Lleyton Hewitt/Max Mirnyi  defeated Ferreira-Leach 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 US OPEN MENS DBLES FINAL 8 September 2000


An interview with: LLEYTON HEWITT and MAX MIRNYI

MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton and Max.

Q. How does that feel for you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, it's fantastic to have won my first Grand Slam title. I lost in the final of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon. I wanted to do better in the final this time. We've had a very tough draw I think the whole way through this tournament, for our first tournament together, playing as a pair. It's tough in doubles to sort of just come out the first go. To do it at the US Open, to go through the teams that we've done, including the Woodies, then the Australian Open champions here in the final, you know, it's fantastic.

Q. Is this the start of a long-time team? What do you think?
LLEYTON HEWITT: We haven't even spoken about it. Sort of a last-minute thing after the Indianapolis tournament. So far so good. It would be fantastic to sort of join partnership.

Q. How did you get together, you two?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Max just went and asked Darren. I think it was halfway through Indianapolis. We both played in the final of Indianapolis, doubles there. Darren just said it would be fantastic because I wasn't playing mixed doubles here. Obviously, you know, if it was going to come into contention with the singles, I might have to withdraw. Everything went well.

Q. This must be a nice push going into tomorrow.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I think it's been very good for me just to have played the last two days, just to sort of keep that competitive spirit going a little bit, because I am very competitive out there on the court. I think just to be a bit more match-toughened, as well. Who knows, if I won pretty early on Wednesday, about lunchtime, I've got two and a half days of nothing. I think it's good for my game.

Q. You're feeling pretty confident about tomorrow?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, as confident as you can be, I suppose. It's a little bit of an unknown factor for me, going into a semifinal of a Grand Slam. You know, I'm going to go out there and I'm going to give a hundred percent. Hopefully my game matches up well tomorrow.

Q. The serve was a little bit lower than you would have liked, 54, 36 in the second set, two doubles.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Three, actually. Yeah, you know, I just started struggling when we changed ends really. First set I served up the other end, served pretty well. From there on, I really struggled. I thought I got it together towards the end of the third set pretty well, especially in the tiebreaker.

Q. How would you evaluate this US Open in your tennis career?
LLEYTON HEWITT: So far, so good. To be here Friday afternoon, have won the doubles, be in the semifinals of singles, you couldn't ask for much more. You know, it's been a dream, I suppose, to have won the matches that I've won.

Q. It's right up there in your tennis career, the greatest week so far?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, for sure. Obviously, the Davis Cup final last year was possibly the greatest thing just because you're playing for your nation. But this is up there, for sure.

Q. Are you surprised actually how well you've done? Had a pretty slow start to the summer.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really, because I had a couple of niggling injuries throughout the summer. You know, I wasn't even close to a hundred percent fit in Toronto or Cincinnati. You know, since then I made the semis of Indianapolis, won the doubles. Feeling pretty good.

Q. Pete Sampras, who knows a bit about tennis, said the other day that you were the future of tennis. What are your thoughts on that comment?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, obviously, you know, it's a fantastic compliment to come from such a great champion. You know, you've still got to go out there and produce, you know, get the results on the board. So far so good. There's still a lot of guys coming up, though. We can obviously see Marat Safin. He's probably going to be, I'd say, the favorite going into the other semifinal. He's only a year older, I think, than me. There's some great young talent I think coming up, as well.

Q. And the Aussies are known for their camaraderie. What's the best piece of advice you've gotten from any of the Australian team, coaches, going into the semifinal?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. I think a lot of the people, Newc and Roche, Rafter, Darren, all those guys are trying to tell me, "It's another match out there, try not to get overawed by the occasion." I've got the results on the board so far, been getting better with each match that I've played. I've got to remember it is a semifinal in a little way, but I've got to go out there and I've got to attack. I can't be satisfied with making a semifinal.

Q. To win a doubles championship, have it come off of your racquet on an ace, how much can you translate that into confidence going into a singles match against Pete Sampras? Is it apples and oranges?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It just helps my game all around, just to keep sort of the eye in a little bit. Obviously it's very hard returning serve against Pete. I think it's really tough returning serve in doubles, as well, because you've got that guy at the net. You have to hit it at a particular spot on the court in doubles. I think that really helps my returning in singles just because I know that I've got to hit it in a certain spot in doubles. Playing a guy like Sampras, you hit it up a little high, it's "bye-bye now." I really think it does help my all-court game.

Q. Playing the doubles today, are you thinking about the match tomorrow, "I want to get through this thing, to keep my level up for tomorrow"?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Really didn't go through my mind out there. I'm very competitive with what I'm doing. I wanted to win like nothing else out there today in the doubles. Sampras is tomorrow. From now on I'll probably be thinking about it.

Q. Regardless of what happens tomorrow, you've been in some pretty good form with Indianapolis and here. You must go into the Olympics with a fair bit of confidence, regardless of what happens tomorrow.
LLEYTON HEWITT: For sure. It has been a great tournament. You can't take that away from me, I don't think. Going into the Olympics, I've won I think -- I made the final of the doubles there, won the singles earlier this year in Sydney. I know the surroundings, I know the court. The crowd were fantastic earlier in the year. I think it's going to be even better playing in the Olympic games.

Q. Are you excited about your home country?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's a dream to be out there. Even if I don't win a medal, I'll be giving a hundred percent. Just to say you walked out behind the Australian flag, into Stadium Australia, it's something I don't think words can express.

Q. The final, the mixed, champions in the men's doubles, to beat the third and fourth seeds with a fellow you haven't played for before, how was that?
MAX MIRNYI: Like Lleyton said, I guess it's just the way our styles of playing matched up, it worked out pretty well. As you could see, we came through three matches, third set tiebreaker, which is a -- part of it is we were very fortunate to come through those matches. What can you say? It's a great, great feeling to be able to play for the first time and win such a big tournament.

