US OPEN

August 29, 1997

Justin Gimelstob

Q. How does it feel to get to the third round of a Grand Slam?

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: It is not so much round or with a win, specifically. It is just nice to come through in situations like that. It is not -- it is tough to get caught up in rounds and results and scores. It is just nice to get through. It is nice to play a great fifth set there, start to finish.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: 3 and 0 five sets, lifetime. You should be on that.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I just seem to get into a nice comfort zone, nice level of focus and I just compete hard and I am in good shape.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Probably, significantly. I mean, I wouldn't want to play that match in Sweden.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Okay.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Played him twice, yes, and I know he is a good player; plays a lot like Gustafsson, actually. He is a great player. I am going to have to recover from this match and, you know, keep the chains going forward as Andre and Brad would say. I am just -- there is nothing -- it is not science, it is not rocket science, just going to play my game, execute, and things will take care of itself.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I would kind of expect the crowd to be like that. I mean, I am their hometown boy. I have a lot of ardent strong supporters. They don't really get a chance to see me play. They just have to rely on papers and internet and stuff. This is one of their only opportunities to really come out and see how I am developing and it is great. I would anticipate, expect, and appreciate the support.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: My confidence is improving. My confidence is definitely getting stronger and that is a big part of it. I mean, to play these matches and to be put in these situations and to come through, that is a tremendous confidence booster and what you learn at this level, it is a very slim margin and confidence is a huge boost.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I mean, I played a great serve and great volley on set point down and he hit like a great forehand down-the-line. I mean, I didn't play a bad game. He broke me. He played some great shots. Fifth set-- I love fifth sets, so, just get it going.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, maybe. That is just experience. I have to maintain a high level of intensity, but still remain calm. Maybe in the second set, yeah, my priorities changed a little bit and I backed away from my game plan a little bit.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Nick, sure since I was 15 years old.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yes, I haven't been working Bobby, but I have been travelling with Elliot Teltscher. Nick is always going to be someone that is involved in my tennis both professionally and personally. He is a great fend of mine.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Just being able to perform at the top of my game when I needed to at the end of the match in a very dramatic situation, it is a good experience.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: No.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: My legs are so long I have got to teach them how to go down, so, that is to the extreme. But, if I go in between there and how upright I usually stand, then maybe I will be all right.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: No, I mean, I always -- Elliot has been working with me hard. He incorporated a lot of things in my game. He has been coaching me basically.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: You know, it is great. It is a nice compliment, but it doesn't give me any extra points when I start out there. And, you know, it is just a nice compliment. I just have to deal with it in my own way, put it aside and work on my game because nobody gives you anything out there. As a matter of fact, when you seem to have a label like that, people seem to shoot for you more to try and chop you down, chop you down. So, I am just look at it as a motivating factor and, you know, I am just here to see how good I can be, basically.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: If I was going to point to one person in particular -- there was a million people I wanted to hug at that point -- probably just the first person I made eye contact with or maybe the best looking girl in the stands maybe.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: No. I mean, I am not a -- the USTA, I think, has done a good job with me. They have always been supportive. They have always provided a lot for me. And, I can't really comment on how they have done or what kind of job they have done. I just know, personally, they have done a good job. And I think, you know, I think they will maybe it is a little bit cyclical, the process, that is going on now. We will be fine. We have the two top players in the world. We have some good players coming up. I think we are fine.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I would pretty much say, you know, 85% of that crowd, I mean, I probably had to get 30 tickets and probably I could have given out, I mean, it is tough to say, that crowd was awesome.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Every time I looked around, I could make eye contact with a new person that I have known for a long time.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I actually didn't have a good rhythm on my serve for maybe about a set and a half. Last three sets I served great. I think I was trying to maybe serve a little bit more to his forehand than I normally do because -- to try and open up the backhand. But, I started serving some heat. I started hitting some locations. I was really happy with the way I served.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: If you know this area, it is a big window depending on traffic. But, ideally, I live about an hour and 15 as long as the Yankees and Mets aren't playing - anywhere from hour 15 to two hours, 1:15 clean.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: What do you think? (Laughter.)

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: This is an hour from my house.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: That is all said, good and great. But, if I am an hour and 15 minutes away, he will be there, don't worry. He is not a real travel fan. He doesn't incorporate that. But, if I am in the area, he is going to there be. And, it is nice. It is great for him to be able to share these kind of moments.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I mean, at this point I am 20 years old. I am almost -- I am on the brink of being an adult even though I don't act like say it some times. And, you know, we are both individuals. He has done a great job raising me. He deserves to be there. It is a positive influence as long as he is, you know, it is great having him there.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I don't want to answer that question. You know, questions like that, it is -- you can't really predict because you never know how people are going to develop. You can't see what is inside of someone. You know, people look at things and say, well, "He is not fast enough, he is not big enough, he is not strong enough, he doesn't have --" you can't predict, really. I mean, it is tough to stay. You just have to look at everyone. I think the group has some potential and it is tough to say top 20, top 25. So, if a guy is 25, then if I think he can be 25, or you can always think that -- if you are capable of making it, you can't put a number on it because who is to say you can't have a great tournament and then move the ranks. If you are good enough to compete with the pros, and be a top player, it is tough to put a number on with your can go ranking-wise because there is such a window of opportunity every week that so many things can't control. I would prefer to say if I think guys are making it at the professional level, and I think there are some guys out there that can.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I haven't been crazed and nervous at all. I have been actually very relaxed. I am an emotional person and emotional guy. It is nice to experience this with my friends and family, but, I have been very relaxed. It has been enjoyable.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: We struggled in the beginning; saved about three matches points and we got through, so, it is a good start.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, I mean, he looks nice in shorts. I am a pretty good looking guy. (laughter). I mean, it is tough to say. Doubles counts a lot on timing and scheduling and -- but, I think we can play. We play well together, yeah.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: I am staying in the city. I am donating a lot of my prize money to the UN Plaza.

JUSTIN GIMELSTOB: Yeah, I think that is a great indicator. You know, I think it is a great indicator of my fitness and my mental strength.