| F. GONZÁLEZ/L. Hewitt Rd 3
6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
| F. GONZÁLEZ/L.
Hewitt 6-2, 6-2, 5-7,
6-4
An interview with: LLEYTON
HEWITT
3rd round 20th January, 2007
THE MODERATOR: Questions,
please.
Q. Was that a case of him
just making too quick a start, you giving up too much of a
start to him?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, a
little bit. It's always going to be hard to come back
against a guy like that when they get their nose in front,
swinging like that out there.
But, you know, I was nearly
able to turn it around. A couple points in the fourth set, I
could have nearly got back on even terms. But it's always
going to be a tough ask coming back from giving him such a
big start. He was obviously very confident. His serve got
better as the match went on. He served great except that one
service game where he lost serve in the end of the third
set.
It was a bit of an uphill
battle on all those. On my service games he was flashy,
slashing away. I was able to dig deep in the third set and
come up with something. Then in the fourth set, you know, I
had a breakpoint early to go 2‑Love up. If I could have got
that, it could have been a different story.
Q. He was red hot in
those first two sets.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, he hit
a lot of winners. Didn't make too many unforced errors.
Yeah, doesn't matter who he's playing against, he's
dictating play if he's playing like that. It's a matter of
trying to weather the storm as much as possible. If he's
hitting winners, there's not a whole heap you can do about
it. It's a matter of hanging in there and buying time,
trying to find a way to get out of it or change it around.
I was able to do that with
some gutsy play in the third set. Holding my service games
gave me that opportunity, but wasn't quite able to do it.
Q. Is it a case of
waiting for him to go off his form, or do you have to
contribute that for the turnaround to occur? Because I think
it was two unforced errors he had in the first two sets.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well,
a bit of both. If he's playing that well, that's too good
for those two sets. But it's a matter of me trying to mix up
things, try and make life as uncomfortable for him as
possible. In the third and fourth sets I felt like I was
able to do that.
The fourth set could have
gone either way there. We had a lot of deuce games. Just
wasn't able to get those big points when it counted. If I
got into a fifth set, then I would have liked my chances.
Q. What were your
thoughts in the final game of the third set when he threw a
couple of double‑faults in? Must have had a bit of
confidence at that stage.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well
up till then he'd served extremely well, apart from his
first service game of the match. He served well. Didn't miss
too many first serves. He was hitting lines left, right, and
center. It was hard for me to get into any of his service
games, you know, obviously after that, but then he went back
in the fourth set to serving well again.
Yeah, it would have been
nice to get one of those cheap service games of his and get
a break early in the fourth set, but it wasn't to be.
Q. How do you like his
chances for the rest of the tournament?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah,
against Blake's a different match-up. Both very flashy. Both
play very similar games. He's a great ball‑striker. A lot
depends on whether he can play like that every match,
though. You got to do it seven times in a Grand Slam.
Yeah, he's always been a
great ball-striker. That's never been his biggest problem, I
don't think.
Q. How do you review this
tournament? You'll say you entered it to win it. But
realistically with the disrupted lead-up, how do you look
back on it now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You're
disappointed when you lose. I'll look back, and I'm sure
there's some positives to come out of tonight's match. It's
disappointing I lost. But put everything on the line again,
went out there, was nearly able to turn it around again.
Obviously not having the
best preparation, the most matches that I would have liked
coming in, yeah, makes life tough.
Q. When will you sit down
with Scott to discuss the further arrangement between the
two of you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not sure
yet. That's the last thing on my mind at the moment.
Q. How pivotal has he
been for you during this tournament?
LLEYTON HEWITT: He's been
great. He's a great mate. He's got a lot of different ideas,
which is good. You know, he was one of the most talented
tennis players that I've ever come across in my time.
Yeah, he had every shot
under the world, and, you know, was able to obviously get to
his ranking. But he's had a lot of disappointments in his
life, as well, on and off the court.
He's got a great attitude.
He's a positive guy. He looks at different situations I
think to a lot of other people. It's been good for the last
couple weeks, that's for sure.
Q. In which way has he
been most important to you? Has it been helping you
mentally, inspiring you, or actually helping with your game?