Q. Sort of a break-out couple weeks for you personally?
MAX MIRNYI: Well, sure, it's one of the highlights because I've played a number of matches. It's great to be on Friday afternoon to be still part of the tournament.

Q. (Question regarding having Lleyton on the court as your doubles partner).
MAX MIRNYI: It's a great feeling. I was very confident about Lleyton being out there because I've seen him play many matches. I've played against him sometimes. I knew what he's capable of doing. I was focusing on my part of the game; I knew he would take care of his half of the court, for sure.

Q. Max, you're from Belarus. How do you feel about the other players from Russia? Do you feel you're part of one country?
MAX MIRNYI: We stay close, even though politically the country split up into many different pieces. We grew up together. Now we're still, you know, traveling together. All year round, we're hanging out, going to dinner. We still feel we're part of a big family. It's good to be that way because that's how you become better, with the competitive spirit, you see one does better than the other, you try to keep up with the rest of the pack. I enjoy that kind of a feeling.

Q. Caught any stick from your girlfriend? Couldn't do it with her at Wimbledon.
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not yet. She's been in my corner the whole time. Nothing but support.

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Lleyton Hewitt defeats Arnaud Clement 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 Qterfinal US Open 6 September 2000

An interview with: LLEYTON HEWITT

MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton.

Q. Is it difficult for you not to get too excited now about how far you've come?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. You know, I've still got hopefully two matches, you know, to win the tournament. You know, I'm taking one match at a time at the moment. It's been my whole sort of mental plan throughout the tournament. You know, I haven't looked past the guy I'm playing against next. Either Sampras or Krajicek up next. Both of those guys are Grand Slam winners. You know, they've got a lot of class, both of them. I'm going to have to return very well with whoever I'm playing.

Q. Will you watch Pete tonight?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Probably watch a little bit, try to get a good night's sleep.

Q. Here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I'll watch it on TV.

Q. If someone said to you 18 months or so ago you'd be in a Grand Slam semifinal at the age of 19, what would your reaction have been?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, would have been a little bit probably "You're joking." I feel like I've had a few chances, the longer sort of my career has been going and the rise I have had, making the semis of a couple of the Masters Series events this year. I felt it wasn't that far away. You know, definitely 18 months ago or two years ago, then I would have definitely thought you were joking.

Q. Is there a match this Open you've played better than the other ones?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I've been getting a little bit better. The last two matches have probably been a lot more mental than actually technical out there on the court. Tactics has come into a lot to it, also sort of being mentally tough out there early in the first couple games, try and get that early break and get the first set under my belt. But I've definitely been hitting the ball a lot better with each match that I've played.

Q. Has your preparation made any difference coming into the US Open than it was, say, for Wimbledon or the French?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. I probably would have said I was hitting the ball a lot better going into Wimbledon than I was going into the US Open. Obviously knocking off Sampras, you know, at Queen's gave me a lot of confidence going into Wimbledon. You know, I ran into a guy who was too good on the day. I think a lot of people would have lost to him at Wimbledon in the first round. It was disappointing, but not huge. You know, I struggled a couple -- had a couple of niggling injuries going into Toronto and Cincinnati. You know, I felt like I lifted my sort of standard in Indianapolis where I made the semis. You know, I served for the first set against Kuerten.

Q. Do you think your game can improve more from where it is now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: For sure. You're never perfect. I'm learning a lot and I've definitely been getting better sort of as the hard court season has gone on because there was a bit longer grass court season for me with the Davis Cup. I had a week or so off, so I didn't hit a lot of balls on hard court going into those American hard court tournaments, the first couple tournaments.

Q. When you beat Pete at Queen's, was there any part of you that thought, "I beat him, but it's Queen's, a warm-up to Wimbledon, am I really getting the full scope of Pete Sampras here?"
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. Obviously he's a totally different player in Grand Slams, particularly probably at Wimbledon, as well, on grass. I felt like I played a pretty good match against him. I didn't make any unforced errors. I think I was hardly down breakpoints. I served a lot of aces. I returned unbelievable, probably the best I've ever returned. I think it was going to be very hard for him. He was sort of going to have to play his best if he was going to win on that day.

Q. To pick up his serve on grass that quickly, what do you see from the time he tosses the ball till he strikes it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Sometimes a little bit of guesswork. You know, it is very tough playing the big servers out there. You've got to wait for your opportunities. It's little key things that you pick up during a match obviously. It's very hard the first couple of games to pick up his serve because you start to get an idea of where a guy is serving as the match goes on, particularly looking at his second serve.

Q. Does he have any tendencies at all?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not a lot, no. Maybe he's a little bit different on every day, I think. He's been a little bit every time he's played me.

Q. How does beating him the last time you met translate to the possibility of playing him again this time?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'd say very little. You know, it's a totally different tournament, on a totally different surface, and it's a Grand Slam.

Q. How about in your head?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, gives me a little bit more confidence, I suppose, that I am able to match it. You know, Pete's a great player and he can lift his game at any moment. You know, if I do happen to have to play Pete, you know, I'll probably have to go up another gear as well.

Q. Did you look at the draw and say, "I'm on the same side at Pete"? Was there any sense of anticipation?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. Took it one match at a time.

Q. Any thoughts on Super Saturday, the US Open, what that day means? Did you ever watch when you were a kid, whatever time it was in Australia?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I can't really remember a lot about it. Obviously a few years ago, Patrick Rafter, I probably took a lot more interest at that time, when he won his two titles, just because it was an Australian playing in it. You know, it's obviously a pretty tough to sort of make two back-to-back matches in five-set tennis. I'm going to have to be very fit. I'm prepared to be able to do that.

