U.S. OPEN

September 3, 1996

Andrei Medvedev

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Well, obviously he's a great player, very talented. I think he played well today. If he keeps playing like this, he has a good chance to win.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: No. I expected him to come out strong and serve well, hit his forehand well. He gave me chances. It was up to me to convert them. He played well and he deserves it.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: I think it's private. I don't think it should be discussed with the press.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: No. It was a bit different for me to play in the center court because I played on the center court of the big events for almost a year now. For about 15 minutes, I was a bit confused. But I practiced two times on center court this week, so it's not really an excuse. After 15 minutes, I was fine.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: I realized that I played some good tennis. I'm very disappointed, not so much with the fact that I lost, even though it's enough to be disappointed, but with the way I lost. I think I had great chances to win in both third and fourth set, I had breakpoints, and I should have convert them. I made the wrong shot selections, didn't really go for my shots. I think this I would regret; I would play those points differently. But overall I think I played okay. It's not enough to win the big tournaments.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Well, we've worked on that since the beginning of the year, with Bob. My game is getting better, I'm more aggressive, cover the net more, I feel more comfortable. I think I should have come to the net a bit more today. I needed some of the free points that I could get at the net. There's another nothing -- it's another thing I regret that I didn't do.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: I think it takes my understanding to do this. If I just do it because coach tells me to do that, I don't think it's right. I have to understand what I'm doing. Three years ago, I didn't understand this kind of game can be successful for me. Now I realize that I can play and I see the result is good and I keep working on it keep improving. It's disappointing because I thought I had a game to go further than the fourth round. I mean, once again, it's a good lesson. I hope I do well.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: I'm scheduled to play in Bournemouth next week on clay in England. I think this will be the next one for me.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: A few players have a great serve. It's not that much the speed, it's the disguise of the serve. Goran has a pretty good disguise. There are a couple more guys that serve quite well, placement of the serve as well. Goran will be in the top three for sure.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: That was a big swing for me because I had the momentum on my side at 15-40. I should have broke him then. I saw he was getting really confused. This game was big. Once again, I knew that it's big. I made the wrong shot selections. I mean, this is something that I will regret for sure until the next time we meet. It's a good lesson. Unfortunately it's too expensive. Life will go on, I mean. I try to correct myself already tomorrow -- I mean, today. Unfortunately now the chance is gone.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: I don't know. You should ask Goran.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: Excuse me?

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: It's not different. I know what I'm here for. I'm here to win. I'm here to play tennis. I'm not here to talk to anybody. I understand that it's part of my job, the part that I like. I think my personality hasn't changed. Talking about other things than tennis will just disconcentrate me. I'm here to play tennis only, not to talk about my private life or any other things. When I come here, I'm talking about tennis. I try to stick to answer questions, but that's it. My personality hasn't changed.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: No. Once again, I'm a bit older than 18 and 19, more experience in life, on the tennis circuit. Before I didn't know that it takes lots of energy to talk about other things. Now I'm here for tennis. I feel that every word that is said which doesn't concern tennis is a distraction. I know that it's not good for me, not good for my job. That's why I'm more serious. But once again, the tournament is over now for me. If you give me some time, I'll be normal.

ANDREI MEDVEDEV: I felt that it was tough to change something. It was difficult to change the things that we wanted to change. I didn't want to be responsible for players because, once again, it was taking my mind away from tennis in a way. Secondary, I'm a responsible guy and I couldn't be responsible for so many players.

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