LLEYTON HEWITT: All over, I
think. He's got a good tennis brain. But away from the
court, as well. He was my first ever person I beat on tour
back when I was 16. We spent a lot of time together. He
knows my game inside out over the years through Davis Cups
and traveling together. Yeah, he knows what my strengths are
and what my weaknesses are as well.
Just another view, you know,
a different view, an outsider's view. You know, it's a good
thing.
Q. How are you feeling
physically after this tournament?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not too bad.
The calf's a little bit sore. But considering how much
tennis I played, not too bad.
Q. Will you take some
time off now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't
know. I'm not sure yet.
Q. Are you confident
about what you can achieve for the rest of the year now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, you
know, want to get some more tournaments under my belt, a lot
more matches, get back in the rhythm of things. That's been
the toughest thing, especially with the knee injury late
last year.
Couldn't get back‑to‑back
matches together, which is a tough thing. It's not easy
going into the Grand Slams, you know, against the best guys
in the world when you're under‑done.
Hopefully I can get a few
wins in the smaller tournaments, just get a lot of matches
under my belt.
Q. The challenge you made
in the last game, obviously went your way. Was it tough to
get your composure back after that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Uhm, not
really. The crowd was obviously into it the last few games
of the third set and the fourth set. Obviously when that was
an overrule, then obviously the crowd was pretty excited, as
well. Sort of a matter of just focusing and trying to get
back on with it.
Q. What are your thoughts
about the Hawk‑Eye system now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, not
sure. Not sure. I just think sometimes the ball marks are
slightly different to what the thing shows. Andy Roddick's
serve or a Joachim Johansson's serve, the mark is about this
long, whereas on the screen it doesn't come up that long.
And we can ‑ even on a
Rebound Ace surface or hard court surface you can still see
the ball mark that has been left. So I've still got a few
question marks. |
Rd 2
Lleyton's interview
after match against Dancevic
Posted on January 19, 2007 at 03:58:04 AM by Betty
L. HEWITT/F. Dancevic
6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
An interview with:
LLEYTON HEWITT
THE MODERATOR: First question, please.
Q. From playing Michael Russell, being two sets and a breakdown in
the first‑round match, you seem to be getting back in the groove.
Are you pretty happy? How do you think you've done it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, a little bit. Obviously wanted to go out there
and get a little better start than I had a couple nights ago. Yeah,
that was important today. I got on top of him early. I was able to
play the big points well, especially in the first set there, get
that under my belt.
His serve, though, did get better and better as the match went on. I
found it hard to get into too many of his service games. I got to a
few 30‑Alls, but couldn't get break points out there. Just had to
keep holding my serve, take care of that in the fourth set, and wait
for my opportunity.
Q. Is there a problem at the moment with serving? Just a lack of
match play?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, today was a little bit different. I think I
just didn't serve great. When I got my first serve in, I took care
of it. I just didn't ‑‑ my second serve just wasn't there today.
Yeah, disappointing. You know, it's nice to come through those
matches even when not everything's clicking either.
I was able to find a way. In the fourth set I served a lot better
when I needed to. Takes care of business a lot easier, as well. The
games I was holding to Love or 15 nearly every time in the fourth
set.
Q. When you've been away, your serve is usually the last thing that
clicks in for you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Sometimes, yeah. It's a unique stroke, I guess. You
have days. Against Russell, I served the big points extremely well
when I needed to. Today was maybe just a bit of an off day with my
serve. Everything else felt a lot better than when I played Russell,
especially early in the match.
I still felt when I needed to I served well today. Serving for both
the first and second sets. I served good games there. Throughout the
fourth set when I needed to I wasn't getting into enough of his
service games to put pressure on him.
Q. You said you wanted match practice. A little bit more than you'd
like at this point?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, a little bit probably. You can't win the
tournament in the first couple matches. You got to find ways to win.
When you're a little under‑done, sometimes there are tougher matches
to get through, and they're most important ones to get through.
These guys have nothing to lose against me. Russell played an
exceptional match the other night, especially for two and a half
sets. This guy today was flashy. Doesn't give you a lot of cheap
points out there either.
You got to be prepared to work and do the hard yards. It's good to
get two wins.
