COMPAQ GRAND SLAM CUP

December 8, 1996

Boris Becker

BORIS BECKER: Considering the circumstances, playing against the best server in the game on a pretty quick court, that was as good as I could play today.

BORIS BECKER: I mean, that's never to be expected. You go in against Goran expecting the toughest match possible. Really from the first couple games on, I started to play excellent. I kept that level throughout the whole match. He had ups and downs. Whenever he had a downfall, I took the opportunity when they arised. On my behalf, you know, I played very consistent and very solid throughout the whole match. I didn't have any lapses of concentration or lapses of playing. You know, I kept my composure the whole time. That's why it seemed so easy.

BORIS BECKER: The reason why I had to practice with her was because I was the weakest from the boys and she was the strongest from the girls. That's why our trainer then had that idea, as a penalty sort of that I had to play with the best girl. When you're so little, a little boy, it's -- it means he's putting you down in a way. I mean, that's how we both started. We had the same coach. It was a very successful center, because even Anke Huber was coming from that coach, that tennis center. Yeah, many people have described it already. But, it's very strange. The reason to explain why from that little neighborhood, maybe it's got to be something in the air or something in the food we had when we were younger that two of the best players ever came from very close by.

BORIS BECKER: Grazie.

BORIS BECKER: I've gotten richer and the money doesn't seem so obscene anymore (laughter). Seriously, in the first two years, I didn't play what was because of a political reason. I was one of the founders of the ATP Tour, including Mats Wilander, Andre Agassi and a few more. When that tournament first came up, it was a muscle game from the ITF to show that their Tour is better or stronger or that they're more powerful altogether. That's why this tournament came. As one of the founders of the new ATP Tour, I felt obliged to stick with what I said then, that I'm going to support the ATP Tour, and I'm going to deny, because at those times I thought that the new Tour is going to be the best thing that could ever happen to tennis. Seven years later, we know that the current ATP Tour system has its faults, and there are a few things we have to improve. That's why I think all of the players who didn't support it then are much more supportive of the ITF. First of all, because it has the major tournaments, the Grand Slams, under the system. Plus, you know, the players have to sometimes pay the price that the ATP and the ITF don't get along as they should. We players are in between. It's our profession. That's how we earn our living. So, we have to find the best ways in both systems for us. That's why I'm playing here, because I realize that this tournament is very important for tennis, for Germany, and seven years ago I was living in Monte-Carlo, I had no relationship to Dr. Axel Meyer-Wolden. I'm living in Munich now and he's my lawyer. One of the reasons why I'm as well here. Starting out, it was a political issue for my behalf. The money - I've made a lot of money seven years ago, so to all bring it down to a simple statement that the money was obscene, could not be really true. Seven years ago I was already making millions.

BORIS BECKER: First of all, for this tournament, you have to qualify. You know, you have to play well.

BORIS BECKER: I hope so. I've done the last couple of years. If I have qualified, when I've qualified, I will play this tournament, of course.

BORIS BECKER: You know, as the times have shown, you have to improve each year, almost each month, because the competition is learning, players are going to read my game and I have to find new ways to surprise them. That's the case in the last few tournaments I've played. That's the case with the new year. Australian Open is a new ball game. I'm going to be there as the defending champion. Everybody is going to hunt me. I've managed before, you know, to step up when the pressure was the most. Hopefully I can do it again.

BORIS BECKER: Nice country, I've been to.

BORIS BECKER: Thank you.

BORIS BECKER: For me he's the best server ever. We have to look in the record books, if ever, anybody served as many aces as he's done this year. I mean, he served yesterday over 40 aces. I don't remember, maybe one name comes to mind, John Feaver, at Wimbledon. Goran is doing it day in, day out, first and second serve. Today we guess his legs were not as fresh as mine. He had a tough five-setter yesterday. If you look over the year, against anybody, Pete, Chang, myself, when he has a good day, you cannot break him. You have to get lucky in a tiebreaker or that he's going to get a bad call on one of his serves to be able to break him. Unfortunately it's mainly because of him that people started to talk about the game was too fast. You know, he's just such an amazing talent that he's able to serve like that. The majority of the players don't have that kind of serve. You know, whenever he comes far in a tournament, the question comes back, the game of tennis is only serve these days anymore. Last week in Hannover, he was not in the final. We've seen Pete and Boris play there. There was never talk of the game is too fast. Still you had two good servers in that game. Talking about him, it's a talent he has. You know, it's not easy to serve that well. He's able to do it now for many years.

