TMS - ROME

May 8, 2001

Harel Levy

HAREL LEVY: Well, it's obviously my best win so far in my career. Today I played against my idol, one of my idols, which is not easy. Playing against my idol, it's difficult. But I had to put it aside, and I think I did a pretty good job.

HAREL LEVY: Well, every tournament is difficult at this level, every match is difficult. So you just have to look at every match at a time and then do your best and hope for the best.

HAREL LEVY: Well, it's not easy to prepare to this -- for this match, but, you know, as a professional tennis player I have to be prepared to put aside all those things and concentrate on what I have to do on the match, and then I think I did pretty well. I didn't get the emotions effect on the match, and I think I handled the third set, particularly, very good.

HAREL LEVY: You want me to start from the beginning when I was a child playing? It's going to be long. (Laughter.) I've been playing tennis for 15 years now. But I mean, I grew up in Israel and I've played most of my life in Israel until I started traveling with age maybe 14, Juniors tournament. And then my biggest breakthrough was in Toronto last year in the Masters Series, which I reached the finals, which was a big jump for me. I mean, first time to get in the Top 100, and I play major -- in other big tournaments and get used to the big -- to this level, which I think I am still getting used to it, which is not easy. But I think I'm doing it pretty well. I mean, the first year usually after the breakthrough is not easy. It's a very difficult year, but I just hope to concentrate on what I have to do and I hope to do it in the future as well.

HAREL LEVY: Well, growing up in Israel is not easy, especially when you have to serve in the Army when you're 18. It's mandatory to serve for three years. So -- and this is a very crucial time of the career, from 18 to 21. But I was lucky with the Army, I served in a base close to my house, and I had a very good relationship with my commanders, which let me travel a lot throughout the year which is the most important thing, playing tournaments at this age. And I had some support from the Federation until last year. I mean, it's not a big support, but it's something. I mean, my parents also had to put a lot of money in to invest in me. And what was the second part of the question? I forgot.

HAREL LEVY: Of course I was inspired, especially by Mansdorf, which is now the Davis Cup captain. He was the biggest tennis player in Israel ever, he reached No. 8 in the world. He's still, I think, all the players in Israel has a lot of respect for him.

HAREL LEVY: Mansdorf's backhand was obviously his best shot. I think my backhand most of the time is, you know. Some days it changes, but most of the time it's the most consistent shot in my game.

HAREL LEVY: Well, that's usually what I do all the time, trying to mix up my game. Because I can serve and volley, I can stay on the back, and players don't like that. They don't know what to expect from me. So I had -- I had the feeling Sampras is not gonna give the match away; I had to take it. And especially in the last game, I served and volleyed twice and I did it pretty well. And I think especially in the third set I was serving and volleying maybe 20 percent on -- maybe even more on my first serves, which helped me win some of the points and made him think a little bit.

HAREL LEVY: Well, they helped with the coach a little bit. It wasn't a big help, but it was some help. Most of the money came from my parents. They invested a lot of money in me, although we are not a rich family, but they invested. I hope to give -- I hope to give them back some day.

HAREL LEVY: Well, there's a big Jewish community in New York and in the States, all around America. So wherever there is a lot of Jews, they are looking for the Israeli players and they're supporting, which is very nice. I like playing with support behind me. It gives me a special feeling.