WIMBLEDON

June 26, 2000

Martin Lee

MODERATOR: Martin Lee.

MARTIN LEE: At the start of the second set and the third set, I think I lost a bit of concentration, just lost my serve when probably I shouldn't have. I always thought that I was returning so well; I thought I could break nearly every time or have the chance to break. I just knew I'd get another chance and just kept at it.

MARTIN LEE: Yeah, especially after the last two years, had a match point and lost last two years. It was a relief to get 6-Love up in the tiebreak. Played a couple of silly points, nervous points, played a good point to win it.

MARTIN LEE: Yeah, probably a bit. You'd always like to get into the tournament on your own right. It puts a bit of pressure on you because you know everyone is going to be looking at the way you perform. You just try and put it out of your mind, try to get on with the job you've got to do.

MARTIN LEE: Yeah, it's a very good win. I think he's about 65 in the world. He's probably mainly a clay courter. I haven't played many matches recently. I've been injured five months, surgery on my groin. I think I'm definitely about to full fitness, just raring to go and keep playing.

MARTIN LEE: No.

MARTIN LEE: Yeah. I thought I had a pretty good year last year. When I got injured, I think I was ranked about 240, had no points to defend for like six months. That's when I thought I could start going up the rankings. Then I didn't play at all for five months. I think I'm back playing as good as ever now. I'm working as hard as ever. Hopefully it's going to pay off.

MARTIN LEE: Marcus.

MARTIN LEE: I think just as good. As I said, over the last two years I played well and lost. This year I played well and lost. It's very pleasing to me. I think I played el Aynaoui next. Can't wait for that to come along now. I think I have a good chance.

MARTIN LEE: I think the main thing is belief. I think now I'm realizing that these players have got up there, like three or four years ago I was as good as them, if not better than them. Now I'm believing if they can do it, I can do it. In the last three weeks, you've seen Arvind Parmar do so well. I think it's given us all a big boost knowing that everyone's pushing forward. There's probably five or six of us now pushing forward at the same time. I think it's not going to be too long before we're all getting up there.

MARTIN LEE: Maybe. I think the public and the press have been waiting -- before Tim, they were waiting for someone. Tim came along, then there's Greg. I think the last three or four years, it's maybe even got bigger because now they're waiting for someone else. Now, everyone's expecting more. I think it's helping us. We're trying really hard, trying to get up there into the Top 100 where Tim and Greg are.

MARTIN LEE: Yeah. I try to go to games when I'm free. I think we just missed out in the playoffs.

MARTIN LEE: Yeah. Hopefully next year.

MARTIN LEE: Especially when I was injured, hobbled along. Try and support my team. Very bored when I can't play tennis. I realise how much I miss the game when I was trying to fight and come back and play.

MARTIN LEE: Yeah. I probably still do now (laughter). I always loved football. I played a lot when I was young. Made a decision to play tennis when I was about 13 or 14.

MARTIN LEE: Yeah, I think I played for my county.

MARTIN LEE: Yes. Had to make a decision with tennis. Takes a lot out of your life. You have to start at a very early age if you want to become good.

MARTIN LEE: I was born in Dulwich. My dad and my granddad supported them all my life. I just followed on the trend.

MARTIN LEE: I can't really comment on it. It's not up to me. I just play the game, play the match as it comes along.

MARTIN LEE: In a way, yes. Thought about it when I was injured. I had so much time. Thought what I needed to do, needed to improve. I think the main thing that I've got my mind a lot stronger mentally. I always think I've got the shots, got the fitness, there's nothing wrong with that. I think it's just in the mind. I think it showed a bit today that if you lose your serve, you've still got always another chance. Maybe sometime before it would have took me like three or four games to get back instead of one or two. Hopefully it's going to get down just to none. Lose my serve and I'm straight back in there for next game. That's what I'm working to do.

MARTIN LEE: I tried it for a bit. I didn't really like it. It made me think of just certain bits that I took out of it. I think that's helped a bit. Just trying to keep it going now.

MARTIN LEE: No. I think Arvind Parmar played him in the first round of the Australian Open, lost in five sets. He played a good match there. I'm just -- my coach just watched a bit of it now. I'll have a talk to him tomorrow about it, have a good chance, go out and do my best.

MARTIN LEE: Probably Grosjean or Tommy Haas. They were my age. I played Grosjean a lot when I was 17, 18.

MARTIN LEE: My first tournament was the last week of March.

MARTIN LEE: It's been a bit dodgey over a couple of years. You would like get a twinge, stop for a week, then it would be all right. I went to India in November and that's when it finally tore, too much, knew I had to have the operation.