Q. How do you feel about having to wait now till Saturday?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't mind. I've got a doubles later today. Gives me a couple more days' rest.

Q. How about Krajicek?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I've never played Richard. He's obviously a great player, as well. He's got a cannon first serve. I'm really going to have to be on my game with him, as well. You know, I feel like I'm returning well enough to, you know, get a few break chances, then I've got to come out and play very solid service games.

Q. What has been your biggest improvement this year, in what area?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think in one way believing that I can match it with a lot of these top players. As soon as I got in the Top 10, I think I really started to believe, you know, that I should be there, you know. I want to cement my spot in the Top 10 amongst these guys. This is just another step in my career. I started making the semifinals of the Masters Series events, then my next goal was to start making the quarters, semis and finals of Grand Slams. So far so good in this tournament.

Q. With Patrick Rafter being injured, do you feel you are now taking on the flag and carrying on that burden as being the next great Australian player?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. Obviously I look up to Pat a hell of a lot. You know, he's been a great champion. He's done so much for Australian tennis. I still think he's got a few great years left in him. He's definitely going to win some more Grand Slams, in my opinion. Obviously, he's struggled this year. Philippoussis has been a little bit injured over the last, you know, 12 to 18 months, as well. That's probably one of the main reasons why I've sort of been ranked the No. 1 Australian at the moment. Now, Pat had an early exit here, which was a surprise to everyone. But, you know, he didn't play a lot of matches. Philippoussis is in a little bit of a slump at the moment. It's fantastic to sort of be up there now with those boys who made the final of this event in the past.

Q. Pete Sampras paid you a very high compliment when he said, "This is one of the most competitive players I've ever played. He works for everything." How serious did you take that compliment? How much of an effect did it have on you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It hasn't had an effect one way or the other, I don't think. It's definitely something just to keep in the back of your mind, I suppose. I think it sort of warns all the other players as well. I think everyone by now knows that I'm very intense on the court, I'm very competitive. Whether it's Love-40 in one game or 40-Love, I'm still going to be working every point to hopefully get that game. Until we're up shaking hands, I still believe that I've got a chance of winning the match.

Q. Whoever you play on Saturday, you and Krajicek or Sampras will be the marquis match-up, the second match. Does that seem like a long time to wait to play again?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It will be a long day. It will be a very nice feeling, looking forward to a semifinal of a Grand Slam, as well. Obviously I'm going to have a few nerves probably the morning of the match and that. I feel like, you know, I like sort of being the feature match, as well. I like sort of being out there trying to put on a show for everyone.

Q. How long do you typically hit for on the day of a match like that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'll probably hit for 20, 25 minutes, just a warm-up.

Q. Safin said yesterday getting to the quarters, semis or finals here isn't good enough for him; he came here to win the tournament. Do you feel the same way LLEYTON HEWITT: I didn't come here to win it. I really have been taking it one match at a time, not looking past the guy I've been playing. Probably a bit stupid for me to come out and say "I'm going to win the tournament" when I haven't made the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam going into this event. That's not really realistic coming here and saying I'm going to knock off Agassi, Sampras, Krajicek, whoever, win this tournament, all these sort of great champions who have been in that situation before. You know, I definitely gave myself a chance of making the second week, being seeded here, knowing that these courts do suit my game, the humidity and the conditions. But, you know, it really has been a bonus to make it through to the semifinals now.

Q. If you play your best on Saturday, are you still beatable?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. Depends how my opponent plays. If they play their best, probably depends on the match-up, who I'm playing against, you know, conditions, a lot of things. A lot of other factors come into the match.

Q. Do you like your chances?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Of course. I'm hitting the ball well at the moment. I think apart from losing the first set of the tournament, I think I've won 15 sets now on the trot. I think anyone through to the semifinals obviously feels like they're hitting the ball pretty well and giving themselves a chance.

Q. You've played baseliners up to now. Now you'll have a guy who is really all over you. Do you have to adjust your practice for that, too?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I won't really adjust my practice a hell of a lot. I don't really mind. In the past I've played some big serve-and-volleyers, particularly playing pretty well at Queen's this year where a lot of guys served and volleyed as well. You know, I'm ready for whatever comes. Obviously, these two guys are going to be pretty much serve-volleying the whole day. I'm going to have to watch out for that and I'm going to have to return very well.

Q. If it's Pete Sampras, you're obviously going to have the crowd against you. How do you think you'll go with that? Will it be like Nice?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think it will be as bad as Nice. That was probably the worst crowd I've ever seen. I'm looking forward to Spain this year. You know, it's just another thing that you learn to deal with. I think I'll be a better player because I went through that experience in Nice later last year. I did lose both my matches there. But, you know, I felt like I just got that big occasion where the crowd is totally against you.

Q. If you play Pete Sampras next, which Rocky movie will you watch before that match?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not going to watch any. I haven't been watching any the last couple weeks.

Q. You've given it up?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I haven't given up. You know, I just don't feel I need it at the moment.

Q. Has Darren said anything to you about the fact that he got to the semis himself?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. It comes up at some dinners or stuff like that very occasionally. You know, we haven't talked about me making the semifinals now at all. You know, he's just come in and said, "Well done," in the locker room. That's about it so far. Obviously there's a few things. I think he lost to Wilander pretty easily here when he made the semifinals. Probably a few things that hopefully he can pass through to me just about being in the semifinals here, sort of the pressures and the nerves that you're going to be feeling on that day.

