ATP Tour World Championship

November 27, 1998

Greg Rusedski

Q. Must be very happy with that?

GREG RUSEDSKI: I was pleased with my performance today because there was a lot riding on it for me today, to finish in the Top 10 this year, if I win, to get back to eight or nine in the world, just to give myself a chance in the Championships to try to play, if Albert Costa can come up with a miracle match tonight.

GREG RUSEDSKI: She's supposed to be arriving any minute.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think we're playing at the World Championships, so both of us definitely wanted to win the match today. I don't think Tim served as well as he could have today. I really took advantage of that with the four breaks of serve today. I was really motivated to win that match because it just meant a lot to me today. I'm sure he was just as motivated to win it as well.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think I was mixing up my game really well today. I think I played at the level I played when I played Sampras in Paris. I think I didn't serve as well as I did in Paris. I think I was returning well, hitting my ground shots, managed to sustain the level I did from Paris indoors. For me, I couldn't ask for much more to do out there. I wasn't missing too many passings, my unforced errors were down, my breakpoints were four to five today. Everything was firing on all cylinders. It's always tough when you play someone from your own country. There's always a little more pressure coming. It's always a bit more difficult.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think Tim played a good game of returning. First point, played a good point. Missed a forehand by an inch on the net. Hit one of those lobs that landed right on the baseline. Got it back to deuce. Missed one forehand volley I should have made. Then match point. He's going to get a break sooner or later, but I managed to have the double break for insurance, which was definitely the key, and served it out well over the last game.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It's unbelievably satisfying. To get there is one thing, but to stay there for two years I think really establishes myself as a Top-10 player now. With all the aggro I had this year with the departure of a coach to the injury and everything, I think I can't be more than pleased, more than satisfied to come to World Championships with the best players in the world, to win two matches, be undefeated. You can't ask for more.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I'd like to see the format the ladies have, where 16 players play, have it a knock-out competition rather than a round-robin event with the top eight. I think it might be a little bit better having a tournament format. That's what I'd enjoy more rather than having, per se, the round-robin of three matches. There's more counting on every match. If you lose, you're out. The champion is the one who doesn't lose anything.

GREG RUSEDSKI: It used to be that way. I enjoy that format. I like that format of a tournament. It gives me a chance this week to play, so I can't complain about that.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Exactly. I'd agree with you, John (laughter).

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think I'm going to have a meal, get a massage, I don't know, pray I guess (laughter), hope for the best. I really find it's going to be hard for Albert to win. You know, Alex isn't going to be coming forward, so it might be an interesting match. Who knows, anything can happen in tennis.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I'm probably going to watch it on the television, just hope for it. If it happens, it happens. If not, I'm more than satisfied with the finish to my season. If by chance I get to play, then I get to play Sampras, which would be fabulous. But if it doesn't happen, that's life. I mean, I have two matches. It's just great.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think I just have to get consistency to play at the top level all the time. Like yesterday, I wasn't consistent enough on certain areas, like my return, and a few shots from the ground. Sven and I had a chat and really raised our level today to the standard that I want to play at. It's consistency, improving the returns more, improving the ground game, becoming more an all-court player where I can win matches and tournaments on clay. I think those three areas would be the necessary improvement. The way Sampras played last night, I mean, it was just fabulous tennis. He looked like No. 1 for the past 25 years easily. Some of the shots he was hitting, I mean, he was very satisfied with, which is very rare to see. It's great to see him in the sixth year. It's going to be more interesting to see whether he can keep on going with that streak, because he's a great player. I mean, you have to give credit to him the way he's handled all the pressure, the things. He's not had the best year, but he still managed finish No. 1, which is a tremendous result.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I think I'm not really worried about that anymore. When you play each other, obviously you want to win. I'm looking at more the standard of trying to get somewhere I've never been before. I've been to 4 in the world; I'd like to get in that area where it's 3, 2 or 1. That's really going to be my objective for next year, is to try to get into those places I've never seen before, to try to win at a Grand Slam level, which I've never done. I've gotten to the finals, but I've never taken the next step of winning one. Those are the areas I'm going to focus on next year.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Let me guess what he said. The Wimbledon final (laughter). That must have been a lucky guess today.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I don't know.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Best tennis? Not on a clay court, that's for sure. Probably at Wimbledon on the grass, I'd have to say. I think both of us are very good grass court players. I think it would be an exciting match, good tennis. That's our favorite Grand Slam of them all.

GREG RUSEDSKI: I hear they're playing on clay now at the Lipton. Could be on a slow clay court at Lipton.

GREG RUSEDSKI: That would be perfect for me. I would be more than happy to get to the finals there. Doesn't matter, win or lose, just get there.

GREG RUSEDSKI: Well, I think we're going to have to play a few matches in doubles together if we're going to become a great doubles team. I think that's going to be very important for us, because unfortunately we don't have the strongest third, fourth and fifth player. We need someone to really step up and help us who are a strong doubles combination. We're going to have to play a few doubles matches before that Davis Cup tie against America. John McEnroe could be playing for them for the doubles, you never know.

GREG RUSEDSKI: He hasn't talked to either one of us about that. I put in a few suggestions, then to Tim about trying to play some doubles some week. I think it would be very important, especially with the big tie coming up against the States at home. More practice we can get together, the better we could be, I think.