wood, right? (Knocking on wood). It's been something. I've had a lot of close matches. I don't know, I just play within myself. I just -- I don't know. It's neat. It just comes my way. It's -- I was at a futures match in Atlanta. I played Jeff Morrison and we were in the third-set tiebreaker. I had matchpoints and he did, too. That was -- went my way. But it was something. It was really -- I remember that match well.

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah, definitely. I mean, that's the great thing about right now, coming through the futures and challengers. We got guys, you know, Americans, we have an American group - Morrison, Ginepri, Lavar Harper Griffith, Kendrick, Hawk. That's so neat because, like, you know, Morrison, I remember last month like he got to the final of two challengers, and it just boosts all the guys. You know, it's great that we have this group right now and we're coming through, and it's really great because we're moving together. It's just like, "God." One person does well, and we're like, "Yeah, we can do that." It kind of picks everybody else up. We got a kind of special group going, and that's really neat in a sense that when one guy's doing well, like right now I'm doing well and Ginepri's doing well, and like Morrison should feed off that or Kendrick or the other guys that are with us, you know. Because they're right there, too. And I think that's great. Kind of keeps everybody going.

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah, he's kind of made his way already, so.

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah, I don't know, college was always a great experience. Like when did I -- I don't understand. Your question again?

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah. I don't know. Like after high school and through even my first couple of years in college, I mean, I was good and I had some good matches, but I never really exploded out until maybe my senior year I got ranked seventh in the NCAA. And then I dropped to 27 my final ranking there. But I think it was more -- you know what really helped me, like stepping stones, is after I graduated last year in May I played a tournament in Mexico, I played three tournaments and a won a future in Cozumel, my last tournament of the three. That really helped. Then I went out and I played -- for a month there, I played in Missouri and Illinois. I didn't win a match for that whole month, for four weeks. I lost my first three weeks first round, then finally I lost second round. But I was like, "Gosh, what's going on?" And you just keep plugging away. Finally, I went out to California. There was a satellite there, and I won it. It was just like that helped. I think it's one of those stepping stones you take. Then this year playing in future tournaments, getting to the finals kind of helps you confidence-wise. Then I'm moving into the challengers. And I play -- I had great results in Lexington. I lost to Paul Goldstein, but I made it to the final. And it's like, "God, I'm right there. I can do this." I mean, yeah, you have hard matches, but you have more confidence instilled in you and you keep it going. You know you can do it. And so, I guess it wasn't until the end there that I started kind of working my way up the ranks and so...

JACK BRASINGTON: It's like I'm spoiled now. (Laughing). It's great. Especially working your way through satellites and futures - it's a grind. Guys, I mean you respect that, just working your way up and knowing that you go to these places during the futures and you get hardly any money. I think first round is $180. You get maybe -- you don't even get a point, I think, first round. You have to get to the second round to get one point. It's just a battle. I mean, guys are just -- you got to just keep fighting and get through that. Hopefully -- and the good thing with me is that I did get through that quickly. It took me about a year to get through that. And I'm finally up to the challengers. So, I mean...

JACK BRASINGTON: Corporate Communications, so I'm ready for you guys (laughing).

JACK BRASINGTON: Well, you know, I mean everybody has their own road. It was great for me. Just traveling with a bunch of guys, get my education, just the experience. I wouldn't, you know, look back and say, "Gosh, I should have done something different." Because the college life, the college experience, I met my girlfriend there, so hey, you know... But, no, I would never regret it. I mean, college was a great time for me. Good experience. You know, I think maybe it was a challenge for me to get the two things, my tennis and my schooling in. Because you can't excel so much in one thing. You have to pace yourself and do 50/50 or 60/40, you know. I think that helped me mature, you know. So...

JACK BRASINGTON: Exactly. That was my backup plan. You know, you believe in yourself but it's tough. You have some losses here and you're just like, "Do I want to keep going? I love tennis, but maybe I should, you know. Travel and, you know, it's rough with my girlfriend." I mean, "Would I rather just settle down and get a settle-down job?" Yeah, I had thoughts like that. Take in, maybe go to grad school. Definitely. Sorry, I lost myself.

JACK BRASINGTON: My first year I told myself, "Go through your first year, get the experience," because it takes, you know, getting used to. At least give yourself a year to get used to everything. My shot was -- I think it was three, three years. The first year, get used to everything. You know, get through the futures, satellites. Second year get up to the challengers. And then my third year, that's when I would know. Because they say, you know, can you break the Top 100? That's when you know. I think you can get close to that. If you break the Top 100, that's when you know you have it. So I was giving myself a three-year window there. So...

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah, it would be great. I'm ready for it. I respect his game. I've seen him. He won DC, Legg Mason last week. I know he's ready. I just -- but it's gonna be a good test. I'm gonna go out there and play within myself. I think I've gotten used to all the hype. You know, I'm past that. People talk and -- but I've been really good, you know. Okay, you know, I can listen to it and whatever and take whatever, what it's worth. But I don't get -- it's funny how people that aren't playing on the tour or they have -- I don't know. It's a lot of hype, you know, and I'm glad I've gotten through that. I've gotten used to it and I can handle it. But I'm excited. I'm real excited I got through today and I'm looking forward to seeing what he's gonna give me, you know. He's battling now. But, yeah, I'm ready. I feel good. I'm playing well. Just stay and play within myself and see what all goes.

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah, I'm in Virginia because my girlfriend, she's working -- she has a great job with Exxon Mobile. So she's doing great.

JACK BRASINGTON: It's great. I'm lucky that I can -- I found a place to train. She works out of Fairfax and I found a Four Seasons Tennis Club. That's where I train, Jim Shepherd (phonetic spelling) and Bob. Other guys, Barry Scholfield (phonetic spelling) who went to UVA and Octovio (phonetic spelling) who's working on his Masters now. Those guys have been great. I'm so lucky I found a place like that I can train at. Good guys, and they support me. They give me a good workout, you know. That's what I need. And that's great, you know.

JACK BRASINGTON: January.

JACK BRASINGTON: Yeah.