GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 8, 1996

Yevgeny Kafelnikov

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I think so, yeah, because when he got to the critical part of the match he just seemed to lose his concentration. And at that stage, I think, I am much more experience than him maybe because I was longer on the Tour than him, but he has got a very bright future if he continues to play such tennis as he played now.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah, when he broke me for the first time at 2-1 and then like he hold again, it was 4-1 and at that stage maybe he didn't believe that he can beat me, but I was glad that I stayed cool. I was thinking that still, you know, I am still in the match and if I would have played a couple of good points, I might come back into the match and that is what happened. He played a couple of loose points. I played some good shots.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: In the first set, yes. It was really hot. In the beginning of the match. But then I felt like, you know, that critical -- I felt that critical stage and then I felt like I could play much more longer than in the beginning.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: No, I didn't. I just -- I was concentrating. I didn't look at the, you know, at the weather. I was just concentrating on those points. I didn't rush myself too much.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I happy that I got through because if I would have lost that match today then, you know, I might lose my confidence, but now tomorrow I might play Andre, which is, for sure, going to help me. He is now, I think, -- again he came back to the game again, so he is playing now as good as he can, so hopefully I play him tomorrow and I am looking really to a good match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: As I said, I got here only on Saturday. And those three days, those first three days I didn't felt great, to be honest with you. And as I was saying before, you know, you need the time to adapt to the weather, to the courts, to the atmosphere, and now, after five days, I think I got back on track again. So hopefully, you know, I am not playing as good as I can at the moment, but hopefully in three week's time when the Open starts I will be at the best as I can.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: No. I was -- I felt like I could lose the match, but, you know, I was trying to stay cool, basically it will help me. I was holding my tactic during the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I think so because if you are down in a match and if you are concentrating 100%, everything might happen in the match and that is what happened. I was staying cool. I was staying focused and I got my chance.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yeah.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, I felt like if it is going to rain, it is going to rain; we are going to stoop. As I said, I was not rushing myself too much. If we would suspend, the score was 5-2 doesn't matter to me.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I beat him three times. We played four times. I beat him three, so -- I think we know each other pretty well.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: French Open 1995 quarterfinal.

GREG SHARKO: Anything else?

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes, believe me. I lost many matches like that, critical, critical matches. If I would have convert all those matches, in 1994 I would be -- I finished the that year 11. If I would have converted, I would be in the top five, believe me.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Practice. Lots of matches. Winning tournaments. I am sure I am not the same person that I was two years ago. And I am sure he will not the same as he was today, so he wouldn't do the same mistakes twice, three times. I am sure he will learn from it.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Thank you.