Q. You mentioned at Indian Wells that you wanted to improve your
approach shot and volley. Your volley looked crisp. Have you
improved a lot on the approach and volley?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. Sometimes it's just a matter of
getting in there and being able to do it. If you pick the right
balls to approach off, it makes it a hell of a lot easier at the
net.
Yeah, if you're coming in ‑‑ and for me a lot of the keys are
hitting those approach shots into the corner, giving myself a good
opportunity at putting away the first volley rather than coming in
sometimes like a Rafter and having to play a lot of lunge volleys,
half volleys and low volleys, a lot of those ones.
Q. You seemed more willing today to go to the net though. Is that a
conscious thing?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Maybe a little bit. I think playing that guy, as
well, I felt like that was one way, when he ‑‑ you know, when he
changed to his slice backhand instead of going topspin, I felt like
I had an opportunity to get in and put pressure on him.
Even when he went for a couple of flashy backhands, he made a few
passes here or there, but I won a majority of the points by doing
that.
Q. No shortage of advice leading into the tournament. Part of it
came from Todd Woodbridge Monday when he suggested you have too many
off‑court distractions now to really produce your best tennis. He
felt you were zapped of energy when you walked out on court. Do you
have any response?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's a big call by Todd. That's about it.
Q. In what way?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not going into it, mate.
Q. So is it just a point of it's unusual to have a former Davis Cup
teammate being critical, publicly?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Todd's entitled to his opinions. We'll keep it at
that.
Q. How big a factor was the heat today? What is your view on the
heat policy, how uncomfortable?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's warm. Obviously a couple days ago it
would have been a lot warmer if you had to play outdoors in those
situations. You know, I still feel that's what you do all the hard
work for, to play in situations like that, put your body through
grueling times. If you're not up to it, then pull out.
Q. You don't think the matches should be stopped once they're
started?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think so. This is a different situation
where we can close the roof on a couple of courts and keep playing
on those. Sometimes if you're fortunate enough to be playing on
those courts...
This is a sport where you have to do a lot of hard work and
preparation to get your body ready. It's a one‑on‑one sport. You
come into the tournament knowing there's going to be some hot days.
If you draw those days, you got to be able to put up with it.
Q. You always have got Nadal in trouble. Can you explain what you do
against him? What is your recipe?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not sure. We've had some tough matches in the
past. None of them have been easy at all. I got fortunate in some of
them. Got the better of him in a couple of 'em.
But even the one I lost at the French Open, I still feel like I
played a great match on clay against him there. Yeah, I put a lot of
pressure on him on obviously his favorite surface.
Yeah, I don't know if it's my game matching up against his or not.
He's obviously a great player, maybe I'll get up for that match a
little bit more.
Q. What is your plan?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Just play my best tennis and see what happens.
Q. González, if he wins, what do you expect from him?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, he's a great ball‑striker. He can hit winners
from anywhere on the court. Very dangerous. It's a matter of
weathering the storm and trying to take my opportunities when I get
them.
He's a tough player, especially on this kind of surface or a clay
court. He's going to be obviously running around, looking to hit a
lot of big forehands.
Q. How much better will you have to play?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, I'd have to improve. I'd want to against him.
Yeah, he's a worthy opponent, especially for a third‑round match.
Q. Have you seen Del Potro?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I've seen a little bit, not a lot of him.
Q. How is your calf and your physical condition general?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, the calf's held up pretty well, considering
the amount of time I spent on court the last three days. It's
holding up well at the moment. The body, considering I haven't had a
lot of tennis, a lot of match play, is holding up well, as well.
Just try and keep it going.
Q. Are you growing in confidence that you can make a very big impact
in the second week?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm trying. Yeah, first steps first. Try to get
through the first week. Now a lot tougher players, the tougher
opponents. This is when you have to stand up and be counted.
These are the challenges I look forward to. This is why you play the
Grand Slams, play the sport. It's going to get a lot tougher from
here, though.
Q. Have you heard much about Del Potro? He seems to be a player on
the rise.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I haven't heard a whole heap about him. Saw a
little bit of him at the French Open when he qualified, lost to
Ferrero first round. Yeah, he looks quite dangerous on a slow hard
court or even a Rebound Ace, clay court.
