TMS MONTE CARLO

April 19, 2004

Rainer Schuettler

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: It's always good to win matches. Here, against Guga, like he was the favorite, so...even though I'm seeded 4. But against him on clay, he was former No. 1, he won French Open a few times, so he was the favorite today. It was little bit easier for me to go on court. I didn't have pressure. So I just was trying to play well, even though I was sick for the last four or five days. And, yeah, but I'm happy that I won. I'm a little bit lucky that he made mistakes in the important points. And, yeah, I'm happy that I won.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: I had a flu. Like fever, cold, cough.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: I feel better. I wouldn't say I feel "good," but I feel better, yes.

RAINER SCHUETTLER: I think my game was always there. It's just that I lost some close matches, and that's it. I mean, I didn't make the important points. Last year I did it, I was lucky in the important situations. And, yeah, this year I had matchpoint in Key Biscayne, lost 7-6 in the third. I lost 6-4, Australian Open in the fifth. So I had some tough matches. But I think my tennis is well, and I hope I get healthy again soon, yeah, and that I continue here playing well.