NEWSWEEK CHAMPIONS CUP

March 11, 1995

Thomas Muster

Q. Thomas, how much was the rain a factor or the delays?

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, of course it is more of a disadvantage for me than for him because I was playing well, so there was no reason for me to stop and I had several breakpoints and things like that. So I think especially the end of the second set, I mean, I got screwed first of all, in the breakpoint and then in the baseline and then on the sideline at 4-All instead of 15-All, it was Love-30 and then the rain delay again for a few minutes, I mean, all these things, it is not very good for me. And it is better for him.

Q. The last suspension came after you got screwed on one point. Now, you are behind Love-30, so you go back and you got to start serving again at Love-30; isn't it difficult to get your serving rhythm back?

THOMAS MUSTER: Yes, that is what I said; instead of 15-All, Love-30, that is the whole thing, I mean, and then after losing the second set, then he finally-- was just -- I couldn't believe that the linesman can miss a ball like that. That is, I mean, I shouldn't think about it, but it is difficult. It is like you are on your way to the bank; every time you step into the door, somebody just locks up the door in front of you. I mean, it is nothing you can do, if you get a call like that. I don't know, it is like -- like you get raped; nothing you can do.

Q. I am sure you have been in that situation before where you faced tough calls, but you have been able to get yourself back into a match. Why was that different today?

THOMAS MUSTER: It is not because if you get two breakpoints against this guy you got to make it. If he misses a shot and -- actually broken his serve, then this is it. I don't just understand these people; how you can miss a shot -- they are not even fast. They were two shots. They weren't even fast and there is a mark there; you can see it. There is nothing you can do.

Q. In your on-court interview after your match against Chang you noted that your game has changed. You sounded very optimistic going into this match. But you didn't say how your game has changed. How has it changed?

THOMAS MUSTER: Well, I think I am serving better. I am -- like on the return I am like moving more forward. Today, I mean, I was returning very good until set and 3-All; should have been like 5-1 for me, I would have had my chances there. That is the next thing, if you are using those shots and it is 5-1 we don't have to talk about a tough call at 4-All -- be in the locker room. That is the way it is. Yesterday three matchpoints down, he went in today; he have all the chances in the world to beat Edberg and he just didn't make it, but my game, as you asked, that is two main things that probably changed and probably moving more into -- even my groundstrokes; more covering the court inside, and waiting for my chances to come in, so that -- probably more aggressive.

Q. Thomas, what about -- Stefan is known for his kick serve. Did that have anything -- because he was getting more of them in the third set.

THOMAS MUSTER: Yeah, but this is like if you are two breaks up, doesn't matter what you do, I mean, then you raise your game and the other one goes down. Soon it is even, you know, you have to make those shots if you are up two breaks; you can fail one or the other. That doesn't matter third set. It was no match from the break in the first game of the third set; there was no more match. I was just too disappointed. I couldn't make those shots and actually -- well, a break, which could have meant a win, you know, in the second set. It was taken away and I just WAS too upset with that. It was my mistake - whatever it means. It is always human being that screw you. It is like that.

End of FastScripts!