Yeah, he's obviously got a big game, big serve, big forehand, moves
quite well for a big guy I think, as well.
Q. Got someone out there watching him now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: We'll find out a little bit more about him.
Q. Shortly after he got out of the hands of the trainers, you and he
traded shots with 22 rallies, which ended with him diving. Do you
get cynical when you see that sort of thing?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was a tough rally. I enjoyed it. I felt like it
was toe‑to‑toe. I was taking it to him in that rally. That was 15‑30
to bring up ‑‑
You're talking about the match point?
Q. Yes.
LLEYTON HEWITT: ‑‑ to bring up match point, as well. You know, I
enjoyed being in that situation, putting pressure on him. Obviously
I was trying to play an extremely tight game to close out the match
there, as well.
|
L HEWITT/M. Russell RD
1
3‑6, 2‑6, 6‑3, 6‑3, 6‑3
Q. Going down a break in the third, your thoughts then?
Just took me a while to work out not only where my game was at, but also
work out what was best to play him. I was just going to hang in there and
keep fighting. I just tried changing up a few things out there. Mix up the
height of the ball, the depth. I was trying to be a bit more patient out
there with him, let him try and dictate sometimes. First two and a half sets
he played great. Didn't miss too many balls. He would have made only three
or four errors, I think. It was a matter of hanging in there and waiting for
my chances. I felt like it got better and better as the match went on, which
is a good thing.
Q. How do you think you've pulled up?
At the moment I feel pretty good, considering what I've been through, the
calf injury and everything. Right at the moment, I'm feeling as good as I
could coming back from two sets to love in a grinding match from a guy that
plays pretty similarly to me. There was a lot of running from both of us out
there. Right at the moment it's hard to tell, but I feel pretty good right
at the moment.
Q. Can that competitive match help get your juices flowing like that?
It can. I'm never one to shy away from a contest. That's what it was
tonight. The deeper and harder I was pushed out there, the better I felt
like I came up with my best tennis when I needed to. My serve started coming
together. My movement, started being a bit more aggressive, took it to him.
I was able to turn it around somehow.
Q. Looking ahead now, are you concerned you've spent that extra amount of
time on court tonight, or is it not a worry because you didn't have all that
match practice you really would have liked last week?
Yeah, I would have liked to have got through a bit more comfortably. But,
yeah, I don't think it's going to mean much in a day or so's time. Played
enough big matches. I've done enough hard work in November and December to
bounce back.
Q. Any symbolism in kissing the court at the end of the match? Some might
consider it unusual because it's the first round. Are you all of a sudden in
love with the Rebound Ace?
I don't think it's so much the Rebound Ace. I think it's more the arena and
what the place means to me. It was a big match to get out of. I had to dig
as hard as I've ever had to dig. I've had some big matches there. I've come
back from two sets to Love there once before in a big match, as well. Yeah,
it's not a bad arena for me.
Q. Does that worry you, that you had to dig so hard so early on in the
tournament?
Not really, no. Should be okay.
Q. You've told us a couple days ago how you believe you're mentally fit.
After tonight, does this help that cause in terms of being able to come back
from two sets down?
Yeah, absolutely. If I wasn't ready for the challenge, then I would have
been out in the first round tonight. Yeah, I was ready for the challenge and
whatever he was going to throw at me. He threw basically the kitchen sink at
me out there tonight. I tried to throw it back and put some pressure on him.
Somehow I was able to turn the match around and get it into my favor. Going
into the fifth set, the thought of losing never entered my mind.
Q. Dancevic next round, Lleyton.
Yeah. I've never played against him, never hit with him. A little bit of an
unknown. He's an up‑and‑comer. From what I've seen in the past, he's, yeah,
a pretty complete player I think, all‑court kind of player, nice forehand,
nice single‑handed backhand. Nice first serve, likes to flatten it out a
bit. Yeah, I'll find out a bit more. I'll be ready.
Q. Any twinge with your calf?
No, I feel pretty good. From what I've come through, the amount of
treatment, to put it through that tonight, for it to hold up, it was pretty
good (smiling).
