TMS - INDIAN WELLS

March 13, 2001

Mardy Fish

MODERATOR: Questions for Mardy. He has a doubles match in a short bit. First question.

MARDY FISH: That's not actually the first time that's happened. That happened against Enqvist last week. I knew that I had to hang in there because, you know, just keep taking care of my serve. I knew I would have chances to break him. Like I said, I just had to keep holding on to my serve and I would be in there.

MARDY FISH: Well, I mean, he does have an unbelievable serve. It's the best serve that I've ever faced. But I think that I have relatively good returns. I think I can make him play on a number of games - and I did that in the last game. I figured that if I just take care of my serve, I knew I would have some chances.

MARDY FISH: I mean, last week and this week can't compare to anything besides maybe Davis Cup practice partner was really fun, and then this. These three things by far are the top things I've ever done.

MARDY FISH: I've just been working really, really hard. I have new coach since the US Open last year, and it took a while for us to start to gel and start to get used to each other. Right now we're really working good together and we know what each other's thinking. He really helps me out, prepares me before each match. I think that's really helped me in the long run.

MARDY FISH: Brad Stein.

MARDY FISH: I mean, he said -- he has confidence in me. He knows that I can win a match like that. He just said, "Take care of your serve," which is a huge thing against a guy like that, with a guy like that's serve. If you lose serve, you really don't have a lot of opportunities to win the match. I took care of my serve, and everything went well.

MARDY FISH: Brad Stein.

MARDY FISH: Yeah, a lot. He has a lot of good stories at dinner. We talk about a lot of Courier. He used to coach Jonathan Stark, Woodruff, Medvedev. He has a lot of good stories. He knows so much, it's great that I'm with him because we work really well together.

MARDY FISH: I think that's awesome. I mean, just to be mentioned in the same breath with those guys, to be the next greats is unbelievable for me. It's all come up in a short period of time right now, but I think it's really cool that guys like Andre and Pete can mention us and things like that.

MARDY FISH: Yeah, I mean, but it's good pressure. It's a lot of fun to try to be the next Pete or Andre or Todd or Michael. All those guys are so good. There's a lot of weight to carry. I don't know if anyone can ever bring out a group like those guys did, especially Pete and Andre, because they won so many Grand Slams. I don't know if there will ever be a pack of Americans that can do that. But Taylor Dent, Andy, myself, James Blake, we'll try.

MARDY FISH: We are, yeah. It's good to have other guys coming up. If it was by yourself, it would be a lot tougher, because they are pushing you. Andy is ahead of the pack right now. He's done the best in the challenger level and the tour level. We're just trying to catch him. He set the bar really high, really quick. We're trying to catch up to him. But it's good. It's fun.

MARDY FISH: I don't know. I'd have to say I would have to be -- every guy is top 40 probably in that thing. I just cracked the top 200. I'm not really close to that right now. I think I have to crack the Top 50 at least before that.

MARDY FISH: Yeah. I mean, we know each other really well. We have a history, like a background away from tennis. We know each other really well away from tennis, more so than James and Taylor. But, yeah, it is good because we did grow up together kind of in the junior and senior year of high school. We hung out all the time, practiced all the time. Andy and I know more about each other than the rest of the guys.

MARDY FISH: Away from tennis, yeah.

MARDY FISH: I have to keep improving my forehand and my serve, just my strength, just keep winning matches like that. Winning matches like this does wonders for your confidence. Last week beating Enqvist and Chela in Scottsdale. Then coming here and having a win is great for my confidence, knowing that I can play with everyone.

MARDY FISH: Well, I've only been doing it for two weeks now, so I guess we'll see (laughter).

MARDY FISH: I'm still a heavy underdog. I think I play Nicolas Kiefer. He's a former Top 5 in the world not long ago. He's the favorite. But I kind of like the role of underdog. I like being the crowd favorite out there. It's so much fun to play out there in front of those people, have them cheering for you. I think that, like I said, like I did today, it's kind of a different match. Kiefer and Philippoussis play differently. I think I just have to keep taking care of my serve and I know I'll have chances to break, chances to win the match, I'm sure.

MARDY FISH: It's great. I played one match at the US Open against Gambill kind of like that where they were all on my side, so many people, just the atmosphere. It's unbelievable. It was a great day, sunny. Everyone's happy, I guess, I don't know. It was fun.

MARDY FISH: A little bit of both, yeah. I try to ask him a lot about the tennis because he knows so much. I've never been around anyone that knows that much about tennis, besides my dad. He helps me so much on the aspect of life and not just tennis, so he's great with that.

MARDY FISH: I am. They're helping out a great deal, financially and having coaches out there. They're doing a great job.

MARDY FISH: Yes.

MARDY FISH: Yeah. In '99, beginning of '99, Andy and I, we had the same coach.

