THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 22, 1997

Mark Merklein

MARK MERKLEIN: Because I was kind of mad at myself because I hadn't won many games after I was up 3-1. I kind of got upset with myself. Things started happening. He played a few loose points, then I put a couple points together. I went on a little run. I just played an awful game, awful game, at 5-All I think, yeah, 5-All. Then I had to try to start over again. I got the break back. I started feeling good. It just didn't work out in the end.

MARK MERKLEIN: The legs were burning after that point. That kind of hurt me for a few points. At that point I thought I had it won twice. Normally, it probably would have been over against a guy with normal speed. He's pretty quick.

MARK MERKLEIN: Before this?

MARK MERKLEIN: Have to be the guy -- have to be the guy I played first round, that's Neville Godwin. Is that right?

MARK MERKLEIN: No, it was Javier Frana.

MARK MERKLEIN: I think it helped me. I played a little money tournament in the Keys. I played a couple long three-setters there. I didn't even have a day off, just came here and started playing. I think that actually helped me out, playing that before.

MARK MERKLEIN: Marathon Key. A little money tournament, a few players, like six guys, a couple other like club players. They were battling it out in the first rounds.

MARK MERKLEIN: They had the keg, it was great.

MARK MERKLEIN: I lost to Robbie Koenig. I lost to him six in the third. Next day I played Shuzo Matsuoka. Beat him in the third. I was playing a lot of tennis.

MARK MERKLEIN: About 20 bucks.

MARK MERKLEIN: Oh, man. I was feeling really good when I walked out onto the court. When I put my bag down and sat down, I usually go through my little ritual, setting stuff up. I'm looking around. My legs were like a little Jell-O. I was like "Oh, great, this could get ugly." I gave myself a chance. I just settled in quick in the warm-up. I'd never played in front of that many people. I got used to it quick. I think I played okay. I have a lot of things to work on. We'll see what happens.

MARK MERKLEIN: He just said, "Great week." I'm in the second round. That's good for me. I'd never won a match in a Super 9 tournament. Is that it?

MARK MERKLEIN: No.

MARK MERKLEIN: He said, "Good week, nice playing." I don't really know him. I don't know him at all, so.

MARK MERKLEIN: No.

MARK MERKLEIN: It's funny because three weeks ago I was in town with my parents. I really thought I was going to quit. I spoke to them, told them what I was going to do. I spent a few days here deciding what I was going to do. I actually really thought that this time I was going to quit. I don't know. I just went back to Gainsville and started thinking about it even more, spoke to my coach. He said I'd look back on it and feel bad about it if I didn't give it a fair chance. I think this helps me out a lot. I'd never played in a big tournament. My friends don't even know that I play anymore. They never see me in the papers. Hopefully this can help my confidence and also keep people around me thinking that I'm actually still playing the game. That's good.

MARK MERKLEIN: I work with the assistant coach, Bruce Burque. He was the assistant at Florida. He travels with me full-time. Ian is kind of like a second father to me. He was my coach at Florida when I was there. He pretty much made me into the player that I am today. I really didn't know how to play the game before I went to school there.

MARK MERKLEIN: That's who I spoke to, yeah.

MARK MERKLEIN: Yeah, I did, yeah. I mean, how can't you? You have to think that. I felt comfortable and I thought I settled in well and had a good chance to do some damage. Who knows, if I would have won that set, who knows. It would have been a battle. I'm sure he wouldn't have been happy to drop that set. I don't know. I was definitely thinking of winning, for sure.

MARK MERKLEIN: Oh, gosh. Yeah, it helps my confidence out a lot. I needed something like this. It definitely is not going to hurt. I don't think he was on top of his game. It showed me that I can step on the same court and compete with these guys, and that helps. I think that's what it's all about.

MARK MERKLEIN: I'll move to 180?