2006 MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

January 12, 2006

A. SEPPI/L. Hewitt
4-6, 7-5, 7-5

Q. What was your summary of that?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I just played too defensive when I got up, you know. He played a lot better on my service games than his service games, but, you know, I just didn't attack enough and didn't put enough pressure on him early in my service games when I had opportunities. You know, still had two matchpoints, though, and one of them he came up with a great chip backhand when I came into the net. But, you know, it really should have been finished off in straight sets. It shouldn't have even been put in that situation in the third set.

Q. Is it a matter of form or confidence?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. Probably just matches, I think. You know, finishing off sets and taking that advantage and, you know, staying positive in that situation, I think. So it's definitely something against the best players you've got to do.

Q. How are you physically? Did that have any bearing on the results?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think I was 100% but, you know, I'm not taking anything away from his win. But, you know, I don't think I was probably 100% out there, but you're never going to be a couple of days after probably it was hopefully the worst of the virus earlier in the week. But, you know, still knocks you around a bit. Hopefully, I'm going to be better for it next Monday or Tuesday.

Q. You mentioned matches before. Will you try and do anything between now and the Open, or just full-on practice?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I won't play matches. No, it's just a matter of, you know, practicing and, you know, just working on little areas and timing and, you know, going out there and being confident within yourself, I think.

Q. Does this leave you short on preparation for the Open?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know about that. You know, I've had different form in the majors when I've done well in the past. You know, there's been times when, you know, I've struggled, haven't won a lot of matches going in, then gone and made a final or won a Grand Slam. Other times when I've had a lot of matches, a lot of wins under my belt. So I think the most important thing is to be mentally ready, ready to go when the Grand Slam starts. And, you know, the last seven or eight Grand Slams I've been able to do that.

Q. You lose a perfect record in this tournament.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. Well at this site, yeah.

Q. How do you feel about that? Is that something that was on your mind?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really, no. That's not something I hold -- it's obviously been fantastic to win four titles here in Sydney, but I lost a couple of times when it was played at White City and it was still the same tournament then.

Q. Overall, going into Melbourne now, how do you assess where you're at?

LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, as I said, I think, you know, you just got to sharpen up a few areas there. You know, I felt like today I was able to step it up occasionally when I needed to but then, you know, just wasn't quite able to finish it off. You know, best-of-five-set match, I should have won today's match in all three sets. That's what you've got to be able to do against the best players at the business end of a Grand Slam. Hopefully I can learn from today's match and, you know, turn things around next week.

Q. Just on an entirely different subject, there was an announcement overnight of a Bulgarian player being banned for doping. Is doping a problem in tennis?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. There's obviously been a few more cases more recently in the last, you know, five or six years, I guess, than we've heard of in the past. But obviously there's so much more testing these days as well on all athletes, not just tennis players. So, you know, odds are in every sport there's probably been a few people get caught here and there.

Q. Bookmakers think there's only about four or five realistic contenders for the Open. How many would you say have possible chances? Throw a few names out.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, you know, obviously Roger and, you know, Roddick, myself, Nalbandian. Trying to think who else there is. You know, I think we're probably the high favorites, I think, going into it. But then again there's -- you know, as I said the other day, there's so many tough early matches that you never know. Coria is capable of an upset here or there. Ljubicic is playing well. Davydenko. These are the guys probably just the tier below that can cause trouble during a tournament, I'd say.

Q. After last week and this week, do you feel as though you still have the same mental intensity that you've always had?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, yeah, nothing's changed that. It's a little bit harder this week, though, when I wasn't feeling great to go out there. And I probably had to rely on being mentally tough this week more than ever purely because, you know, when you're not feeling great, it's sometimes more of a mental battle than a physical one out there. So, you know, this week I don't think I've lost any of that.

Q. What's your hunger like for the Open? It's been years since an Australian won. How do you feel going into the Open?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Hear that every year, so...

Q. One more year. How do you feel about it?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I tried my best last year, so... It doesn't bother me too much.

Q. Are you as hungry as ever?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, yeah. Australian Open. It means a hell of a lot to anyone, especially an Australian and especially coming so close last year.

Q. Obviously tomorrow's draw is going to have a bearing on where you're placed in the draw. It's going to be either you or Nalbandian on Roger's side. How much of an impact is that going to have?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not a lot, no.

