EUROCARD OPEN

October 29, 1998

Tim Henman

Q. You served very, very well at times when you were in trouble. But the double fault, two doublefaults, first time one in the second --

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I think there definitely wasn't too much wrong with the way I played. I think I did play two poor tiebreaks. That unfortunately, happens from time to time. But yeah, I think up until those points I can't have too many complaints with my game. I did serve very well. The game that he broke me in the first set -- the only time he broke me in the match, missed a couple of first serves. I think he hit a few winning returns and then I hit three aces to get back into it. And then he hit a couple of more winning returns. That is sometimes matches, you know, like that go in your favor; sometimes they don't. It didn't today. It is as simple as that really.

TIM HENMAN: Perhaps.

TIM HENMAN: No, it is inevitable. At this stage of the year, it is on everybody's mind who hasn't qualified and who has got a chance. But take that aside, you just look at the way I am playing, I think I am still playing very well. In the tiebreaks, I did play poorly. I was 4-Love down before anything began to happen. That is too big a lead.

TIM HENMAN: He has beaten a lot of good players, he serves very well. He has got big first serve and he likes to take on his groundstrokes, his ball pretty big off both sides. I think in the second set perhaps he kept the ball a little bit low and stayed in the rally pretty well. That was obviously a tactic that worked well.

TIM HENMAN: I think his return is good. I think especially on the second serve he can really get on top of it with both hands, but I felt like virtually all the time, whenever I made a first serve, I was hitting the corners pretty regularly and he didn't have too many opportunities.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I think if I was put back in that situation I still think I would go for the same shots. That definitely -- I think, the first one was Love-15 in the - at 1-All and then I think perhaps 15-30 at 2-All. I missed them both. I wouldn't say there was anything wrong with my tactics. I think it was the right tactic to take on, but, you know, those are shots you'd like to make and if I did, I think it probably would have been a different story.

TIM HENMAN: I think, if anything, it is probably a little bit easier to see on that court. I think on Center Court the ball comes "out of the people," if you like, so, yeah, if anything, it is a different atmosphere, obviously. But I think visibility is perhaps a little bit better on the court we played today.

TIM HENMAN: No, I felt like during some of the rallies they were talking a little bit. But no, I think only it happened once.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, just while we were playing the rallies.

TIM HENMAN: Sure, it is a match that I really wanted to win. It is as simple as that. I don't think it was the racket's fault, but sometimes they --

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, you said it. Fortunately, I got a few more.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, I still am very happy with the situation I am in. But when you look at this week and the winner will probably end up getting 500 points; the winner in Paris will get 500 points and the winner in Moscow and Stockholm will probably get 300 points, so there is still plenty of point to play for and there is plenty of points for me to pick up. But, no, it is -- still in Super 9s, a lot of things can change, but definitely like to be in my situation. Having said that, I still got to go out and win matches if I want to qualify.

TIM HENMAN: Yeah, it is tough to say. I think -- I think Kafelnikov -- it is difficult. I think Krajicek perhaps this week. Kafelnikov seems to win Moscow pretty regularly, there's 300 points for him. Yeah, there is the guys, you know, could be Korda next week - he hasn't played particularly well recently.

TIM HENMAN: I don't think there is one. I think they are all sort of in a very similar boat. They are all capable of it. You got Korda, Krajicek, Ivanisevic, Kafelnikov and they have definitely won plenty of indoor tournaments between them. They are capable of doing it again. But I think I am still very happy the way I am playing. I won Basel a couple of weeks ago, so, could be me winning one of those tournaments.

TIM HENMAN: I am 300 and something in front of Korda or a little bit more in front of Krajicek. Obviously he is going to close that gap this week. I am even further in front of the others; that is why I say I'd much rather be in my position - still a long way to go.