Kevin Kim: Tennis-X 5 Questions

Tennis-X: What do you attribute your recent success to? You were virtually groveling to just pay for your expenses out on the tour and now you are making a living playing tennis.

Kevin Kim: Truthfully after seven long years of playing the only noticeable thing I changed was my rackets. Changing rackets triggered some confidence and a new-found feel in my game. After finding confidence and feel it gave me a better foundation to work on solidifying my game.

X: Explain a usual week out in the minor leagues of tennis, the Futures and Challenger tours.

KK: A typical week in the minor leagues: Apart from playing matches, I've usually exhausted myself practicing and preparing for the match. If I'm not staying in housing to save money, I split hotel cost with another player. Usually you're in small towns, so basically you eat, sleep, and practice.  Not exactly the glamorous lifestyle people usually associate with professional tennis.
 
X: During this year's Australian Open, you found yourself in the round of 32, on the brink of reaching the round of 16. Did you find yourself thinking about how great it would be to be in the last 16? Did you choke?

KK: As I was up two sets to one I think I was getting a little weary. I think mentally I was getting overanxious and trying to step on the pedal to put the match away. Having blisters and feeling constant pressure from (Thomas) Johansson always put me on edge throughout the whole match. Even though I was up two sets to one I still knew I wasn't in a secure place in the match. I did not choke, his experience of winning the tournament before might have been the deciding factor.
 
X: What do you want to achieve in tennis that you have not already done?

KK: Well, I hope to accomplish bigger and better results as I keep playing. If there was one goal I would like to accomplish before retiring it is to play in the Olympics. It would be an honor to represent your country in such a prestigious event.
 
X: Are you a big shot now that you have solidified your position in the Top 100? How has your life changed, if at all?

KK: Just recently the USTA was graciousness enough to provide me with the coaching services of Francisco Montana. My clothing supplier is a European manufacturer, Lotto. My lifestyle really hasn't changed too much from the minor leagues. I still practice and prepare myself to the best of my abilities. The only change is the camaraderie amongst players. More players realize its a business at the higher level and surround themselves with their own support team. Unfortunately, I am not doing well enough to bring a whole entourage of my own. Hopefully, soon.

Kevin Kim finished 2004 at No. 99 on the ATP Rankings, winning three Challenger titles.