INTERVIEWS

Round 2: Defeated Cecil Mamiit.....5-7, 6-1, 6-3

MIKI SINGH: Top seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov goes into the third round. First question?

QUESTION: Tough match?
KAFELNIKOV: Yes, it was. He gave me a hard time.

QUESTION: Were you surprised?
KAFELNIKOV: Excuse me?

QUESTION: Were you surprised? Did you know anything about him before?
KAFELNIKOV: Well, I've heard he played Chesnokov last year and he barely beat him, so I knew he can be very tough, but I was ready and I didn't want to go out a loser today, that's why I put 100 percent effort to stay in the tournament.

QUESTION: Were you disappointed that first set got away from you?
KAFELNIKOV: I was on the top of the set having 5-3 basically serve for the set and then a few loose games, suddenly I was down the set and in this situation you don't want to face difficulties in the very early rounds, but I'm glad that I played 100 percent, second and third set. Basically I get away with it.

QUESTION: After something like that happens, what did you do to regroup going into the second set?
KAFELNIKOV: Well, you know, I think I'm better player than him, by proving and winning so many singles titles, and I knew how to, as you said, regroup, how to concentrate, when I have to face crucial points. I was facing two break points in second set and I was lucky enough to close that game and then next game I played 100 percent with concentration and break him and then suddenly things start to me a little bit easier.

QUESTION: Do you think that was the key juncture of the match?
KAFELNIKOV: Yes, I think so. I think so. Once I was able to hold that game, I just start to be concentrate 100 percent and didn't want to give him any chance again to have advantage, to stay on top of my game. So from that point in the middle of the second set I was better player.

QUESTION: It seemed like you tried to pick it up in the fifth game of the set, you tried to pick up your pace a little bit, tried to quicken things.
KAFELNIKOV: Yes. I was kind of slow in the beginning of the match. As I said, first match of the tournament, you're not realizing that your opponent is not an easy player. I know he was very good on the ground, he would hit some great rallies on the baseline and he was very good, but then once you have these problems in the beginning of the first set, you realize that he's putting you so much under pressure you have to concentrate 100 percent. But in this situation I think I was a little better than him.

QUESTION: A lot of people have said that when Pete Sampras gives up his number one spot, whenever that maybe, that you are right up there in terms of one or two people that are going to step in and take that role. Obviously that's not something you think about on a daily basis, but what are your thoughts on that and what do you need to do to reach that?
KAFELNIKOV: Well, basically, you know, deep inside I feel like I'm facing very difficult situation right now. I've been playing a lot of matches for the last three years and maybe I lost a little bit of sharpness. I'm not so sharp like I used to be, for instance, last year, or two years ago. I'm sure it's going to come back. Maybe it's just I have had the injury. I've been out for three and a half months. I haven't had any competition at all. But I feel like, you know, I definitely not going to reach that goal this year, but maybe next year, or in the near future I'll be able to do that.

MIKI SINGH: Any other questions?
QUESTION: Are you 100 percent physically right now?
KAFELNIKOV: I feel very well. I'm healthy. So far, you know, I haven't been facing any injuries lately. So I'm looking forward to the U.S. Open. That's all I can say.

MIKI SINGH: Anything else? That's it.
KAFELNIKOV: Thanks.