US OPEN

August 31, 1997

Tommy Haas

Q. What makes the difference today?

TOMMY HAAS: Well, I think that the fitness made a little difference. I mean, in the fifth set at the end, my body stopped working. I was there mentally. I wanted to win the match a lot. The fifth set at 1-All, I had a breakpoint, couldn't convert it. He had a good serve. I think mentally then I was a little frustrated. He start ready playing really well on my big shots. Then all of a sudden I started feeling the cramping already in the fourth set. I think fitness-wise I have to improve a little bit more when I play those three to five sets in the Grand Slam.

TOMMY HAAS: Didn't seem to bother him too much today. He was running like an animal. If you look at the match, at the tape, the shots I hit, he almost got every big ball that I hit. So I don't think it was bothering him too much. You just focus anyway and try to play solid in your match and try to win. You don't care if the other one is hurt, otherwise he wouldn't be playing anyway.