MARDY FISH: Yeah. I mean, I've always wanted to be a pro tennis player. I've dreamed of winning Grand Slams, making lots of money, having nice cars, stuff like that. Hopefully, it can come true. I've just been riding. These past two weeks have been unbelievable, have been like - what would I say - how it will be at the Tour level hopefully. Hopefully I can keep going.

MARDY FISH: I don't know. I don't have a car. Take my mom's.

MARDY FISH: I don't know if it's against anyone. Maybe Pete or Andre. Pete at Wimbledon maybe. Beating Pete at Wimbledon would be the ultimate, I think, since he's won so many there.

MARDY FISH: 19.

MARDY FISH: I try to rest. I try to rest all the time. Just try to have fun. I mean, I'm missing so much. I'm missing like the college life. I try to have a lot of fun with what I'm doing. Brad and I have a great time like away from the court, we have so much fun together. So far I'm not really missing the college life. Sometimes when you're losing, it's tough. But right now it's good.

MARDY FISH: Well, I did a little bit. I always wanted to go to like UNC when I was younger, growing up, because I love Chapel Hill. I used to live in North Carolina a little bit. I think it was the French Open '99, Juniors, when I decided I was going to turn pro. I just finished my junior year of high school.

MARDY FISH: Well, I jumped into the Top 10 in the Juniors in the world like really quick, and then everyone -- like IMG, my agent is Tony Godsick, and he was looking after me from the French Open. He's great.

MARDY FISH: Maybe yes and no. I've had a lot of experience now in the past few weeks from Memphis to Scottsdale to here trying to close out matches, and I didn't close out the match. In Memphis, I lost a match to Magnus Gustafsson where I was up 6-1, 5-2. I lost that set 7-5, went down 4-0, then lost 6-4. From then, in Scottsdale, I had a chance to serve it out in the second set against Enqvist, but I won it in the third. I learned from my first one and made it better there. I knew I had to just stay positive and good things would happen.

MARDY FISH: I did. I think I tried to serve an ace out wide and I missed it. I don't know what happened at that point. I figured that I was going to try to get it over with right here. I was down 15-40 that game. I was just trying to get it over with quick.

MARDY FISH: I mean, like I said, it does so much for a young guy's career to do it in a place like this where everyone's out there, the atmosphere is so nice, so great. To do it in America was even better because everyone's cheering for you and everyone wants the underdog, the young guy to win. It's great. It does so much for my career right now. Hopefully, I can keep going here.

MARDY FISH: When was that?

MARDY FISH: I don't remember.

MARDY FISH: Was it?

MARDY FISH: I don't know. I thought it was out, I guess. I didn't really say anything.

MODERATOR: Questions for Mardy. He has a doubles match in a short bit. First question.

MARDY FISH: That's not actually the first time that's happened. That happened against Enqvist last week. I knew that I had to hang in there because, you know, just keep taking care of my serve. I knew I would have chances to break him. Like I said, I just had to keep holding on to my serve and I would be in there.

MARDY FISH: Well, I mean, he does have an unbelievable serve. It's the best serve that I've ever faced. But I think that I have relatively good returns. I think I can make him play on a number of games - and I did that in the last game. I figured that if I just take care of my serve, I knew I would have some chances.

MARDY FISH: I mean, last week and this week can't compare to anything besides maybe Davis Cup practice partner was really fun, and then this. These three things by far are the top things I've ever done.

MARDY FISH: I've just been working really, really hard. I have new coach since the US Open last year, and it took a while for us to start to gel and start to get used to each other. Right now we're really working good together and we know what each other's thinking. He really helps me out, prepares me before each match. I think that's really helped me in the long run.

MARDY FISH: Brad Stein.

MARDY FISH: I mean, he said -- he has confidence in me. He knows that I can win a match like that. He just said, "Take care of your serve," which is a huge thing against a guy like that, with a guy like that's serve. If you lose serve, you really don't have a lot of opportunities to win the match. I took care of my serve, and everything went well.

MARDY FISH: Brad Stein.

MARDY FISH: Yeah, a lot. He has a lot of good stories at dinner. We talk about a lot of Courier. He used to coach Jonathan Stark, Woodruff, Medvedev. He has a lot of good stories. He knows so much, it's great that I'm with him because we work really well together.

MARDY FISH: I think that's awesome. I mean, just to be mentioned in the same breath with those guys, to be the next greats is unbelievable for me. It's all come up in a short period of time right now, but I think it's really cool that guys like Andre and Pete can mention us and things like that.

MARDY FISH: Yeah, I mean, but it's good pressure. It's a lot of fun to try to be the next Pete or Andre or Todd or Michael. All those guys are so good. There's a lot of weight to carry. I don't know if anyone can ever bring out a group like those guys did, especially Pete and Andre, because they won so many Grand Slams. I don't know if there will ever be a pack of Americans that can do that. But Taylor Dent, Andy, myself, James Blake, we'll try.