January 13, 2007
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA
THE MODERATOR: First question for Lleyton.
Q. How is your fitness and is a lack of match practice a concern for you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, the calf is coming along well. Slowly, but
(smiling)... It's getting there. I've had two good hit-outs the last two
days. It's held up as well as I could have ever hoped.
Yeah, the match practice, definitely I would have liked to have had more.
There's no doubt about that. It's a matter of trying to deal with that as
much as possible, getting those hours that I need on the practice court
before going into Monday or Tuesday's match.
The first couple matches, okay, they're not going to be easy. It's a matter
of trying to get through those as quickly and convincingly as possible and
move on to hopefully get my teeth into the tournament a bit more.
Q. How worried were you when you did it initially?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I was worried. I did it 5-All in the second set against
Kunitsyn. Felt like a gun going off in my calf. It felt like cramps. Never
had anything like that before. For the whole third set, I wasn't there,
wasn't able to compete. Came off the court, knew there was something wrong.
The odds are that I wasn't going to be able to play Sydney anyway, which was
disappointing for me anyway. You know, I really love that tournament.
Obviously, you know, that was a big decision in itself, to pull out of
Sydney.
But, you know, there was no guarantees it was going to be right by now.
Normally it would take two weeks or so. You know, I've done absolutely
everything possible physio and treatment-wise to get me as close as possible
to a hundred percent. I think, fingers crossed, it will hold up okay.
Q. Did you think you might not be here when it first happened?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Absolutely. When I pulled up a couple hours after that
match, you know, there's no chance I was going to be able to play, even if I
got through that match, the following day in Adelaide. Obviously, Sydney was
starting in three days' time. You know, the scan showed I had one-and-a-half
centimeter tear in my calf. Not a lot I could do about it. It was more
trying to stay positive and manage the situation that I had in front of me.
Obviously when you haven't played a match for a couple of months as well, I
was looking forward to this month. I love playing Adelaide, Sydney and
Melbourne.
Q. Not only dealing with your calf, you also had to deal with the split
with Roger. How has that affected you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I think I've dealt with it all now. I'm focusing on
what I need to do now for the tournament. I feel like I've got a good group
behind me that want the best for me, are going to try to put me in the best
frame of mind to go out there and compete over the next two weeks. I think
that's a big thing for me. If I'm mentally ready to take on every challenge
that's going to be put to me, and there's going to be some big challenges
over the next two weeks, if I last the distance.
Yeah, I think I'm as mentally ready now as I can be. In practice, I've been
hitting the ball well. It's a matter of going out there and executing.
Q. Were you surprised by his decision?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I've spoken about it. I'm sort of going to leave it on that
at the moment, try and focus on the positives, what I need to do over the
next two weeks now.
Q. To this point, have you made the best out of a bad situation with the
injury and the split with Roger?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I'm not hiding it's not the best situation to be in
coming into a Grand Slam. But, yeah, I think mentally the injury knocked me
around more with the chance I may not be playing the Australian Open. And
the first couple days after I found out I had a small tear, I was a bit down
obviously, not knowing how it was going to respond. It was probably the
first couple days I couldn't walk properly and felt it the most that I
thought, Is this really going to heal within a week?
Everyone was assuring me that pretty much it will be right. But then the
question mark, you know, you're going to come in under-done as well. Is that
really giving you the best opportunity of trying to win the tournament?
Yeah, I think I've dealt with the situation as well as I can. The people
around me as well believe that I'm good enough to go out and have a big
tournament.
Q. Have you learned a bit yourself over the course of the past week about
yourself and about where you're at with your game?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, a little bit. I've had some good chats obviously with
Scotty over the last three or four days now, five days. He's a very positive
guy, as well, brings a lot to the table. I think it's a matter of going out
there. I know what to do on the court. I know how to play the game.
Depending on who I play in the draw, obviously a qualifier I'm not sure, but
most of the time I know how they're going to play against me. It's a matter
of me going out there and doing what I need to do and executing the way I
want to.
If I play my best tennis out there, then I'm going to have an extremely good
chance, you know, especially getting through the first week.
