THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 13, 1994

Cedric Pioline

Q. You seemed very, very relaxed today. Were you not at all concerned about this match, or did you just want to work on particular things?

CEDRIC PIOLINE: I mean, I didn't play so well the last tournaments, so I tried to not put pressure on my shoulder, so, I mean, I was supposed to beat this guy and he is a qualifier, that is it. I just took the match like he came.

Q. What has happened to your game since the U.S. Open?

CEDRIC PIOLINE: A lot of things. I mean, after U.S. Open I played very well, and during the winter I not so many times to practice and when I -- I went to Australia, so after I lose a bit, now I try to find it.

Q. I have been told that Dumont has been changing your strokes a little bit; no?

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Not really. Not really. We work maybe some things too early, too early.

Q. Do you feel like you are any closer -- do you even think about the fact that you are ranked where you are and have not won a tournament yet, is it a consideration at all for you that you are one of the 15 best players in the world but you are still looking for that first tournament win?

CEDRIC PIOLINE: No. I mean, -- I reach one times the quarterfinals in the beginning of the year, so -- but even if I played well, it is not -- it is not my first goal, so -- I will be very happy to win a tournament, but it will come when it come.

Q. Your opponent today is a well-known junior player from south Florida. What are his prospects for the future? What did you think of his game? Is he going to be a good player?

CEDRIC PIOLINE: I mean, today I think he played not so bad, but he did a bad start maybe because he was impressed about, I don't know, the match, and after he was a little bit more relaxed and he hit some good shots, but I think he have to work a lot to progress on his game. He has a good backhand. Forehand and serve is less. It is less good.

Q. Are you more recognized now since the U.S. Open? Is life different at all?

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Yeah. Even here in the states, I start to be recognized and it has changed the way I do things because when I am going out and go around people are asking me some autograph. It is different also.

Q. Do you like that?

CEDRIC PIOLINE: Yeah, it is not bad.

Q. Thank you.

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