MARDY FISH: We are, yeah. It's good to have other guys coming up. If it was by yourself, it would be a lot tougher, because they are pushing you. Andy is ahead of the pack right now. He's done the best in the challenger level and the tour level. We're just trying to catch him. He set the bar really high, really quick. We're trying to catch up to him. But it's good. It's fun.

MARDY FISH: I don't know. I'd have to say I would have to be -- every guy is top 40 probably in that thing. I just cracked the top 200. I'm not really close to that right now. I think I have to crack the Top 50 at least before that.

MARDY FISH: Yeah. I mean, we know each other really well. We have a history, like a background away from tennis. We know each other really well away from tennis, more so than James and Taylor. But, yeah, it is good because we did grow up together kind of in the junior and senior year of high school. We hung out all the time, practiced all the time. Andy and I know more about each other than the rest of the guys.

MARDY FISH: Away from tennis, yeah.

MARDY FISH: I have to keep improving my forehand and my serve, just my strength, just keep winning matches like that. Winning matches like this does wonders for your confidence. Last week beating Enqvist and Chela in Scottsdale. Then coming here and having a win is great for my confidence, knowing that I can play with everyone.

MARDY FISH: Well, I've only been doing it for two weeks now, so I guess we'll see (laughter).

MARDY FISH: I'm still a heavy underdog. I think I play Nicolas Kiefer. He's a former Top 5 in the world not long ago. He's the favorite. But I kind of like the role of underdog. I like being the crowd favorite out there. It's so much fun to play out there in front of those people, have them cheering for you. I think that, like I said, like I did today, it's kind of a different match. Kiefer and Philippoussis play differently. I think I just have to keep taking care of my serve and I know I'll have chances to break, chances to win the match, I'm sure.

MARDY FISH: It's great. I played one match at the US Open against Gambill kind of like that where they were all on my side, so many people, just the atmosphere. It's unbelievable. It was a great day, sunny. Everyone's happy, I guess, I don't know. It was fun.

MARDY FISH: A little bit of both, yeah. I try to ask him a lot about the tennis because he knows so much. I've never been around anyone that knows that much about tennis, besides my dad. He helps me so much on the aspect of life and not just tennis, so he's great with that.

MARDY FISH: I am. They're helping out a great deal, financially and having coaches out there. They're doing a great job.

MARDY FISH: Yes.

MARDY FISH: Yeah. In '99, beginning of '99, Andy and I, we had the same coach.

MARDY FISH: Yeah. I mean, I've always wanted to be a pro tennis player. I've dreamed of winning Grand Slams, making lots of money, having nice cars, stuff like that. Hopefully, it can come true. I've just been riding. These past two weeks have been unbelievable, have been like - what would I say - how it will be at the Tour level hopefully. Hopefully I can keep going.

MARDY FISH: I don't know. I don't have a car. Take my mom's.

MARDY FISH: I don't know if it's against anyone. Maybe Pete or Andre. Pete at Wimbledon maybe. Beating Pete at Wimbledon would be the ultimate, I think, since he's won so many there.

MARDY FISH: 19.

MARDY FISH: I try to rest. I try to rest all the time. Just try to have fun. I mean, I'm missing so much. I'm missing like the college life. I try to have a lot of fun with what I'm doing. Brad and I have a great time like away from the court, we have so much fun together. So far I'm not really missing the college life. Sometimes when you're losing, it's tough. But right now it's good.

MARDY FISH: Well, I did a little bit. I always wanted to go to like UNC when I was younger, growing up, because I love Chapel Hill. I used to live in North Carolina a little bit. I think it was the French Open '99, Juniors, when I decided I was going to turn pro. I just finished my junior year of high school.

MARDY FISH: Well, I jumped into the Top 10 in the Juniors in the world like really quick, and then everyone -- like IMG, my agent is Tony Godsick, and he was looking after me from the French Open. He's great.

MARDY FISH: Maybe yes and no. I've had a lot of experience now in the past few weeks from Memphis to Scottsdale to here trying to close out matches, and I didn't close out the match. In Memphis, I lost a match to Magnus Gustafsson where I was up 6-1, 5-2. I lost that set 7-5, went down 4-0, then lost 6-4. From then, in Scottsdale, I had a chance to serve it out in the second set against Enqvist, but I won it in the third. I learned from my first one and made it better there. I knew I had to just stay positive and good things would happen.

MARDY FISH: I did. I think I tried to serve an ace out wide and I missed it. I don't know what happened at that point. I figured that I was going to try to get it over with right here. I was down 15-40 that game. I was just trying to get it over with quick.

MARDY FISH: I mean, like I said, it does so much for a young guy's career to do it in a place like this where everyone's out there, the atmosphere is so nice, so great. To do it in America was even better because everyone's cheering for you and everyone wants the underdog, the young guy to win. It's great. It does so much for my career right now. Hopefully, I can keep going here.

MARDY FISH: When was that?

MARDY FISH: I don't remember.

MARDY FISH: Was it?

MARDY FISH: I don't know. I thought it was out, I guess. I didn't really say anything.