U.S. OPEN

August 30, 1995

Thomas Muster

THOMAS MUSTER: I left on Sunday night, took private plane to Paris. Slept at the airport and left in the morning 11 o'clock, Concord, arrived there at 9 o'clock; practiced at 3.

THOMAS MUSTER: Because two years ago I did the same, I went to the quarters last year; prepared two weeks in Indianapolis, Cincinnati lost twice in the first round and still made the quarters so it doesn't make a difference, I guess.

THOMAS MUSTER: The first match is the most difficult one still arriving late here and it is good having a Wednesday start. Years before, I had a Tuesday start. So it is just a little bit the jet lag now, I mean, the evening now, it is evening actually in Europe, so that is a little bit of a problem, maybe with your concentration and everything to get over it, but I have a day off and I think I will be all right on Friday. So it is -- I am almost here a week now and I had a few days to adjust. The most difficult thing is the first round of course.

THOMAS MUSTER: I have played there three times since the war is on and never had any problems there. This area was never affected by war, so there was no danger at all there and all the action actually was pretty much over near this area, so...

THOMAS MUSTER: Last tournament I played was in the Indian Wells, so it was in spring. I haven't played on hard court since then.

THOMAS MUSTER: Yeah, it is not -- it is a difference, but not really too much. I mean, with the -- whether indoors or grass, of course, it would be a different situation. To adjust to that surface, the bounce is almost the same. The speed is not that much slower. So it is just the running, and I think I can adjust to my running technique in a few hours, so that is not difficult.

THOMAS MUSTER: No, I am better on clay. That is one thing. Then physically, I think, I cannot play too many weeks on hardcourts so I have to really keep it down as good as I can, and wouldn't make sense for me to play four, five weeks because I couldn't make it physically so...

THOMAS MUSTER: That would be fantastic, I mean, it would be -- I mean, but being realistic, I am in the second round. I guess I am facing Mark Woodforde which I have never beat on hard court, so it is a very difficult draw for me and I am looking forward to that match. Let the favorites be the favorites.

THOMAS MUSTER: Because the strawberries are too expensive. No, I mean, I have nothing against Wimbledon and I am very thankful that I got the wildcard two years ago and when I had decided to be there late and I never had a bad relationship with Wimbledon. I think at that stage playing that many tournaments in consecutive matches, I think that it was necessary for me to take a break that I really could do what I did afterwards. That means winning another few tournaments and just for winning one or two matches, maybe, or even losing first round there, I don't think it would have made any sense for me just to changing my game, just for two weeks and then going back on clay and having troubles to adjust again, so...

THOMAS MUSTER: Yeah, but I am Thomas Muster. Thomas Muster is Thomas Muster. Wimbledon is Wimbledon. They make their decision and I make mine. I mean, I really like to play on grass, and it sounds probably stupid, but it is really isn't funny, I really love to play on that stuff, but I just think that there is one or two tournaments played on it, and it takes too much time to adjust to it. Coming after the French, there is not enough time.

THOMAS MUSTER: Maybe next year, I will take my time and I will go there and practice there for three, four weeks and play in Queens and play in Wimbledon, but it depends also because we have to see that we have to face every week a clay court tournament until the French Open. Then we have to go there and keep playing on clay again. So for hard court players they have the chance in spring. They have it in fall. They can play any time they want. I made so many points this year on clay and I am still No. 3, I mean, that is -- but I can't really do more points than I did on clay, and it is impossible -- impossible to be No. 1 or No. 2 even with winning all those tournaments.

THOMAS MUSTER: I mean, it was his show, my win, so that is all right.

THOMAS MUSTER: I know him since many years. It was revenge. I had lost 15 years ago, never met until today, so..., but I am not supposed to make the show and he is out there to do it, so I mean, it is all right.

THOMAS MUSTER: No, it is just difficult when you look at him every two games you have to look around with the new shirt to find him.

THOMAS MUSTER: I have an opinion about it. We are in America where; everything is possible, so they let him do it.

THOMAS MUSTER: I think it bothers him more than me because. He has to think twice before the serve than me.

THOMAS MUSTER: No. 1 clay court player this year, but indoors or hard court, I don't have too many chances to play on, physically, one part and then I think that the clay court season is pushed together too much. There should be more possibilities and more bigger good tournaments all over the year so make it even.

THOMAS MUSTER: Favorite -- I love to do it when I have time, so I never have time, so I don't paint.

THOMAS MUSTER: No, I do, but -- no, if I have time, I really enjoy doing it.

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, I am doing acrylic painting on linens; sometimes trying to really get emotions there and colors and don't ask me to paint or draw a horse because you would not recognize it, but I am saying I like to do very colorful paintings.

THOMAS MUSTER: Maybe I sell it one day, you will see.