TELECOM ITALIA MASTERS

May 10, 2003

Yevgeny Kafelnikov

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I would say yes, the fact that I lost in a semifinal in a Masters Series event, having served for the match at 6-5 in the second set, yeah, it is frustrating factor. But I'm not disappointed at all with the way I played. That's good progress for me in the right direction.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: No, I think I never thought that I was overdoing something. Just the fact is that I extremely got tired in the end of the second set and the beginning of the third for about 15 minutes. That's, I think, the reason why I lost. But like I said, I'm not going to blame myself for anything what I was doing on the court. I think I played sensational. It's just one of those days where I was a bit unlucky and played perhaps a little bit tentative at the moments when I needed to play aggressive, especially when I was serving for that match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, I was surprised with myself with the emotion that I showed. It's been a while, like I said, that I was in the tournament on the weekend, so...

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, I said, you know, some time I am surprising myself. You know, the reason is, like I said, I started to feel healthy again, you know. When you are playing well, you know, all of a sudden emotions comes in to the factor, too. So it's combination of both. And, you know, I see no reason why I cannot continue to play that tennis again.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: It was perfect example today how everybody should play against the Spanish guys, the way I did it. If I would have maintained my focus for that small period of time, the score would be 6-4, 7-5. But, unfortunately, I lost that focus for short period of time and it cost me the match. But you have to play aggressive. You know, aggressive, dominate them. Otherwise, if you give them a chance, you know, play tentative, defensive game like they do, they can hit that yellow ball for a long time. That happened throughout the third set. I was tired and my ground stroke wasn't that effective like it was in the first set. Felix was playing his usual game. Once I started to do different things, you see I got back in the game in that third set, in the end of third set. Unfortunately, I lost. But, still, that's how you should play, how everyone should play.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, again, we coming back to that subject because to be honest, in my mind, I didn't felt like I was gonna feel healthier like I once was. And that was the reason why I had that thought. But right now, right now I feel physically stronger again, and I still have energy to compete with the young guys. Yeah, 29 is not the limit, of course, for the tennis players. Hopefully, you know, I can do what I was doing when I was at a young age, and who knows, maybe I can be long enough here.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I am, yes. But it's becoming extremely difficult to compete singles and doubles. Yesterday I had a tough match against Verkerk and I had to go out and play doubles. Perhaps it was the reason why I run out of energy in the end of that second set. But, you know, I always said it, that, you know, I got better in my singles game throughout playing doubles. You know, I improved my serve tremendously, volley. It definitely helps. If I would give advice to young guys who are playing only singles, I tell them they should go straight to the double -- play doubles. That's the reason how they can improve their game.