US OPEN

August 27, 1997

Luke Smith

Q. So, Luke, fairly swift reduction of the Grand Slam.

LUKE SMITH: Yeah. It went pretty quick. You know, I've played a couple ATP events now, but I hadn't played anyone up to this caliber. My highest ranked player, I lost to Bjorkman last week in Indianapolis, week before. I think he's ranked like 25. I knew it was going to be tough. It's really another level where he just kind of picked apart my game style, you know, where I serve and volley, chip, charge. Even when I thought I returned really well, he still came up with big passing shots.

LUKE SMITH: Yeah. You know, even when we stopped back on the baseline, it wasn't that tough. I mean, he just worked the point around. The main difference was that his consistency on his passing shots really surprised -- kind of surprised me. Even when I put in a good serve, his returns were always down low. Even when I put in a good volley, I mean, if he didn't go for a clean winner, he at least made me stretch for it. He was able to cover the line for a passing shot, able to hold the ball on his racquet a bit longer and kind of wait for the opening. He didn't really miss many passing shots. I think my coach said he missed maybe four passing shots for the whole match. That's with me coming to the net probably 80 percent of the time.

LUKE SMITH: Well, after this, I'm going to go train with the Davis Cup team for Australia down in Washington for a couple weeks leading up for the Davis Cup, which starts the 19th. Then, you know, I'm not really dead sure with my schedule, because I'm still going through agents at the moment. I'm not with an agent at the moment. Discussing it. But I'm probably looking towards going to Asia, there's a couple of ATP events there, then coming back and playing some Challengers and finishing up in Vegas, there's a Challenger in Vegas in November. Going home, there's a tournament in Adelaide, where I'm from, in the beginning of January, then leading up to the Aussie Open.

LUKE SMITH: IMG, Vantage, ProServe, kind of talking to all of them at the moment. I'm leaning toward ProServe at the moment. They've spoken to me the most. I'm going to make a decision by the end of this week. I mean, he haven't even picked clothing companies either. If you see me on the court, I'm wearing Prince shorts, Nike shoes, Oakley glasses, playing with Pro Kennex racquets.

LUKE SMITH: That's right.

LUKE SMITH: Sure. It also depends how physically developed you are. I mean, for me, when I was 17, I was very undeveloped. You know, all I wanted to do -- I knew I wanted to play tennis, I just wasn't ready for it. I knew that; I wasn't going to try to force myself. I never heard of college tennis, didn't know what it was till I got a phone call from the coach at UNLV. Sounded good to me. Three hours of training a day, weights, running, good facilities, play matches every weekend. I mean, it worked out great, you know. It's exactly what I needed. School's not real tough, doesn't totally consume what you do. It was great. I definitely recommend it (Phone ringing).

LUKE SMITH: Where was I (laughter)? I'll definitely go back and recommend it to people like my brother, for instance, 15, coming up, he'll probably do the same thing.

LUKE SMITH: Yes. I mean, I've always been involved in tennis. I played some other sports, but tennis has always been it. My dad's a coach. My mom was a top state player in south Australia. My father coached, Don Fitzgerald, Darren Cahill, Roger Rasheed. I've always seen those guys out on the court. Ever since I was about this big, I was always out on the court. Whether I was playing, I was always fooling around. I mean, since I was about 12, I think I made up my mind I was going to be a professional tennis player. It's kind of the only thing I've ever had my mind set on.

LUKE SMITH: I was expecting it to be about this tough. But I thought if I could play -- normally I kind of rely on my serve about 80 percent. Today, I don't know what I served, but I'm sure it wasn't too flush. You know, he's much more consistent. He hits the ball really hard consistently. I just realized, you know, I've got to kind of have more of an all-around game. I kind of rely on my serve and volley, chip, charge too much. If my volleys are a bit shaky, that kind of ruins my whole game plan. I don't really like to stay back on the baseline. The good thing is I've got a lot of things I can work on. I've had some success at my first ATP event. There's a lot I can work on.

LUKE SMITH: I'd like to be inside the top 200 within the year, you know. I mean, I think if I play well, I think it's a realistic goal. Any higher would be great. That's a realistic goal.

LUKE SMITH: How much money?

LUKE SMITH: Yes (laughter). I think it was 13 grand. But after tax, we get taxed 30 percent, so it's $9,100.

LUKE SMITH: Not that I'm counting, wouldn't be doing that (laughter). I kind of count every cent I get, because I don't have much of it.

LUKE SMITH: I have a shirt saying that. Should have worn it.

End of FastScripts….