ATP TOUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

November 14, 1994

Michael Stich

MICHAEL STICH: It's not what I expected at the beginning of the year. I would have rather liked to play, but it's better to be the 9th player than not to be here at all, that's why I'm half satisfied.

MICHAEL STICH: No, I don't hope that anyone will get injured. I think that the eight players that are ahead of me deserve to be here because this year they have played better than I have and I just think I didn't play good enough, and that's the way it should be. They should have the same experience for themselves as I had last year, that's why I don't hope anything bad for them.

MICHAEL STICH: Well, I think I'm a good training partner because the groups are very uneven, and there's certain players with certain styles, so that's why they like to have me as a training partner. I enjoy being here because I can practice without any pressure, and that's why I enjoy it because I can relax and can prepare myself mentally for the next year.

MICHAEL STICH: No. As far as I know, I have to stay until Thursday or Friday, as long as the pre-round matches will go on because if one of the players can't play, I can replace them, and I can play for points and prize money as well. After that, I will start my practice program for the next year.

MICHAEL STICH: No, I simply didn't play good enough to be here this year. I had enough chances but I didn't use them. Everyone seemed to think that Alberto Berasategui -- everyone seemed to complain about Alberto Berasategui being here but he won seven tournaments and he's here for good reasons. All clay court tournaments -- (Inaudible.) -- but this is not worth talking about. He was in the final of the French Open, and all the other players who are here really played well. I think this year, the competition was stronger than last year and one had to have more points in the last year to be here in the Masters. It is my fault and not the fault of the others that I'm not here.

MICHAEL STICH: No, we always forget the positive things once things don't go well. I won three tournaments this year; the World Team Cup, I was in the finals of the U.S. Open and played the semifinals of the Davis Cup. It is not too bad, I think. It was the last few months and weeks of this year that I didn't play as well as last year. The reason is that I was very tired. I almost played two years in a row without having any breaks and now I have to take the toll. The planning this year was the same as last year, but last year it worked out and this year not. Altogether, next year I will play less tournaments if that will work out. I don't know yet.

MICHAEL STICH: Well, I'm disappointed that I'm not here as a player, but as I said already, the others were better than I was and I didn't use the chances, and I will try to play better next year so I can play the Masters.

MICHAEL STICH: Well, I think that the season didn't go too bad. If anyone says this, I will stop playing tennis. It wasn't as good as last year but I always said that the season -- that the last year will be difficult to repeat, and I won six tournaments, now I only one three tournaments and simply didn't show good tennis at the big tournaments; the Super 9 and the Grand Slam. That's why I'm not here. With this year I have won all tournaments in Germany that I can win, that's why I reached a goal for myself and again, one forgets the positive aspects once things don't go so well.

MICHAEL STICH: No, I was always certain that he will not be coaching me next year and will be simply working for his job at the DTB. He helped me this year and we worked very well together, but for the long run it would not be a good solution. I will have to find someone else.

MICHAEL STICH: Very good and smart for the DTB.

MICHAEL STICH: Well, don't ask me. I am playing. Who else will play, I don't know. But don't make his decision to play depend on my decision. I play and if he wants to play, he will, if not he won't. This does not depend with my person. That's why I don't know. It is his planning and he makes a decision for himself, and he will not make -- it will not depend on me being there or not.

MICHAEL STICH: Yes, of course. You always seem to think that we don't look at each other or say hello to each other. What was written over the last weeks was nonsense. We will play together in the Davis Cup. We have played together before. We won Olympic gold together. We don't avoid each other, but at the same time, we don't have dinner every night. It is just like you with your neighbors, maybe. We see each other on tournaments and I wish that he always plays well. Obviously I hope that he will lose against me more often, but I hope that he will play at the Davis Cup. I always said this. I say this since -- for two years that we would be a much stronger team with him. The discussion to always make his appearance to play at the Davis Cup depending on my person tires me.

MICHAEL STICH: Yes.

MICHAEL STICH: The problem is that no one writes what I'm saying, but what is interesting to them. I can say he played well or he served well and the next day the press will say that I don't enjoy playing with him. Well then, everyone can think whatever they want.

MICHAEL STICH: Sure, it would be good because then the title will stay in Germany.

MICHAEL STICH: Agassi, because he likes this surface and the balls. At the other group, I think Boris has an advantage because it's in Germany and he played very well the last weeks. He is at his top mentally. He can use this -- these advantages, but all the others play very well as well. Stefan has an outside chance in this group.

MICHAEL STICH: No, I think he will play.

MICHAEL STICH: Yes, but why should I wish anything bad to someone just so I can play. The others are here because they play better than I did.

MICHAEL STICH: Yes, of course. If I play, I will try to win.

MICHAEL STICH: Physically I am not fit and that's why my mental side is not as strong. I lost two, three matches that I should not have lost and sometimes this can be a turning point. I don't have enough strength right now. I played two years in a row without breaks and I can feel it now. I'm not getting any younger and I have to take care of my physical fitness more than I had to four years ago. During the last two years I had little time because I played so much. Now I will use the time I have to prepare a good practice program.

MICHAEL STICH: No, by myself or with someone else.

MICHAEL STICH: Agassi and Gilbert is a rare grouping because it is very difficult to become a good coach after playing on the Tour. Both get along with each other very well and so it probably works. I don't need anybody who played on the Tour. I know how I have to play. What I need is motivation and a good conditioning program.

MICHAEL STICH: To play. To go on the court tomorrow and to play.

MICHAEL STICH: No one has tried it so far, but I don't think it is very useful; especially at the Grand Slam. In Australia, for example, there are extreme conditions. It is very hot and the players have five seconds less. The players have to recuperate and they won't become more exciting. The ball will still cross the net the same way.

MICHAEL STICH: Yes, we have told the ATP that we don't want this rule. Then the ATP didn't do it, but now the ITF wants to do it. In my opinion, the ATP should represent the players' view and tell the ITF that the new rule doesn't make any sense and will not do any good. The fact that the ATP thought about doing this is actually a contradiction.

MICHAEL STICH: Apparently the suit didn't fit. There's always someone who falls apart or the suit doesn't fit. I don't think it makes any difference.

MICHAEL STICH: Yes, I do wear suits but this one I will only wear here.

MICHAEL STICH: Qatar, it's around the second of January.

MICHAEL STICH: No, it would be great, obviously, but no rules are perfect. The guys that play better and that's why they're here. There's always something to criticize.

MICHAEL STICH: Yes, one of the groups will draw most of the attention, and in the other group Agassi probably will draw most of the attention. It should be more even, but again, it's the rule and that's how it is.

MICHAEL STICH: Medium, not too fast. The ball is pretty slow. It will be difficult to play serve and volley with the second serve all the time.

MICHAEL STICH: Well, today, this was not the purpose. Maybe we can come up here one of these days to play with them, but today it was an official part of the draw and so on. There was no time for contacts.

MICHAEL STICH: Of course I will share my knowledge. There are a lot of Germans in the top 100. The up-and-coming players should find their own game and do whatever they enjoy to do. I know it's difficult because the standards are high.