US OPEN

August 29, 2000

Nicolas Kiefer

MODERATOR: Questions for Nicolas.

NICOLAS KIEFER: Sure. I was struggling in the third set. I don't know what happened, the toilet break. I had a good first and second set. I made very important breaks. He had a good third set. If I forget this third set, it's a quite good match. I knew it was going to be very hard against him, because he brings every ball back. I had to fight hard, and I did it, and that's important.

NICOLAS KIEFER: No, I mean, I would prefer to win in three sets. I started very good. He played a couple of good shots and I didn't pay attention, I lost my concentration a little bit. I had a good start in the fourth set, went up 4-1, serving for the match at 5-3, he had a good game, then finally I won. It's just important to win. I don't care how. I just want to build up my confidence and my game. That's what's important for me.

NICOLAS KIEFER: It's a great tournament here. The atmosphere is great. Everything is a little bit louder because of the planes and everything like this. I think the spectators are great. It's a Grand Slam. You have to play best-of-five sets. It happens in every match. Everybody is going to lose one set. That's tennis. That's a Grand Slam.

NICOLAS KIEFER: Well, I mean, it's a compliment of the ATP and of everybody who says the new generation. I mean, for sure, Agassi and Sampras, they are about 30. I think they're going to have a couple more years, but then everything is going to change. Now you can see that we have a lot of new names like Safin, Ferrero. Many new players are coming up. That's good for tennis. It's great.