GREAT AMERICAN INSURANCE ATP CHAMPIONSHIP

August 6, 1997

Chris Woodruff

JOE LYNCH: First question for Chris.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: In what way?

CHRIS WOODRUFF: It was a tough match.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: I was a little frustrated. Just a bad serve, nothing -- no pressure really or anything -- terrible, terrible serve. Never had a chance, the ball toss was so low. Obviously, my emotions, after that doublefault, a little frustrating. But he hit an ace. It is not like I could have got the ball back into play anyway. Not too much of a high, really. Just, you know, in this game you can't get too high or too low. Just try and stay even keel out there.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Definitely I'd say it is pretty -- I'd say it is definitely a breakthrough.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Before I was used to beating top guys but had trouble stringing them together. But this has taught me to -- I think it is really good that I beat all those top guys last week and then I came here and prepared. And, now I know what it is like at least - if you win a big tournament to come to the next tournament. I had really no preparation of these courts, never really got used to these balls. I went right into my first round match really not too prepared to play here, but I think I learned a lot.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: No. Not really. I couldn't have gotten the flight out of Montreal, I don't think I could have made it to get here on Sunday. Maybe that would have been the only thing, but nothing -- no, I wouldn't do anything differently. It is tough to -- yeah, because the mind wants to become satisfied. Out here seems like you never really can become satisfied because there is always another week.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: No, I think it was good that I came here and played. I think it is good that I got this tournament -- definitely I got it out of my system now and I can drive back to Knoxville today and go back and relax for a couple of days. Get away from the tennis scene.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: I have had -- I have played out to the semis and stuff and got out on Monday, but we never had to really deal with a big win like that one. So, it is tough. It is tough. If I were a golfer I would have teed off on Thursday and maybe had a couple more days to get the mind and everything into it.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Haven't really thought about it yet.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: I don't know. I am going to go home to just kind of try to rest up, really. I am sure it will -- I am sure I will think about it and enjoy the victory. Be nice to get back home for a couple of days.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: No. Indianapolis next Monday.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: No, I don't think you can predict what is going to happen.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: I don't know, really. Just got used to playing out here. Got used to -- I used to -- playing these top guys and getting the way they hit the ball and the level of competition, really. I don't know if I can put my finger and say well there is one turning point. I just got adapted out here.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: It is a lot mental out here that is for sure. That is definitely mental a lot of mental.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Just try to go in there with an attitude take it match by match and everyone in there trying to shoot -- you know, set a goal that I was going to get to the quarterfinals or just try and win this one, second round or whatever, I went always in there thinking I had a legitimate chance of winning the tournament and I always try to take it match by match.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: That my legs are a little sore. A couple of points I could remember clearly that I didn't have my legs I needed.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Obviously Indianapolis is a great tournament. It is one of my favorite tournaments on the Tour. I imagine there are going to be good players there, but I have to approach it like any other tournament. They treat the players -- they are really nice to the players. Not to mention they have a lot of golf available. That is nice.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: I have a 3 handicap.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Not lately. But, I will try and find time to play maybe 18 or 36 holes when I am home a couple of days.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Golf?

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Never. Never.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Golf?

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Usually I play when I am out of a tournament. Not too much while I am in. Occasionally I will play on Monday, have Tuesday off and play 9 holes. But I don't really play too much when I am at tournaments.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Great. Great shape. I think American tennis is in great shape.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: Well, you have like myself, Alex O'Brien. You have -- I guess the big thing that people don't realize is -- let us just take a look at here. I won Montreal. Chang won Washington. Courier won Los Angeles. Jim and Courier and Chang are what, 25, 26. Pete, I think, how old is Pete? 25. Those guys are going to be around now for five, six more years. Hopefully I will be around and can carry the flag. So we don't have to worry about that for six, seven years. Now maybe six, seven years from now, you ask me that question, maybe it will be a different answer. I think the general knowledge of the public always wants to focus on the negative and let us focus on the positive. These guys are going to be around for six, seven years. We have the 1 and 2 players in the world.

CHRIS WOODRUFF: I haven't paid attention to it too much because I think state of the game is in good shape so it doesn't really concern me or bother me too much.

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