Q. Have you heard from Patrick at all?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Patrick Rafter?

Q. Yes.
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. I spoke to Rochey a couple times.

Q. You have just reached the semifinals the first time in a Grand Slam. You look very composed, quiet. When you are back at home, are you more expressive? Do you change your personality or you are exactly the same?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really.

Q. "I want it"?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really (laughter). Not unless I was at a football game maybe. Apart from that, you know, pretty quiet, I suppose.

Q. How was that at the embassy last night? Something you were honored for.
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. I just went and met John Howard again, you know, which is very good. Fantastic to just know that his support is fully behind you, that you've got the nation sort of in your corner, as well.

Q. The planes overhead seemed to be a little more prominent today. A lot more peripheral noise. How much of a distraction is that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was a little bit, but you've got to block it out as much as possible. I did notice out there there was a lot more than the previous matches I have played out there on Center Court. If you're just about to serve, you've got to step away and take your time, regather your thoughts, just get your focus back. There's not a lot you can do about it.

Q. Your father played Australian rules football. Did he pass any competitive lessons on to you? Did you beat him in tennis at an early age?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, once mom and dad gave up their respective sports, they both started playing social tennis. That's how I got into it, just from them playing socially. I just started picking up a racquet at my local tennis club. Once I started hitting a few balls, I started getting coached when I was six years old. I can't remember the first time I actually beat him. You know, very competitive matches. I remember playing him in the final of our club championship one year. I beat him pretty easily.

Q. How old were you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I can't remember, pretty young. He sort of says that, you know, he went out there and didn't try (laughter).

Q. Were you screaming, "Come on"?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. It was too easy to do that.

Q. What does Mats Wilander say to you? What does the name Mats Wilander say to you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: What do you mean? Remind me of?

Q. You have a similar style.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously he's a great player. He was one of the guys that I looked up to sort of growing up, probably based my game a little bit around his, as well. He has a very good return, kept very good depth off the baseline. You know, how many Grand Slams titles he won, great effort.

Q. Your mother was an athlete?
LLEYTON HEWITT: She played net ball.

Q. What is that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: That's a similar game to basketball, but you don't dribble. No back boards and you can't dribble.

Q. Are you more competitive than your parents were?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. They were pretty competitive, I think. Watching dad play on a few of the videos we have at home, I think he was pretty competitive in his heyday.

Q. How does the Hewitt family relax?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. We catch up with family, friends. That's basically it. I go and play a round of golf now and then with mom and dad.

Q. Did you get a chance to see your sister play here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I saw half of the first set. That was it. I had to go and practice.

Q. The Aussies have done really well here the last four years, Rafter, yourself, Philippoussis. Do you think this surface suits you guys better than Rebound Ace does?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think so for me, not at all. It's hard to say. I think Flip can play on any surface. I think maybe Pat probably a little bit better on this surface than Rebound Ace. For me, I'd say apart from this result, Rebound Ace has definitely been my stand-out favorite surface.

Q. Who were the Australians in the crowd, have the flags, you were pointing to them?
LLEYTON HEWITT: One of the blokes is Wozz. He's the leader of our Fanatic group who follow us around the world with Davis Cup ties, a couple of his mates there. They've been at the French Open, they've been everywhere with them.

Q. Did he have a name?
LLEYTON HEWITT: The Fanatics is their name. Wozz is the leader of it.

Q. Have you had a chance to look at the statue?
LLEYTON HEWITT: What statue?

Q. The one that's of Arthur Ashe, the naked person.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Haven't seen it.

Q. You heard about it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No.

Q. In other words, you're involved in the tennis?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I hope so. That's the reason I'm here.

Q. You rode the No. 7 train with relative anonymity. If you keep this up, you'll not going to be able to do that much longer. Do people recognize you more?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, definitely a little bit more. Probably making the semis of Miami and winning Scottsdale, doing well at the start of the year in America, as well, definitely sort of put my name in America a little bit more than it had been in the past. You definitely notice a lot more people coming up and asking for photographs, autographs, wishing you luck, just walking around the streets, in sports stores. I think it's a good thing to have a lot more people around the world sort of recognizing you, wishing you a lot.

Q. How are you going to relax away from the practice courts the next few days? See the odd movie?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, that's probably about it. Jut relax, watch a bit of TV, I don't know, probably get on the Internet, chat to a few of the mates back home. There's not a lot you can really do. I'll be out here probably each day just practicing as well, just keeping my game intact and depending on the doubles, as well. That's another big thing.

Q. Have you been using the fist clench throughout your career?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Pretty much.

Q. When did you start doing that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. Probably since I was six. I'm not sure. I can't remember. I've done it in all my junior tennis and everything.

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Lleyton Hewitt defeats. T. Enqvist 6-3, 6-2, 6-4  5 September 2000 4th rd US Open

An interview with: LLEYTON HEWITT


THE MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton.

Q. Your first Slam quarter. How does that feel?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, not bad. Obviously I would have liked to have played in a little better conditions than it was this evening, but I went out there and knew that the tennis standard wasn't gonna be great out there tonight. I knew that I just had to stick to my tactics the whole night and play my game, and hopefully come away with the win and, you know, get through to my first
quarter.

Q. Just how difficult was it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was a nightmare out there. It was the toughest conditions I've ever played in. Sometimes you play, you know, your pennant competitions and stuff like that on a Saturday afternoon in winter in Adelaide or Melbourne or whatever, and it's nothing compared to what it was tonight. I felt like a hurricane was behind me at one end.

Q. Ever? You've played worse as a player or as a pro?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Ever. Ever to step on a court. I thought Roland Garros was bad, my Round of 16 match, it was just rain. It wasn't as bad, as windy as tonight.

