TMS - INDIAN WELLS

March 19, 2000

Thomas Enqvist

GREG SHARKO: Questions for Thomas.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Well, I felt today I was not really fit enough to play my regular game. I was try to play aggressive and keep the rallies short. I think the first two sets I have a few chances. I have a few breakpoints, but couldn't take them. Alex came up with some unbelievable passes, I think. I think that was it, Alex played a solid game and he was moving very well and he was passing very, very good.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Mentally I felt really fine. I couldn't really recover from last night.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Was okay, actually. I had some problem with my left leg, so I couldn't really put the weight into my serve. I felt today that I was really needed to serve good to, you know, have a chance to give Alex a good match.

THOMAS ENQVIST: There's no way to look at it that way, I think. I mean, it's part of the game -- I mean, I've been playing a lot of tough matches and feel fine the next day. I probably did something with my left leg yesterday. I don't want to take anything from Alex because he played a terrific match. I think I played pretty good in the first two sets, but he came up with good passes. I don't want to take anything away from him. I think he deserved to win.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I was not fit enough to run around the baseline, as I usually do. I was not moving well. That's part of the game. Alex had tough matches also this week. When you play six matches in six days, of course, everybody's going to be a little bit tired in the end. That's part of the game.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I have no idea. It's tough to say.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I have no idea. It felt fine last night. I woke up, I didn't really feel like I could push off with it when I served.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Yes.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I thought it felt like it was more tiredness, so he gave me like electrolytes or whatever you call it. I have no idea. I have to (shake?) it up now.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I don't know. I mean, it's the same for everybody. I don't want to blame anything on that. I think I played good tennis this week. I think I played all right in the first two sets today. Alex came up with some good shots. I felt like I needed at least one of those first two sets to have a chance to win.

THOMAS ENQVIST: It's always tough to say from day-to-day. We probably know that we both have a good chance when we step on the court. He came up with some very nice passes today when I was hitting good approach shots. He was too good.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I played him the last few times, I mean, that's one of the things he been improving the last few years. He has a good serve; I knew that.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I think he hit a few of them a good service. I think one of them I played against the wind, and he get me running. I don't remember, I think I was going for one of those balls and I missed one forehand or something.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Like I said, I probably needed at least one of those first sets, first two sets, to have a chance today.

THOMAS ENQVIST: It was disappointing losing in the first round of the Australian Open. After that, I felt I've been playing pretty all right. I started off the year good with a final in Adelaide. This is the second big tournament we have this year, and I made the final. Hopefully I can continue.

THOMAS ENQVIST: Well, I think if you look at men's tennis today, I mean, so many good players out there. Everybody can almost beat anybody. I think the most important thing is even - sometimes you have a few weeks when you going to lose early - you still mentally prepared to go on to the next week and don't lose too much confidence because that's the way it's going to work. This big level we have today in men's game, you going to have a few weeks where maybe you can play all right and still lose early. I think that's the big key for me, not to lose too much confidence when you have a bad week.

THOMAS ENQVIST: A lot of things I think I need to improve always. I've been showing I can beat anybody in the game. I mean, the key for me is to work with the things -- to work on my kind of tennis I play.

THOMAS ENQVIST: I don't know. It's tough to say after a match like this. I'm happy with the way I've been playing this week, I have to say that. I think Alex was too good today.