US OPEN

August 29, 2000

Harel Levy

HAREL LEVY: Well, maybe. I mean, I was trying to push myself, get into the match. He started very well. He was playing well during the whole match, not making a lot of mistakes. I had to push myself, change some things. I did in the second set, but then he came up with better answers in the third and fourth.

HAREL LEVY: Of course. Michael is a great player. I mean, he's been in the finals here a couple of years ago. He won the French Open. I remember him winning the French Open like ten years ago, when he was serving from down there (indicating). I was watching one of the greatest player.

HAREL LEVY: Not really. Not really. I was trying to focus on what I had to do during the match, on my game plan, just trying to focus on myself, not on him.

HAREL LEVY: Well, the game plan, I think he likes to play fast, so I try to slow down a little bit, play with a little bit more topspin, when I get the short ball, try to come in.

HAREL LEVY: Well, when Mansdorf and Bloom were playing, it was maybe the third most popular sport after soccer and basketball. Then when they quit and we didn't have a player in the Top 100, I think the popularity went down. I hope now when I'm in the Top 100, more people are going to be interested in this sport, how the popularity will be.

HAREL LEVY: I'm not sure.

HAREL LEVY: Maybe. I'm not sure about that. It was very late at night. Maybe they're going to broadcast it.

HAREL LEVY: I don't know. Probably some. A lot of tennis fans. Maybe some. For sure my family.

HAREL LEVY: Not at all. I mean, I'm proud to be the next star for Israel. I always dreamt about being the No. 1 tennis player of Israel, getting into the Top 50. That's my next goal for the next couple of months or years.

HAREL LEVY: No. I think he has a good presence on the court, I mean, as long as being a great player. I don't think I was intimidated by him. I think I also had some good presence on the court. I think the crowds were supporting me even more than him. This was kind of weird because I'm an Israeli playing in the States and he's an American.

HAREL LEVY: Maybe because of the big Jewish community here. I think that's maybe the only explanation I can give right now.

HAREL LEVY: Some. There are some aspects that I have to improve of my game, that's for sure. But for a first appearance in the US Open, I'm not disappointed. I could have played better, but I think I had a good presence on the court, and I gave him some hard time today.

HAREL LEVY: I like the atmosphere mainly, the crowd really gets into the match, supporting the players. It's just a great atmosphere to go out there and play, especially when you're playing in one of the stadiums.

HAREL LEVY: Of course. I've been a couple of times. I've played the US Open last year and the year before. I also played Juniors here. Two years ago, I lost third round of quallies. Last year I lost first round of quallies.

HAREL LEVY: Not really. When we go, we go to Manhattan to have fun, shopping. Usually we stay in Long Island with family because there's a lot of Jewish people staying there. We have a lot of friends there. I have also family here in New York, have some cousins here.

HAREL LEVY: I'm going home to rest. I've been playing. I didn't take a break for like four months now. I've been waiting for this break for a long time. Really tired.

HAREL LEVY: Well, my serve, especially. My forehand. A little bit the movement around the court. I didn't think I was moving that well today. Usually I move better. Maybe I was a little tired today, playing a lot of matches for the last couple of weeks.

HAREL LEVY: It was last year, challenger, in Aptos, California.

HAREL LEVY: Tired.

HAREL LEVY: A little bit. A little bit. I mean, I'm not going to go out, unless I play Sampras, Agassi, some of the big guys, not feel disappointed. I think I had my chances - not a lot - but I had some chances throughout the match. I didn't take them. He took them. He played the big points better than I did. I think that was the difference.