US OPEN

August 28, 2000

Alex Kim

MODERATOR: Questions for Alex.

ALEX KIM: I mean, first of all, just being out there in the stadium, just walking out there with Andre was just an unbelievable experience. In terms of the tennis, it was a pretty bad experience (smiling). Andre just didn't give me an inch. I guess that's why he's so great.

ALEX KIM: Not really. I mean, he might have -- he missed a couple shots. But, you know, I just felt like he was in control the whole time. Yeah, the first set was close through the score, but I think even still, he was in control.

ALEX KIM: Mostly the crowd. I had practiced there a couple times during the week. You know, that definitely helped me just get used to the surroundings. With all those people in there, there was just so much electricity out there.

ALEX KIM: I was hitting pretty good first serves, in my opinion. He was just hitting them back, you know, like twice as hard, and deep. You know, usually after I hit a good first serve, I'm kind of able to control the point. After I hit a good first serve, I was on the defensive, which I'm not used to. Yeah, I mean, he definitely sets the standard for returns, and a lot of other stuff.

ALEX KIM: Oh, yeah. I was just sitting there in the third set, "Take me back to Stanford."

ALEX KIM: You know, if I had to say today, you know, I would go back. But I'm going to be playing a lot of tournaments in the fall. Hopefully I can get some points and we'll see.

ALEX KIM: Definitely. Definitely. Like I said, if I had to decide today, I would go back. But, you know, I'm also considering turning pro.

ALEX KIM: You know, it was funny. I got picked up from the airport. The driver was like, "Who you got?" I was like, "I don't know, they haven't made the draw yet." He was like, "Do you care who you play?" I was like, "Yeah. I just hope I could have a chance." He's like, "Well, what would happen if you drew Andre?" I didn't want that, specifically Andre. I got in the locker room. Guys were smiling and stuff. Then I found out. Yeah, it was quite a shock. You know, that's the way the draw goes.

ALEX KIM: In that sense, it was great. It was a great experience. But, you know, I thought if I had played someone else, you know, maybe at 11 a.m., another court, not quite as good as Andre, I think I might have had a better chance. In that sense, it wasn't so good.

ALEX KIM: Yeah. It was actually some of my Stanford buddies and my high school buddies, and my family, of course.

ALEX KIM: Yeah, they were there.

ALEX KIM: Yeah, I think they were there. I have two sisters. I know I saw one of them there.

ALEX KIM: Exactly. But I would have maybe have liked to do it in the second round (smiling).

ALEX KIM: No. I mean, I couldn't see up there. You know, I wasn't really looking up there. Probably just some fans, random fans.