IBM/ATP TOUR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

November 15, 1995

Yevgeny Kafelnikov

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Believe me, it is. I am very disappointed with the way that I lost the match. I felt I had the match in my hands. I was serving for the match and I mean, it is very difficult. I feel very bad now because, for me, the World Championships is almost over. I had almost -- I have almost no chance to qualify for the semifinals.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: First of all, Pete has to beat Wayne tomorrow. I think the way Wayne is playing, for Pete, it will be very difficult. I am sure it will be a very interesting match tomorrow, but if that happens, for sure, I am going to try to play 300% that I can, the match against Becker on Friday.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: I had a lot, yeah. I knew -- I knew that today's match will cost a lot. Because there was a chance for me to beat Wayne and to qualify for the semifinal. And I felt that I played really well 'til 5-4 in the second set, but maybe because of that pressure, you know, I lost that service game at 5-4 and I kind of lost my concentration. I felt so frustrated after that and I think that will cost -- that was the point because I lost the match.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: It is no question ATP final is something special. Everybody wants to do the best they can. And coming here, I felt like -- I felt also that way. I knew that I have to-- I have to play my best against those seven best players in the world for this year. So... And I guess I show everybody that I can play good tennis so I mean, it is diappointing to me to be out of the tournament, yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Well, I wanted to win that match so bad and just because I didn't -- I knew I have to win, that is why I couldn't take away my emotions and for me, it was very difficult to keep that pressure inside of myself, so I kind of explode by throwing the racket, by throwing the ball out of the court.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: My biggest fault... I was doing everything right 'til 5-4 in the second set and I remember that game I didn't have any first serve in the court and I think that was the mistake. If I would have done once or twice, first serve in that game, I am sure the match would be over.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: When Wayne broke me at 5-4 and I am sure he felt that he got back to the match and it is no questions that Wayne is physically stronger than me, so that is why the third set was so easy. I felt that I had no power to compete with Wayne in the third set. And he was on top of me in the third set.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: In general, I think he is more fit than me.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: For sure. If you give him the chance, one chance to those players who is in the top 10, you are in danger. That is what happened to me. I give Wayne one chance to get back to the match and he used it right away. And that -- that cost me a lot.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes, yes.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: Yes, I definitely heard it.

YEVGENY KAFELNIKOV: No. To be honest, no. I am not hearing anything when I am playing. I am just trying to stay focused all the match and I am not reacting to the crowd at all.