GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 8, 1997

Sergi Bruguera

JOE LYNCH: First question for Sergi Bruguera, who was forced to retire in the third set with cramps in his left leg.

SERGI BRUGUERA: 2-All in the third.

SERGI BRUGUERA: No. I don't know suddenly I start to feel cramping everywhere, not just in my leg but everywhere. Suddenly. It was strange, I never had cramps in a long time and then -- I don't know why. I mean I was feeling very tired in the second set at the end, but then after in the third set, I was good. I mean was not feeling hot or tired in legs or whatever. I mean it was -- I don't know very stressful this week, because I had my problem with my neck here, and when I wake up Wednesday. And then I had, you know, very stressful day. I went and see the doctor from the Cincinnati Reds. He take care of me and he crack, you know, everything, because I have a big problem in the -- very high: C2 and C3, and help me out for to play, so I could play. Then Thursday again I went to see him and he crack me again and everything, he put back in. And maybe this cause me a lot of stress and a lot of tension, because, you know, I was very worry and wake up at 7:30 the morning Wednesday, and I play in the night and all of the day like this with a lot of tension. We make a lot of work, and maybe it was this because I was very sore. Maybe that's why, I don't know.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Long time ago, yeah. In the Hawaii I have to retire because it was the same. The doctor from over there they told me it was here, up here C2, C3, and they moved it and they have it put me in place.

SERGI BRUGUERA: I think we play a good match. I think I was very confident to win the match, because I was serving really well. I was holding my serve much more easy than him. And at the beginning of second set I had so many chances. At breakpoint at 1-All, and I had three breakpoints at 2-All. But I think I was serving really well. And I think he make a lot of good serve, because he win a lot of service points. Because when he was playing I was winning a lot of points. I think he was having a lot of trouble with his serve. And then at 4-3, he played a good game, because he serve two good shots and both times in deuce he play -- he made good return and then good passing shot. And then I got back deuce again, and he place a really good forehand. Maybe in the breakpoints I should go for something more.

SERGI BRUGUERA: I don't know. Because he needs more time, you know, when he's playing. I think he's not going to do very well with the serve with Pete, because when the point is on, he play very well. He's one of the greatest player. But for Pete's serve you have to be very special returning, you know. If Kafelnikov go two and two today, it's because, you know, he's playing great tennis, not only serve. And so I think -- always you have chance, but I think that Pete is going to win.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, I lost the game you know. I was concentrate a lot, because I mean I was not -- I think I was think was not try, because I mean I didn't lose time at all. I mean I just went to the net, because -- and I was sad because it was net and he won that and that point was important. Then I stop like three seconds, and then I went back, you know, all the way back to pickup the balls, nonstop, and then I went to service straight. I mean I didn't lose even one second. And then he put me the warning. You know, I'm not going to go running to pick the balls. I mean I was very fast from the serve, because I finish the point right at the net. And I went walking, take the push and go straight. Didn't turn around or didn't lose time at all. I just went straight. So I don't know why he put me the warning. That's what he was saying, I walk too slow. To teach me how to work, to play tennis.

SERGI BRUGUERA: Well, I lost the game because I was going to -- I made one easy mistake, and then I made one double fault. That's for sure bother me, but I came back. I recover afterwards. I came back. And the problem was another thing.

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