EUROCARD OPEN

October 21, 1997

Boris Becker

Q. A little bit different than last week. You had preparation in Hong Kong for this?

BORIS BECKER: I am very glad I could play in Hong Kong to get match-tough. I had three matches, one doubles. It is one of the reasons why I started pretty good. Marc has been playing the last couple of weeks indoors, so he knew what to expect; whereas I haven't played in a long time. So, playing last week helped my confidence and my form tremendously.

BORIS BECKER: My mind is pretty busy these days. But, this week and even last week, I am trying to concentrate only on the tournaments, I think. I have entered here and everybody expects me, including myself, to do well. So, it will be a mistake just to talk about Davis Cup or talk about anything else. But, I think it's easier and better if I am sticking to tennis at the moment - me, as a player.

BORIS BECKER: I have watched them the whole year already and I -- it is a good thing that two relatively young players are improving that quickly over the last year and both are, at the moment, playing extremely well and it is definitely a boost for German tennis if those two guys could improve better.

BORIS BECKER: We always said that it didn't matter where a good player is coming from as long as he is good and there are different ways to the top and, you know, Kiefer and Haas are doing it in a different way, but both are successful and that shows everybody that there is not just one way, but different solutions for problems.

BORIS BECKER: Well, I am playing -- the expectations are extremely high from the fans and for myself. So I am extremely happy to have such a great start, you know, it is over now 6-2, 6-4; it shows again I am playing good tennis and Krajicek tomorrow is going to be a better player indoors, therefore, I need to improve a little bit on my today's performance. But, so far I can only talk about the first match which was very good.

BORIS BECKER: I just was talking to your journalist friend and explained to him that I am a player this week and therefore ask about Goellner or Krajicek and not about my other professions.