US OPEN

September 4, 1998

Mark Philippoussis

Q. Couple of serves at 128. I think your top was 131 which is sort of getting up there. I think you served around 59% which was a little bit low as a percentage. How do you equate speed to getting your percentage up? What is important?

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, I mean, the first four points, what can you say about that? The guy returns with -- he is a great doubles player and he has got a great return that puts a lot of pressure on, and I think it made me go for a bit too much which, you know, then you just lose that rhythm a bit, but my serve wasn't great tonight, but it was okay. Good enough. And like I said, I don't rely on my serve and there is other things in my game to back it up.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Obviously you get better as the match grows on. I am getting to know his game a bit more as the match went on. I was really never worried at all, I felt I am confident, I am feeling good at the moment.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: That court -- apparently I was told by a lot of players was the fastest here, Stadium 2. The courts are definitely faster this year than they were in the past, and that suits me.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, loss of concentration my first match, and this first game, I mean, come on, I didn't do anything wrong - when the guy hits four winners in a row, that is too good. All I could say to that is if he keeps it up for three sets that is too good.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: You want to concentrate; get a good start, don't get me wrong, but if it happens you lose your game don't get worried. I would definitely like to get a good start in matches, it is always great.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I was pleased with the way I volleyed today. I think I could have gotten to the net quicker today. I wasn't as quick getting to the net. I felt great around the court on the baseline, but that is something to look forward to in the next match.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I am ready now. I was ready at Wimbledon. And I am ready now. Physically I feel great. I am not getting fatigued on the court. I haven't played a match to test me, but I am feeling great on the court. I am moving well. Best finish in my life. I am concentrating out there. And I have matured a lot and when I got go out to these tournaments I know I can win it and no reason why I can't win it. That is how I got to think now. Just show everyone that I can do it. But just worrying about each match by match.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, you know, being on grass it is different. But I was playing some good tennis on grass, beating Yevgeny in the first round and that, but I don't really have a favorite surface, so I feel comfortable on everything. On hard courts, it's a different game. Probably suits me maybe a bit more on hard court, but I think grass the ball sits up a bit more and I can take a whack at it and, you know, when I am playing well, it all comes together.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Well, now you know, I am happy that I have been, you know, pretty much Wimbledon and now and before it is like I have been playing great in other tournaments and coming up to the Grand Slams I had a bit of a slump and not to my standard. But no matter how bad of a summer I had, that I could have had, but I mean, I expected a lot more than what happened. Like I said, I just -- the Grand Slams, it is what it is all about. And, you know, like I said, Pete comes out there and he just cares about the Grand Slams no matter who he lost to in the previous tournaments. That is what it is all about and tennis starts at the second week really, not the first week. That is when the great tennis starts.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: That really doesn't worry me. That is always the hard thing, you know, Pat winning the US Open, and had finished off with an unbelievable year and expectations are on him, that is rightfully -- he deserves it. But he is handling it well, I think. He is being very professional about it and he is a nice guy. Obviously that is a bit better on me. No one is taken notice of me. I am just sneaking through there and just worrying about myself. But, you know, like I said, that always happens when someone plays well, everyone is looking at them and I am just worrying about myself and just what I could do.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I had some rackets, but two broke and I got the other racket out of the plastic bag and it had broken inside of the plastic bag. I started to panic. I had one left.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Seven. I actually had on six there, but I already broken -- sometimes they break while they are in the bag and especially when I am sleeping, I get woken up, big snap.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I was down to my last. I was hoping he wouldn't hit any big shots, so it worked out okay.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: No, I haven't played probably since grade school.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Yeah.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: Definitely not married. I still got a life to lead.

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I went to the Greek Islands, there was a really nice jewelry shop. I had it made for me. It is really nice, and I thought maybe I will pick more chicks if they think I am married (laughs).

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I have been a good boy.