Q. Do you think it was a case of you handling it better than he?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think it was a big case in that. You know, I just feel that I went out there with a game plan, I stuck to it the whole night. And, you know, we both went and hit I think a couple hours before we had to play out sort of after that last storm or that rain shower came. So we both knew the conditions, what it was gonna be like out there. I think it was whoever sort of handled it the best on the evening. I think it was
important to get off to a good start out there tonight.

Q. Did you think, perhaps fear, that him being from Sweden he might be more used to these conditions than yourself?
LLEYTON HEWITT: A little bit. But you have a look at his results, he's a very good indoor player which tends to suggest that he likes everything very calm, indoors. If you have a look at his game as well, he's got a very flat first serve, big second serve as well, which is hard in the win. Also a big forehand and backhand, very flat shot. I felt he was gonna struggle a little bit out there in those sort of conditions tonight.

Q. Did you and Darren have a look for his record?
LLEYTON HEWITT: We -- everyone sort of knows that Thomas is a fantastic indoor player. He's beaten Agassi last year, I think he won Stuttgart last year, beat a lot of top players there. He always does well in those last few months of the year.

Q. You were pretty pumped up tonight, pretty vocal. Is that because it's a Grand Slam and you've got this far?
LLEYTON HEWITT: For sure. It was another opportunity. And once those opportunities -- you don't know how many opportunities you're gonna get at this level. Once those opportunities come, I had to take them tonight. I think I learned from my loss in probably against Norman a little bit at the Australian Open, but more so against Costa at the French Open, the fourth round, just because I was on top of the guy early in the first set. I had I think Love-40 or 15-40 at 3-All in the first, lost that game in the end after a long game and then had 40-15 on my serve and lost that game the next game. So it was a big two-game swing in that match. I felt as soon as I could get a break in the first set tonight I had to put my foot down and sort of move up a gear.

Q. What do you think of Arnaud Clement in the next round?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I only just heard that he won I think in the fourth set. He's obviously, you know, playing fantastic at the moment. You can't underestimate anyone at the moment, especially at this level. It's quarterfinals time. We're gonna be half way through the second week of a Slam. I wouldn't say that he's made a quarterfinal of a Slam before either, so it's probably, you know, it's a new experience for both of us. It's probably who handles the occasion a little bit better. We play similar.

Q. Have you played him before?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I played him once last year second round Nottingham on grass, which I wouldn't take much out of that match.

Q. Given that this is the biggest achievement in your singles career, was it perhaps a little bit disappointing when you wrapped it up and you looked out and it's all empty stands?
LLEYTON HEWITT: A little bit. But the Australians were pretty vocal out there tonight. It was -- you know, it definitely wasn't the best atmosphere I've played in, like a packed house in Davis Cup or anything like that. It was a good feeling out there. I felt like most of the crowd was on my side. When I got pumped up, the crowd got pumped up with me.

Q. You've beaten a guy who's a seed higher than you. You have an unseeded player next. Is there a danger of looking one match beyond that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't look at it at all. This whole tournament I've taken it one match at a time. I wasn't in, you know, fantastic form or startling form before coming into this tournament. I didn't look past Vinciguerra that first round match. After I lost that first set and he served for the second set, everything went so good. I'm getting more and more confident with each match, but I won't to be taking Clement easy at all.

Q. Allowing for the conditions tonight being so bad, do you think you've also got a bit better with each match?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, for sure. I think, you know, it's a hard match sort of to say you hit the ball great out there tonight. One end, you felt like you could hit the ball so hard and everything was gonna go in. The other end you felt like you just touched the ball and it could go long. It was that strong a breeze out there. It was just swirling at times, you didn't know where it was
coming from. It's one of those matches that technically you wouldn't take a lot from but technically I take a lot of confidence from that match.

Q. A couple of pretty exciting looking one-handed backhands cross court. You must have been pleased with the way you played the big points?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, that was I think towards the end of the second set to break him twice. He just gave me a little bit more confidence. I hadn't broken up that end, I'd always broken against the breeze. So, you know, it's one of those shots I think on the run with the breeze where I didn't actually have to make it, you know, a great shot. 'Cause, you know, Thomas isn't probably used to coming to the net as much as most players.

Q. You play today and it was windy conditions, other day it was kind of sticky. Do you think one of your strengths is your ability to kind of grub it out no matter what the conditions?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'd like to think so. Yeah, I feel pretty confident in most conditions, most surfaces. You know, I've got most things I'd say after tonight, as much as conditions go. So, you know, I've played in very hot conditions, very cool, I've played with rain. I feel like I handle it pretty well. It's just another learning experience.

Q. What makes you handle it well?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not sure. Just my mental approach definitely tonight. I didn't let it bother me at all, which is a good thing. It was very mature, I think, sort of another step in my career.

Q. Was the wind blowing straight down the court?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was hard to say. It felt at times when you were serving at that end, it felt definitely like that. Then you'd get in a point sometimes and the ball would shoot off, it would stop up one end, it was a bit swirly out there once you were in the point. If you were standing there, you would have felt like it was coming from the far end down to this end.

Q. How does it feel to have reached this stage, I know you still are just thinking about your matches. It must be pretty exciting?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm a bit tired at the moment. It's past 12 o'clock I think. I've got a doubles match tomorrow and, yeah, I'm, you know, inside I'm pretty excited just to have beaten a guy who's been in such good form on American hardcourts this season. You know, it's a real, you know, it's one to sort of put under your belt, a good win, especially in straight sets as well.

Q. What about this accomplishment of having done this well at a Slam?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's fantastic. I'd like to do a little bit better.