Q. Given the big changes in your personal circumstances last year, was there any apprehension coming into the new season about whether you'd still have the killer instinct?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No. You know, once -- you know, I've been training as hard as I've ever trained, you know, throughout November and December and, yeah, when I get on the court and, you know, the practice court or in the gym or wherever, it's the same as usual. You know, every time I go out there, you know, I focus on what I need to do.

Q. And just what about your bug? You're obviously better than you were yesterday, which was better than the day before. Is it progressing like that? Are you feeling much better?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's getting better, you know. Hopefully can take another couple of steps forward in the right direction.

Q. You're still not completely free of it?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not 100% just yet.

End of FastScripts….

2006 MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

January 11, 2006

L. HEWITT/J. Melzer
6-1, 6-4

Q. Does that performance indicate the illness is all gone?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Uhm, I wouldn't say all gone just yet. It was a big step in the right direction, though. So I'm pretty pleased with the way I was able to go out there and focus on the job at hand and not worry about how I was feeling at all. You know, it's nice to win a first set as well (smiling). You know, it hasn't happened for a couple of months since I've, you know, played last. So it was good to get off to a good start, and I think that was important, you know, with the conditions out there today. The wind was swirling a lot on center court and it was tough for both players up both ends.

Q. How did the stomach feel compared to two days ago, and have you been able to find out exactly what problem it was?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It was definitely better today. I don't know if it was only my stomach today, but my whole body felt better today. I felt like I had a lot more energy out there today. The other day I just -- you know, apart from the stomach - you can normally put up with a bit of a sore stomach out there playing - it was the fatigue and energy that I just had nothing two days ago, whereas today I had a lot more energy out there and, you know, felt like I could be competitive and be myself out there. You know, who knows exactly what it is, but, you know, hopefully it's on the improve and keeps improving day by day.

Q. With the withdrawal of Safin and Nadal, can you see that the draw for the Aussie Open is quite open for you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really, no. Still a hell of a lot of good players out there. As I said a couple of days ago, to play against those guys, you just about -- you got to make it to the quarters and the semis anyway. So, you know, I've got to go out there and still take care of the guys I need to in the first week and put myself in a position. You know, anyone that makes quarters or semis of Grand Slams regardless is going to be seeing and hitting the ball well. So even though it's not those guys that obviously have a good record in the big tournaments, you know, there's Nalbandian, Coria, you know, a lot of names out there still.

Q. What do you make of Roger's antics yesterday saying you were the favorite?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, it's very surprising, you know. I think Roger's got to go down as one of the biggest favorites of all time this year. So, you know, what did he lose, four matches last year, and at least two, maybe three of them he had matchpoint in.

Q. You've come off a bit of a break. Ivan Ljubicic yesterday said he thought there was enough flexibility in the current scheduling for people to pick and choose their events. You've managed to do that very successfully and still maintain your AFL, golf and charity interests. How important are your extracurricular activities to a balanced lifestyle and performing better on the court as well?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, I was still pretty lucky. I only competed -- I only finished eight tournaments last year and finished No. 4 in the world. I don't know how many times that would have happened, and yet there's no doubt it puts you under more pressure in the big tournaments that you play because, you know, if you don't perform in those, then you'll be back 200, 300 in the world. So you're starting behind the eight ball, but last year for different reasons, you know, I had more breaks. There's a few injuries and then obviously the birth of Mia at the end of the year. So I don't think that would happen every year, but I think, you know, it's getting harder and harder I think to keep your ranking at the top when you're not playing a lot of tournaments.

Q. You're still drawing positives from having the break that you might have had later in the year instead?

LLEYTON HEWITT: For me, I think living in Australia, I think that's why so many Australians in the past have lived overseas. There's no doubt that it's harder traveling around the world. And, you know, particularly the stretch, the clay court season and finishing at Wimbledon. The whole clay court and grass court season, we've basically got to stay there that whole time whereas a lot of the European players and even some American players can go back for a week or two, back to their home base, whereas Australia it's nearly impossible with jetlag.

Q. What do you make of Roger's form particularly after his loss to Tommy Haas today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I wouldn't read a lot into today's match. It's an exhibition.

