US OPEN

September 12, 1998

Carlos Moya

Q. I'm from the Weather Channel. Did any of the heat have an effect on your game today?

CARLOS MOYA: Well, I think, first of all, he played a great match, and his serve was unbelievable. You know, I had to change my game because the way I was playing, he was -- he was leading pretty easy. So I start to get to the net more often, serve and volley. I not used to that, but I think I did it pretty well. You know, I've been close to force the fifth set, but I couldn't. But I think his serve was too good today.

CARLOS MOYA: I think is normal to double-fault twice. The way he's serving, the lowest serve was like 100 miles, even the second serve. So I think is normal that he can make a few double-faults. I don't think he did many. I don't know, five, six, seven. But the way he's serving, I mean, nothing to make seven double-faults. And he has such a good percentage of first serve. You know, first two sets he played really well. If he was in semifinals, I knew he was playing well, you know. When he's playing that way, is really tough to beat him. But at the third set, I found a little bit the way to damage his game, you know, go more often to the net with my serve. The fourth set, he played well again. I didn't have any chance. But I think he played a great match. I expect him to play that well.

CARLOS MOYA: Yeah. I mean, he beat Sampras twice, I think. And he can beat Rafter, as well. But I think is going to be tough, you know, because Sampras have a better serve than mine, and Rafter have a better volley than mine. I don't think they're going to be long rallies. When you put pressure on him, he's not playing that well, but anyway, he was still too good for me today. I'm not saying that I play well or bad, I mean. I didn't feel comfortable the whole match. But I think he has a chance to beat any of them, but it's going to be difficult.

CARLOS MOYA: Yeah, I think so. If he could have a little bit more of control, he would be unbeatable. But, you know, he has to have a weakness.

CARLOS MOYA: Yeah, I think so. Yeah, because he's serving so fast. I don't know what was his percentage, but in the middle of third set, it was like 70 percent of first serves in. Serving that way, you know, I was not able to return. You know, you can return one or two. But from ten serves, he was putting seven. So I had no chance.

CARLOS MOYA: Who?

CARLOS MOYA: Well, I not his coach. I'm not the right person to say what he has to do. But, I mean, serving that way, you know, everything is done. But, I mean, he can improve so many things. But the kind of game he has, you know, he has to be concentrate with his serve, because he's going to make a break, for sure. Then when he's leading the match, he has so much confidence. You know, you have to break him first to not let him to be that -- I mean, to make more mistakes.

CARLOS MOYA: Well, you just have to guess where the ball is going to go, and pray, you know, because even if you know is going the ball, I mean, is not easy to put it back. But, you know, just pisses you off, you know, because you're feeling that you're doing nothing, "I cannot do anything with his serve." Then my serve, I didn't serve well, you know. But I was fighting for every game. And then he was serving the three serves and that was it.

CARLOS MOYA: I better not comment anything. I mean, I was fighting like crazy, you know. And first point, the woman, I'm going to try to say nice way, woman calls double-fault when the ball was in the middle of the line. Because I don't used to complain when I think I'm not right, you know. After that ball, three-foot faults the same game when they didn't call one the whole match. I don't know what to think anymore. But it pisses me off, you know, that I'm fighting the whole year, we are all the pro players, you know, and then for one ball, I mean, I not going to say that I could have win that match, you know, because for one ball you cannot say that. But at least it was Love-15, instead of 15-Love, which is very important. For that ball, then came the three-foot faults. You know, what I mean is that not only this match, last matches I also complained, also the first match. The referee, they should do something else, you know, because the way they are doing up there, you know, they can leave the court because they don't overrule not even one ball. We can play without him, just with the linemen, you know. They do what they say, and that's it. They don't overrule, not even one ball. So is the easiest job that I ever saw. So, I mean, they could leave from there. I will request, I mean, to prepare the lineman, because was one serve also, I'm sorry to say that, but the woman was a little bit old. You know, the ball was like 130 miles. For me was out. How can she see that ball? I mean, is no way. The way he hits, you have to be so concentrate. My God, that woman cannot see that ball. I saw it clearly out. But, you know, maybe is my mistake also, because that speed you cannot see anything. But I will request that, you know, to practice more. I don't know. I know is a tough job, you know, but to be a little bit better. I'm not the only one who complain about that. There are more players.

CARLOS MOYA: I don't know if I agree or not. I cannot say anything because these players would be against me, you know. And I don't want to be against anybody. Is obvious that the tennis is becoming too fast. Then you want to get the ticket in Wimbledon, and there's no chance. People sleeping on the street to get a ticket, you know. Then you go to the court, and you don't see any point, any rally. I don't know. That's what -- it's what they like, you know. I don't understand. But I have a lot of respect for these players, because I'm tall enough to serve like them, and I'm not able to do it. So is my mistake, as well. I could have the chance to do it, you know. I use my forehand to win points. I use their serve, you know. I mean is normal. And they are not doing anything wrong. I mean, they have to serve. Are the rules like this. You have one serve or two serves. They have two. I cannot say anything against that. But I not -- I'm not coming from the crowd, you know. I don't know what they see. I don't know what they like. I know what I like, but I don't have their opinion.

CARLOS MOYA: No, not at all. I mean, it affect me, but in the good way, you know. I mean, I was feeling much -- more power, much more concentrate, confidence, you know, self-confident. Was for good, you know, to play those five-set matches. I was totally fresh today. Because the last two matches I had were three sets, so I cannot say it affect me at all.

CARLOS MOYA: Me, if I was --

CARLOS MOYA: No, but he didn't give me any rhythm. He was hitting so hard. I didn't find the way to damage his game, you know. But after the second set, I changed my game. I went to the net, serve and volley, you know. Tried to do something else, because that way he was going to sweep me. I think I did something. You know, I cannot say that I played a good match the first two sets. But I was doing all my best.

CARLOS MOYA: Didn't surprise me at all because I know him, I know he's a very good player. He's moving well for how tall he is. He's very big, you know, he covers the court very well. Is not easy to make a passing. But didn't surprise me at all, his volley.

CARLOS MOYA: First question, the difference is in Australia, the ball bounce higher. It's a little bit soft. This the only difference, I think. Is hard court, is the same hard court. That's the only difference. Much hotter than here, and here, the ball doesn't bounce that high, you know. You have to bend your knees a little bit more. This good surface. I think I play better here, because it's a bit faster. The centre court is really quick. I felt it the first days. Now I got used to. But is the main difference. What was the second question?

CARLOS MOYA: Oh, I feel very proud to be able to play well everywhere besides Wimbledon. And I have some good results. I get a final in Australia, winner in French, semifinal here. You know, I think Sampras, if he wins this tournament, he's going to deserve to be No. 1, because he won two. But, you know, I'm going to tell you that I feel very proud of myself of these tournaments I've played. You know, don't ask me if I feel like I'm No. 1 or I'm the best player in the world just for that reason. I think the No. 1 is the best player in the world, and is the one who deserves it, you know. Right now, I think is Sampras, so he deserves it even he loses or whatever he does. No. 1 is No. 1, and nobody's going to change that.