Q. Will your performance here give you more confidence towards the Olympic games and the Davis Cup?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, definitely the Olympic games, just to know sort of 'cause that's going to be a big occasion as well, just like the US Open. Just to know I'm hitting the ball pretty well, it's a similar surface, a little slower, rebound ace, higher bounce maybe. I won the Sydney tournament earlier this year, the second week of the year. I feel confident of those surroundings as well. It's probably a little bit too far away to say
that I'm in good form for the Davis Cup Final just yet.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports...
  

Lleyton defeats Jiri Novak  6-3 6-3 6-3  2 September 2000 3rd rd US Open

Q. How are you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not bad.

Q. Feeling fresh?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Pretty good, fresh as you can be.

Q. Staying in Manhattan or on the Island?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Manhattan.

Q. Could be Enqvist, could be Rios. Last two times you played Marcelo Rios,
he didn't want to finish the match. Something going on between you two?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Between me and Rios?

Q. Yes.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not that I know of. The two times before that, we had very
good matches. He came out on top in those matches. Doesn't matter. Going to
have a nice grind later on today, because both those players are top players.
Very hard to pick a winner between the two of them. Obviously you'd have to
lean towards Enqvist just the way he's playing at the moment, just the way
he's been playing on hard court, he's been pretty hot.

Q. You've had success with Enqvist. Do you match up with the flat hitters?
LLEYTON HEWITT: He's a tough player. I think, obviously, in Indianapolis,
playing him in the quarterfinals there, I think he was really struggling a
little bit with fitness coming off the win in Cincinnati the week before. He
had a tough match the way before against Carlos Moya. Probably got a little
bit fortunate in that one. We played a tough three-set match in Adelaide this
year in the final, which I felt like I got better as the match went on. You
can't take any of these guys lightly. They rise to the big occasions like the
Grand Slams. I've really got to step up to the plate now.

Q. Do you feel like you're getting better as the tournament progresses?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Today was the best match I've played, in the probably worst
conditions, as well. Very humid and hot out there today. I think Novak was
really struggling with the humidity out there today.

Q. You expected it to be tougher than it was?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I've got a lot of time for Jiri. I think he's a great
player. He's one of those guys that occasionally has the odd bad loss. But
he's the guy who stands up in Grand Slams. I think he did very well here last
year. He also beat Sampras in the Davis Cup tie in Los Angeles. He's sort of
a danger match today. I think it was important to get off to a good start,
get the first set under my belt. Got a little easier as it went on.

Q. How do you think you're playing at the moment?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Played pretty well today. Obviously I'm not a hundred
percent. You don't want to be at this stage. I'm into the second week now.
Forget about the first week. You've got through your first three matches.
Into the Round of 16 now. I haven't passed that before. It's going to be a
big stage come Monday.

Q. How do you think the way your draw has opened up?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Hasn't really opened up a lot for me. I'm just taking one
match at a time. Obviously, I've got one of the tougher matches, I'd say, for
my Round of 16 match. I haven't looked past that. Obviously Agassi is out of
the top there. Still very good players coming through.

Q. Who would you rather meet, Rios or Enqvist?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Doesn't really bother me at all. I'd like to see them have a
long five-setter, though. I can tell you that.

Q. Just watching your game evolve, you're scheduling yourself smarter this
year. On the court, how do you think your game as evolved?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously, I think I'm a little bit more of an all-court
player this year. I think it's shown on all surfaces this year. Obviously it
was a big step up at the Queen's Club this year on grass for me. I did well
in Rome, made the fourth round in the French Open on clay. I'm feeling very
confident on all surfaces. I've still got a couple of areas of my game that
I've got to work on, if I'm going to sort of cement my spot in the Top 10.

Q. Do you feel as though this year you have a better sense or better feel of
when to be -- when to pick your spots to be aggressive and when to play the
ball a little bit more safely?
LLEYTON HEWITT: A little bit. But I think that's still an area of my game
that I've got to work on. You know, it's quite often that I do pick the wrong
shots to come to the net on or to sort of go to the wrong ball to attack off.
That's just the sort of thing that comes with being mature on the court and
getting a lot of experience, as well.

Q. You've shown you can win tournaments on different surfaces. What do you
think is the difference between players that can win tournaments and just the
players who can do reasonably well and reach quarters or semis?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously, I think just confidence of being there. I think
you look at Sampras and Agassi. They've been there before. You've just sort
of got to get that breakthrough. If you look at the guys like Enqvist, he
sort of just hasn't had that breakthrough. He made the final. Todd Martin is
another example. I think he's made two Grand Slam finals, Cedric Pioline, but
they haven't got that breakthrough yet. Tim Henman is probably another one. I
think as soon as you get that first breakthrough, get a sniff of that, these
are all great players that I'm naming. I think they're worthy of being Grand
Slam champions.

Q. What about tournaments like Queen's Club, Scottsdale? You've shown you can
take those titles.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I just think, you know, confidence going into the week. I
think just about everyone on the tour has won at least one tournament. You've
just got to be better than everyone else in that particular week. A lot
depends probably on scheduling, as well, whether you're coming off the Davis
Cup tie, Olympics.

Q. Some players' games flow out of their serve. Does your game flow out of
the service return?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It definitely gives me a lot more confidence when I'm
returning well. You know, I still feel like I can play well even if I'm not
getting a lot of chances against a guy like Philippoussis, Enqvist, Sampras,
the big servers. It gives me a lot more confidence when I am actually making
them play a lot of balls. Those kind of guys, they don't normally get that
many balls back. They get a lot more cheaper points. I feel like if I can
make them play, the more I make them play, the more they're going to get
frustrated.