Q. Could you put a percentage on your fitness, on your calf, then your
match fitness as well?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, the calf's over 90% now. The last two days I haven't
felt a thing out there. I don't feel like I'm holding too much back in
practice. Had a couple good hit-outs with Looch. Match fitness, you can't
emulate matches, getting them under your belt. So percentage-wise it's hard
to put. I would have liked a bit more than two matches, that's for sure.
Q. With this preparation, can you win?
LLEYTON HEWITT: If I get through the first week and put some pressure on the
name players in the second week, I've got a chance, that's for sure. I think
mental toughness is going to play a huge part.
You know, I feel like I've prepared as well as possible. I did a lot of
stuff through November and December to get ready for the Australian Open. If
I put myself in the right frame of mind going out there, that never-say-die
attitude, especially what got me to the final two years ago. You know, I
can't have a much tougher draw than I had a couple years ago here. I know
what it's going to take to come through a couple big matches.
Q. What do you make of your draw this year?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's not too bad. Qualifiers, the one thing they have is
three tough matches under their belt. Also they're going to be put on a lot
bigger stage than being on court 17 or 18 out the back, as well. Hopefully
that works in my favor.
Second runs, Dancevic or Hanescu. I played Hanescu as least once, I played.
Dancevic is an up-and-comer with a bit of flair, flashy kind of player. If I
can get through there, we'll start looking at some of the bigger names in
the draw.
Q. We've heard you talk about in the past couple years how the courts
didn't really suit you, how you were unhappy with things with the
tournament. How do you feel about things now? How would you assess the way
those changes affect your game? McNamee is gone now.
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I think in terms of the court, it's more trying to
get a level playing field, so courts like court 17 and 18 aren't playing
different to Centre Court and Vodafone. Them playing it a bit earlier this
year, the same time they lay the outside courts, maybe that helps that. I
haven't hit on the outside courts yet, so I can't really judge the
comparison.
Yeah, in terms of the tournament, I love the Australian Open. I love playing
here. I get goosebumps walking into this place. This is great memories for
me, not only coming here as a young kid matching Lendl and Edberg and
Wilander and all these guys, but making the final two years ago, even though
I lost, was a huge occasion for me and one of great pleasure and great
memory.
I have nothing against this tournament.
Q. Is Rod Laver playing faster?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Slightly. Slightly maybe (smiling). It's hard to say. I've
heard the outside courts are bouncing reasonably high from other guys. You
get so many different opinions out there.
For me I think it's playing, you know, maybe a little bit faster and a
little bit lower bounce this year. I think probably more so this stage, you
know, before the tournament. Maybe by the end of the tournament last year, I
wasn't in it long enough to know, but maybe it was playing a bit more like
it is now at the end of the tournament last year.
Q. So are you happy?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm ready to play on it.
Q. You mentioned it was one-and-a-half-centimeter tear in the calf
muscle. Is this wasn't a major, would you be taking more time off?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I wouldn't have had as extensive physio and treatment on it
as I've done. I've been pretty much getting treatment and physio all day
every day when I've been away from the court. I'm doing everything in my
power to be fit by Monday and Tuesday. But, you know, it would have to be a
lot more than to make me not play the Australian Open.
Q. After such a tumultuous buildup, can you think of a tougher time in
your career that you've had to overcome before an Open?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. I've always had a lot of -- US Open last year
was difficult, you know, having a knee injury, knowing that I definitely
wasn't a hundred percent going into it.
You have little obstacles you've got to try and pass. You know, I overcame
that pretty well considering I wasn't even close to a hundred percent
playing, was still able to make the quarterfinals there.
Yeah, it's going to be mentally tough. I think that's one of my assets. I'd
like to think it'll come through again.
Q. Do you think you even thrive on your obstacles?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Sometimes. A lot of people would say that. You know, I try
and be as mentally tough as possible every time I step on the court. I think
when the bell rings Monday or Tuesday, I think I'll be ready to go. Mentally
I'll be as focused as ever, you know, know what I need to do out there.
Q. Will you speak to Roger or expect a good luck phone call before your
first game?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know, mate. Not sure.
Q. Can you foresee in the future, or do you still have a good
relationship with Roger?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm sure we will, yeah.
Q. In the future?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm sure.
End of FastScripts