Q. What are your thoughts on the length of the season? Every year it seems we have the same thing: high-profile players dropping out of the Australian Open because they're carrying over injuries from the previous season. The Masters Cup last year, I mean, the field went away completely. For years and years, players have been asking for people to review the season. What are your thoughts on that?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, I think first of all the Masters Cup was a little bit of a once-off. You know, I haven't seen -- the years that I've played in the past, it would be unlucky if one of the top eight guys pull out. So last year was very unlucky for Shanghai for different reasons. In terms of the Australian Open, I think, you know, there's no doubt that it's a lot tougher on a lot of the top players. If you're playing all the year and then expected to -- normally there's going to be pretty good players playing in the Davis Cup final which is a week and a half, two weeks after the Masters Cup as well, and you've got to somehow have a couple of weeks off there, there's no way that your body can always bounce back. We saw it when I had a big year in 2001. I got the chicken pox early in 2002. Juan Carlos Ferrero had exactly the same thing 2004, started 2004. So these are the kind of things that the players and especially the top players I think have been asking for and want a look at for a long time now, but, you know, nothing still seems to be happening.

Q. Last year you fielded a lot of questions about your sleeveless tops, and it was great that you made a joke out of it. This year will be Andy's first Australian Open in Lacoste and your first one in Yonex. How has it been having to wear less Nike street ware, more Abercrombie & Fitch, and having Sydney Confidential spies pretty much photograph your entire T-shirt collection this year?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I'm lost for words. What was the question (smiling)? Uhm...

Q. You spent a lot of time in the society pages this year as well, so pretty much your entire nonsporting street ware has been photographed as well.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, there's not a whole heap I can do about that. You know, that I guess comes with all the acting that I've done (smiling).

Q. Adelaide Crows' colors are on your racquet as well.

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, no, that's not hard. Yonex are always going to change and come up with new designs. That's the design they've come up with this time.

Q. Tomorrow there is the possibility you'll be playing Guccione. Is that good for the tournament for you to play an Australian in the quarterfinals?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I think it's good for the tournament, I think it's good for Australian tennis. It's always hard on both the Australian players going out there and playing each other, though. It's something that I haven't had to do in the last couple of years purely because we haven't had that depth. Back when I first started there seemed like a lot of guys that I kept bumping into, a lot of other Australians, and it's never easy playing against those guys. If Chris can get through, it would be great. I'm not sure if he's made a quarterfinal of a tour event before so it would be a big step in the right direction for him and for his career. Yeah, it wouldn't be easy for either of us.

Q. Luczak said he spent a lot of time practicing with you pre Christmas. Do you see it as a role for yourself to help some of these young guys through?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I like Peter a lot. I think he's -- you know, he's probably never going to be a top 10 player, but he puts himself out there and competes day in, day out, you know, on the match court or the practice court, so I got a lot of time for the guy. It was a pleasure to have him to hit with in December. I thought he was hitting the ball great. And, you know, I saw a bit of his match today and, you know, most of the time I thought he was the better player. So he was a bit stiff. That was one of those small opportunities that sometimes you've got to take to get that breakthrough to the next level.

Q. Federer was beaten today. Do you think that suggests there might be a slight chink in the armor?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I wouldn't read a lot into today's match for Roger. Firstly, it's an exhibition. He (dropped?) Tommy Haas last week in the semifinals. I think Roger is probably cruising through right at the moment.

End of FastScripts….

2006 MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

January 19, 2006

Q. What was the problem out there for you?

Q. The feeling, how bad was it at that stage? Were you thinking, "I don't know if I can go on"?

Q. Is it one of those 24-hour things?

Q. How important is it for your preparation for Melbourne to get through today and have some more matches under your belt?

Q. How is your training compared to last year? Last year you sort of trained and got really, really fit. Have you done the same thing this year, or did you strike some sort of balance?

Q. Is that a worry? Maybe you turn around and say you don't want to risk Melbourne, that you might lose a bit of that hard work you've done, that top-level fitness?

Q. If you had lost today, given what happened in Adelaide as well, would that have left you seriously unprepared for Melbourne?

Q. Will you play on Wednesday if you wake up feeling like you woke up this morning?

Q. What exactly have the doctors said to you about it?

Q. It's only very early days, but has being a father changed playing tennis at all?

Q. Are you getting plenty of sleep at home now?

Q. How much was today due to the way you were feeling, and how much was due to Vince?

Q. Nadal and Agassi are already out of the Australian Open. Obviously, Roger is still in the way, but do you feel this is your best chance ever at winning the Australian Open?

Q. Have you tweaked anything at all? You've been so close the last couple years. Is there any minor adjustments you've made to your game?

Q. Do you see anything in Nalbandian's victory in the Tennis Masters Cup?

End of FastScripts….