Q. They list you as 5'11" in the Players Guide.
LLEYTON HEWITT: 5'10" and a half.

Q. Most of the guys you are playing today have you by a few inches. How do
you handle that on the court?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Just play to my strengths. I think I've shown that I can play
on all surfaces this year. I take a lot of confidence from watching guys like
Andre Agassi and Michael Chang do it in the previous years before me, as
well. They're around my height, very quick around the court, they use their
other strengths to sort of counter-punch or knock down the other guy's big
serves. I get a lot of confidence from watching Agassi win on all four
surfaces.

Q. Are you aware of the fact playing Novak, he's 6'4", are you going to make
him bend and reach for balls?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Comes into your tactics a little bit. Obviously I felt like I
move a lot better than Novak around the courts. I had to try to use that to
my advantage, which I felt like I've been doing that pretty well against
those bigger guys.

Q. Do you use a stretch racquet?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I use normal.

Q. Would reaching the fourth round, going five tough sets against either Rios
and Enqvist, and losing, be a satisfying result for you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Probably not. Obviously it depends on the whole match. I'm
not looking at losing at all. I'm going out there. I believe I can win. I'm
in the second week of a Slam, I believe anything can happen - even though I
haven't made it through to a quarterfinal in the past. Obviously I'm going to
have my work cut out with either of those guys. A lot is going to satisfy me
on how well I play. I think this is just another learning experience sort of
in my career to hopefully be holding up a Grand Slam title in the years to
come.

Q. Can you talk about what role Cahill plays as a coach?
LLEYTON HEWITT: He's been a big impact in the sudden rise up the rankings.
Technically we don't work that much at all. On the practice court, we do a
lot of fitness work. He's sort of organizing a lot of that for me. A little
bit of strength work, stuff like that. Tactically, he does a lot for me as
well because he was playing against most of these guys just a few years ago
on the tour, as well. He's seen them play, done commentary on a lot of their
matches as well. He knows most of these guys' games inside out, which helps
me a lot. Also he's been through most of the pressures that I'm going through
playing all these tournaments.

Q. He played the opposite, a very different style than yours.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yes. I think that can help me a little bit, as well, to work
on some of the strengths he had just to build into my game as well. Sort of
my solid base is my groundstrokes, passing shots, return of serve.

Q. Are you going to take any different mental approach tomorrow than you did
at Roland Garros when you got to the fourth round?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. I'm taking the same mental approach that I've
been taking all week, just taking one match at a time. I'll be taking the
same as I did in Indianapolis if I have to play Enqvist or the same when I
have had to play Rios in Hamburg, wherever, Scottsdale.

Q. With your scaled-down schedule this year, a few weeks of rest, you hit 50
wins today. Does that seem like an amazing effort to you at this point?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I haven't really thought about it. Obviously I got off to a
fantastic start which sort of set the scene a little bit. Obviously, I think
I'm up there in the most wins of the year at the moment. I think it's showing
probably with the way that my ranking has gone up so quickly this year, as
well. To be up there competing against all those guys now, competing for a
position in that Champions Race, top eight at the end of the year, it's very
satisfying to me that I'm in that contention at the moment at the US Open.

Q. Because you were probably small growing up, most Australians don't have a
two-handed backhand. Were you taught that way because of your small stature?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think a lot of kids, when they first start out, just
because they struggle to hold a racquet up. If you start at four or five
years old, that was probably the main reason. Then it just sort of stuck with
me. It's always probably been my most consistent shot.

Q. Nobody ever said, "Let's change this"?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Nobody ever told me to change. Never went through my mind.

Q. What role, if any, does Patrick still play in your life?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Patrick Rafter?

Q. Yes.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously he's a little bit like an older brother, I suppose.
It's fantastic to have him alongside me at the Davis Cup ties, just because
he knows the pressures that you're going through, as well. You just get a lot
of confidence. Even when he wasn't playing last year, he came to the tie in
Brisbane, just to have him there with myself and Wayne Arthurs, Wayne was
sort of a rookie going into that tie, just to have his experience on the
sidelines, just giving you helping hands, and suggestions through Newc and
Rochey, what to do on and off the court.

Q. Is he still around?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Pat, no, he's back in Australia.

Q. Do you compare yourself to any of the other guys who are part of the "New
Balls" campaign? Safin, Federer, Ferrero, do you compare yourself?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't compare myself against them at all. Obviously we have
our own goals, strategies. We all play a little bit different, I suppose.
It's fantastic to be in that elite group, to get named in that, just to be
alongside guys, probably the head guy being Gustavo Kuerten, just because
he's won two Grand Slam titles.

End of FastScripts....   

Lleyton defeats J. Boutter 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 August 31, 2000 US Open 

An interview with:  LLEYTON HEWITT

MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton.

Q. Quite a hard-hitting guy. How did you find that? How did you cope with
that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Couldn't get any rhythm out there today at all, just with the
way he played, sort of acted out there on the court, pulling the trainer out
felt like every change of ends. He was just a strange kind of guy, I think.

Q. What did you think of him calling an injury time-out when you're serving
for a set at 5-4?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it happens quite a lot. Sometimes the French players do
that. This guy has been a little bit known to do something like that. I
wasn't that surprised. I've spoken to a few people before. He said he's
pretty wild out there, he's going to distract you as much as he can. I felt
like I struggled that first service game, didn't get any serves in 5-4 in the
first set. I thought I came back strongly. Held at Love-6, five down. The
tiebreaker, I thought I played very well, considering the way he was serving.

Q. Was it a concentration thing?
LLEYTON HEWITT: For sure. You know, I didn't lose my concentration at all. I
think he wanted me to out there.

Q. At 5-4, when you had to wait?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I don't think so. Obviously it would have been nice to
sort of keep that roll going because I had good rhythm on my serve. You know,
it maybe just affected my serve a little bit just because I was thrown out of
whack. I would have continued like I had been every other service game. You
know, it was just a lack of first serves, I think.

