GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 6, 1996

Patrick Rafter

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, I am sure it did. At the very beginning I felt really bad as well. I was still trying to get over a cold that I got from last week. And I knew I had to hang in the first three games down breakpoint earlier on my serve and got away with that and then from then on I just played my game and Sergi still remained flat.

PATRICK RAFTER: 1 and 6, isn't it? No, I played him six times. This is six times.

PATRICK RAFTER: Sorry. Yeah. Well, I felt a bit more comfort on the hard court and it is the first court that I played him on where I have been able to have my footing and that is important to play someone like him because he passes quite well. But I seemed to be there for a lot more balls today. And I think, you know, I was pretty confident going into the match.

PATRICK RAFTER: I felt comfortable. I had good opportunity to beat him on grass as well; it didn't eventuate.

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, I think my fitness is definitely a lot better than last year. The wrist is holding up well and I guess I am just enjoying myself a bit more than last year. I am playing good tennis and I think that is showing.

PATRICK RAFTER: I had a break after the Australian Open. I had a ball. I think that was important because, you know, I am pretty dedicated to tennis and the only way I was going to have a break is if I had an injury and that was an excuse for me to party. I had a great time.

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, believe me it is good. Never get a chance to do it.

PATRICK RAFTER: No, not really because everything is American, you know, I come here and the Americans are doing this and doing that, and no doubt, I am interested in the Australians like everyone else. I mean, if I was back home everything would be Australian and I like to see the Australians compete, obviously. There were some great events that I would like to have seen, but I didn't really get to see the Aussies compete very much, unfortunately. The silver medal, that is obviously, just a silly joke, but, you know, Sergi obviously played very well to get that.

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah.

PATRICK RAFTER: I like the conditions here. The balls are little heavier. The courts are medium paced where I can serve well and I can also return quite well. And I like that sort of condition. A little bit too quick too quick, I don't really like that. I don't like when they are really, really slow. I don't like that either. So over the American summer, the surface and the balls, everything seem to really help my game.

PATRICK RAFTER: It is going to be tough. I played him about a year ago in Washington and I was successful there. Obviously he is playing better and I am probably playing a little better as well. So we should have a good match. If it is going to be hot like it is today then ..... (inaudible).

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah.

PATRICK RAFTER: Yeah, just not feeling 100%, so, you know, it does take it out of you if you are not feeling, you know-- yeah, I mean, I do enjoy the heat because I know that everyone else doesn't like it. I think that is what -- that is why I enjoy it. That is the only reason why I enjoy it.

PATRICK RAFTER: I felt like I could compete. I mean, I was feeling that great and I looked at him too; he wasn't looking too good. It would have been an interesting third set - a lot of dropshots, probably.

PATRICK RAFTER: Psychologically, yeah, I felt like I had to, you know, if he got back from double break down, he gets momentum; he gets bit more second wind and that could be dangerous.

PATRICK RAFTER: I only lived the first seven years of my life in Mount Isa, but that is very, very hot, that is the desert weather, very dry and then I moved to the sunshine choice in Queensland which is quite humid. But Cains is a different story altogether. You are looking, you know, extremely tropical, extremely humid and muggy. A lot like the weather here. I mean, even in the winter, they still have 30 degrees and all sorts of humidity up there, so that would be difficult to live in. I do know how to condition myself for the heat.