BORIS BECKER: You know, I think we have a very good No. 1, and I would not put me above that, because he's proven himself for the last four years that he's there for good. I'm not far behind. For the few tournaments I've played, I've managed to beat him a few times. I've beaten the likes of Chang, Kafelnikov, Ivanisevic, all the ones who were ahead of me. I think whoever, you know, is going to be ranked No. 2 or 3 is not that important after all, you know. I think it matters who is No. 1, and that's Pete Sampras. The rest doesn't really matter.

BORIS BECKER: It's not going to be easy because it's three weeks until the next tournament. But it has been some very straining weeks and months. After all, the pressure was enormous, especially in September, the first indoor tournaments in October. The question as to whether I was going to find my shape and be able to be in the Championships and be able to play with the best of the world. I feel it's good I'm going to have a break now in order to recover, because that is what the body is asking for. And, I have strained myself a lot over the weeks. Nevertheless, it is, of course, a very good feeling to start the Christmas season knowing that you are at your highest point, pinnacle, you know what you can do that makes the holiday easier. It should be the same in football. If you know that you are the first for the winter break, it's better than knowing you are the second. I feel I'm the first for the first half of the year, the autumn season, this is alluding to the German soccer league, of course. I'm looking forward and hope I can get back to this level as soon as possible.

BORIS BECKER: Well, I think that the best players have a different Tour calendar compared to the average Tour player. I think that we are specializing on the major events which means that I am not going to take a major break until the Australian Open. I want to keep my physical fitness. My technique, I don't want to lose. I think it's the same with all the top players, those who will fight for the crown. Now, only we have to take our breaks, maybe a day in March or in months where there are no Grand Slam tournaments, no absolute top events. This is why this long season, I mean, for us, November is a very important month, ATP World Championship for seven years now, and the Grand Slam Cup following immediately after. These are top events for us. We would tailor our calendar accordingly and not take our break now, but, when we can feel -- without losing too many points or when tournaments are a bit less important. This is how every player has got to tailor-make his calendar. Thomas Muster is different. He plays from the beginning of April till the beginning of September. He has to win his points every week. Of course, during the six months, somebody like him would have to play. Boris Becker would have a different calendar and Michael Chang as well.

BORIS BECKER: Yes. You forgot one thing, there was a long illness before I was injured. Three months I couldn't play. I had a strong, very severe infection. I was suffering from fever every day. I lost kilos and kilos. I couldn't practice. I started at April at square one. You didn't write a lot about it, but I have been only able to play 10 or 11 tournaments 100 percent fit and I won five. I wouldn't want to start dreaming, what if I had the chance to play more tournaments fit, healthy, Wimbledon, US Open, Paris. Whenever I was fit - and this not only goes for indoors, Melbourne is played outdoors, Queen's - whenever I was fit, I played some major tennis. My main objective is to be fit more frequently next year.

BORIS BECKER: I was talking about my career. I was most severely injured for three months. I couldn't hold a racquet. You start thinking about, "Will I ever be able to play tennis again well?" Or was it: These are thoughts and fears that you suffer from? This is why the pressure was as it never was before in my career. I'm not too bad every time I know I'm physically fit, in good shape. One day I'm going to come back and get back to a top level. This, I know from experience. This is why this pressure is relatively insignificant compared to physical problems, which is part of our business, isn't it? We have to show top performances every week. After so many years, I think it's fair to say that I do handle this pressure not too badly, don't I? Whenever I'm fit and I've got training week possibilities, my shape would normally not leave me. What really matters for an athlete is that the body comes along. I hope with this respect a bit more good luck next year.

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