Q. Overall, didn't look like you enjoyed the experience out there.
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I enjoyed playing. I enjoyed winning.

Q. The atmosphere of the match, seemed like --?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really.

Q. Have you played anyone before who is as distracting as he is?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, probably not. You know, I've had times definitely
coming up in juniors and satellites, you get it quite a bit. You know, I've
been through that situation before. Definitely learn from it.

Q. What do you learn from that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Just got to keep your concentration. You know, you've got to
concentrate on your game; worry about your end, telling yourself, "This guy
is 100% fit." You can't go out there and hope he's going to forfeit, serve,
hurt his back a little more. He was coming out straight after he was
complaining about his back and serving four aces.

Q. It looked as though you were talking to yourself, saying, "Concentrate,
keep your mind on the game."
LLEYTON HEWITT: He's a hard player just with the game he's got, as well, to
get any sort of rhythm because he's so flashy. He'll slap a few winners, then
make four or five errors in a row. One of those matches I had to stay focused
and get through.

Q. When did you realize he was injured, or did you know coming into the match?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. When he started playing with his back 4-3 in the first
set, then called the trainer at 5-4.

Q. You might not want to answer this, hope you will. If you had to choose one
thing to try -- as a triumph in the coming near future, either Lleyton
Hewitt, Olympic Gold Medalist, or member of the Davis Cup Championship Team,
or US Open champion, which one would you pick?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Can't say. You know, you just don't know till it actually
happens. You don't know. I think you'll be just as proud doing whichever.
Obviously winning the US Open would be fantastic. That's an individual,
whereas you've got the whole nation behind you in the Davis Cup and the
Olympics. So far in my career, the biggest highlight was the Davis Cup last
year, the win. To be playing for your nation, it's the greatest honor.

Q. What do you think the chances are that you could sweep those three or be
part of the team that won those three events?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think that's just ridiculous (laughter). I don't think
there's much chance of that.

Q. What can you take out of today's match technically that you can work on
before your next one?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I felt like I returned as well as I could.
Obviously I got better and better, I felt, returning-wise as the match went
longer. I felt like I hit the ball pretty well from the baseline today. I
didn't make a hell of a lot of errors. You know, I could have maybe been a
little bit more aggressive. I think the big key today was I got off to a lot
better start than I did a couple days ago against Vinciguerra.

Q. And Jiri Novak next?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Can't take him lightly. He's a great player. He did very well
in Toronto, making the semifinals there. I'm going to have my work cut out
with him.

Q. Have you played him before?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I've played him in Adelaide last year, second or third round,
quarters maybe.

Q. Did they play Davis Cup against us in Adelaide?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. I was a squad member, like an orange boy then.

Q. What do you put your better start down to?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Just sort of learning from the other day. The other day, I
was just sort of flat-footed right from the start. Today I was a lot better.
I didn't give him sort of any cheap points on my service game early in the
first set, which made things a lot harder, because his groundstrokes weren't
as good a Vinciguerra 's.

Q. Were you happy with your serving?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Patches.

Q. Been working on it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: For sure. One area of my game I've got to work on. Hopefully
build up a bit of strength, as well, to sort of get a lot more cheaper points
off my serve.

Q. Having the Olympics coming up so soon after the US Open, any chance of it
being a distraction at all?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. This is what we play for, the Grand Slams.
You know, all my focus at the moment is on the US Open. But obviously it's a
nice thing to have in the back of your mind that you're going to be out there
competing for your country in a couple weeks' time, the whole world is
watching.

Q. Most all the players come out to the US Open in nice, air conditioned
cars. You came out recently on the No. 7 subway, one of our more famous
trains. Can you share your impressions of train?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was very quick. I think it's the quickest route I've had
into Flushing Meadows the whole week. You know, obviously I found everything
pretty convenient, just getting the tickets, hopping on the train. It was
pretty easy. But I was with a few Americans, as well, which helped.

Q. Did you like seeing the variety of people on the train?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I actually didn't have that much of a chance. There weren't a
lot of people in my carriage, where I was.

Q. Did you buy a Metro Card?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I didn't grab it, but I was with a guy, one of the producers
of the TV show. He did.

Q. Used his card?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yes.

Q. Any equivalent at all like that in Australia?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I've only been on the Melbourne trains in Australia. They run
very well. They're one of the best I've ever seen. It's a little bit
different, I suppose, in New York, a much bigger city.

Q. Your countrymen seem eager to play for your nation. Americans are a bit
different. Does that seem a little bizarre to you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: A little bit, I suppose, just because from the background
that I've come up, I've always wanted to play for my country. I enjoy sort of
a team sport, as well. It's the only chance throughout the whole year that
you're actually in a team. You go out to dinner as a team, play golf as a
team, hang out as a team. I really enjoy that team spirit. I think Newc and
Roche have done an unbelievable job of getting that feeling and spirit
amongst all the guys. I think it's one of the main reasons why we won it last
year.

Q. What has the talk been about Dokic's father being thrown out for the rest
of the tournament?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Read it in the newspaper this morning. Haven't spoken to
anyone about it.

Q. What are your feelings about that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously the guy has done it a couple too many times, I
suppose. I don't know enough facts to be commenting on whether he should be
left back in the tournament or banned for life.

Q. Do you see much of this angry parent thing going on?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, once in a blue moon really.

Q. What were the circumstances of you coming on the subway?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was a TV, USA Network.

Q. What day was that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Last Friday.

Q. I assume you're going to watch the footie tomorrow?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Probably not. There's a slight chance. Obviously I'd like to
watch it, sort of see all the pregame stuff. This is one of the first years I
haven't been home for it. My team is not playing in it. Not the biggest
priority.

End of FastScripts….