US OPEN

August 31, 2000

Tim Henman

MODERATOR: Questions for Tim.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. From my point of view, I'm not going to try and make out that I played a great match. It was a question of getting the job done. You know, probably the best game of the match he played was the first. After that, I think I settled down pretty quickly, got back on level terms, got a lead, never really let him into the match.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. He hit a couple of good shots. You know, I wouldn't say I did too much wrong in that game. But he definitely started off very well. A five-set match, still a long way to go. You're not going to start panicking at that stage. Played a good game on his serve to get back on level terms. Felt very comfortable from then on.

TIM HENMAN: You've got to take advantage of that and accept that on his forehand he can hit some winners, but when he gets erratic, that's when you've got to make sure you keep the ball in play to take advantage of those unforced errors.

TIM HENMAN: One of them. I mean, they're all pretty distracting here. That's the first time I've seen people throwing walking sticks onto the court. That's what fell down.

TIM HENMAN: Yes.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. It was a huge metal thing. It landed just on the lady's shoulder. She was pretty lucky. If that hit her on the head, it would have been a different story.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. Important business call probably.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. You never know what's going to happen next, whether it's people moving or people throwing things or whatever. I feel like my concentration was okay, definitely areas that I could improve on. But if you only drop nine games, I don't think you can complain too much.

TIM HENMAN: Very much so. It's like that golf saying, isn't it, that you can't win a tournament in the first couple of rounds, but you can certainly lose it. Likewise, you can't win the tournament in these first few matches, but you've got to get through them. To get through them as comfortably as I have is good, bboth mentally and physically. You know, I think pretty likely it's going to get tougher from now on.

TIM HENMAN: Not really. I think I'm not going to suddenly start getting frustrated after losing my serve in the first game. I would say the only other slight hiccup is when I was up a double break in the third. Again, you're not going to get frustrated when you're playing somebody that looked pretty exhausted and you're up two sets to Love and a break. You know, at the important stages in the match, I was always on top.

TIM HENMAN: Inevitably. As you go further in a Grand Slam, the opponents are going to get tougher. Certainly in my section, I'd be very surprised if Krajicek doesn't come through. We've had some pretty interesting matches on the occasions we've played. You know, if I play Richard, then I look forward to it. It's a pretty good match-up. Put it down to who plays best on the day.

TIM HENMAN: I think overall for a stretch of time. I think I've definitely been very satisfied with the way I've been playing. It's a question of just trying to continue to make improvements and try and continue that form. But, no, I'm very pleased with where I'm at the moment.

TIM HENMAN: I suppose it's little things. I think sometimes I can be guilty of not taking advantage of some of the opportunities that I have. You know, that's difficult. If you create breakpoint opportunities, then you like to take them. Sometimes, you know, I've found the people I've come up against have played good points to save those. You know, that's a very specific area that I'd like to try and improve on.

TIM HENMAN: It's sort of difficult for me to talk too much about last year with the way that I played (smiling). From what some of the other guys are saying, I think the three major show courts are slower than last year because I think people have said that they were quicker. They were sort of shinier last year. This year I think they're a pretty good pace. Whatever you're going to do, you're going to have to do it well. I think a lot of it is dictated by the weather. It hasn't really been particularly hot yet. You know, the balls aren't flying around as much as they could do. Have to wait and see what the forecast is.

TIM HENMAN: I think they've been pretty consistent. Talk to different players, they'll say different things. It's amazing some people's perception of the surface, some people will say, "Cincinnati was slow and Toronto was much quicker." Other people say exactly the opposite. It's down to the individual really.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. My game has been pretty consistent. I think I've felt like I've been able to play the game that I want on these types of courts. They definitely suit me well.

TIM HENMAN: Sure.

TIM HENMAN: Exactly. I mean, I haven't done anything differently. That's where I've tried to speak about being patient. I haven't done anything differently, but I think I've continued to do the right things and I've improved. It was definitely frustrating for me early on in the year when I put myself in those situations, gave myself those opportunities, and I wasn't able to take them. I can't sort of second guess myself, blame myself. I did everything I could, but it didn't go my way. I've made some improvements. I've been playing better. I'm a little bit more confident. Again, you get into some tight situations against some good players, and, you know, things start going your way. Again, it's a question of not having any let-ups and just trying to continually work at what I'm trying to achieve.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. But having said that, I've beaten them all before. No question, it's a big task to perhaps beat those type of players consecutively. Again, it's another challenge. You know, I relish that.

TIM HENMAN: That's a difficult one, isn't it? I'm not so sure I, you know, would agree with that. She's obviously perfectly entitled to her opinion. You know, I think the Olympics has been the sort of pinnacle of sport for so long, I don't think people should be making their decision whether or not to play the Olympics for financial matters. I'm going there to represent my country and hopefully win a medal. To participate in the Olympics should be enough.

TIM HENMAN: Sure.

TIM HENMAN: I would definitely say, you know, that the thrill of winning definitely is what it's all about. I think the opening ceremony at Atlanta was probably the biggest and best thing that I've ever been a part of in sport. You know, I can't wait to be a part of that again because it is a unique situation. I think it's an enormous honor for any sports person to be in that situation.

TIM HENMAN: I've always been eager, but it doesn't matter at times how hard you try. If you haven't got the game to back it up, then you're not going to be successful. Twelve months ago, you know, I was trying my hardest, but there were areas of my game that needed improving. I was playing without confidence. That's a difficult time. It's a question of giving yourself a base to work from. And that's exactly what I did over the first six months of the year.

TIM HENMAN: I don't think it can be tomorrow. I don't know.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah. I don't know.

TIM HENMAN: A slightly strange schedule here. I would be very surprised if it was tomorrow. Hopefully on Saturday.