TENNIS MASTERS SERIES - PARIS OPEN
N. LAPENTTI/L. Hewitt 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
An Interview With:  LLEYTON HEWITT
October 30, 2001
 
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton, please.

Q. Did the injury you had before Stockholm have any influence on the result
today?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. If I wasn't 100 percent, then I wouldn't have
gone out there. I went out there and gave everything I had. I didn't feel
great out there anyway.

And then he played a great match. So I'm not going to take anything away from
the way that he played and the way that he fought back after a tough match
yesterday.

Q. Did you have any stomach problems or something like that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I had some kind of stomach problem. It was strange.
Same kind of thing that I had at the end of last year. It's the reason why I
pulled out of here at the end of last year.

Got it in Basel last year, couldn't shake it off in Basel and Stuttgart.
That's the reason I pulled out of here last year. I was feeling fine going
through the match. Halfway through the second set, same sort of problem came.
I don't know why. There's not a whole lot you can do about it out there.

Q. Any problem with the European food?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I'd rather be in Australia right now, I tell you that.

Q. Did Lapentti surprise you with his display?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, he played well. You know, I played him three other
times as well. I lost to him in the Lyon final three years ago. He's a great
player. He got to, I think, No. 6 in the world a few years ago. He hasn't
really had, you know, the greatest of the last couple years  really big
results.

He made the semi of the Aussie a few years ago. He served really well out
there today. I didn't get a lot of opportunities on his service games. When
my serve went off, he started attacking my second serve as well. So, yeah, he
played well.

Q. Could it be it wasn't a mistake here for you, it had something to do with
being nervous, you missed some volleys you usually don't?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. You know, it's a totally different kind of
court than the court that I played on in Stuttgart as well. I haven't played
a match since Stuttgart. I missed a couple of short forehands there. The
balls just didn't bounce. It's a strange court. Yeah, you can practice on it,
though, and I've practiced on it the last couple days.

But, you know, just sort of mis-timed those couple of short balls I probably
should have put away.

Q. What are your thoughts as you build now for the Masters Cup? Are you
really concerned about this problem that you seem to have?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. You know, I was able to shake it off last
year. When I went to Lisbon, I was able to play some pretty good tennis
there. Then also in the Davis Cup final.

It doesn't get any tougher conditions than that in Spain last year, and I was
able to last, you know, two matches over four hours. For the Davis Cup and
for the Masters, you know, I'm hoping to be 100 percent.

Q. Are you excited about the challenge of playing in Sydney among home fans?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's going to be great. The way it's panned out this
year, doesn't get much better for Australian tennis. That's for sure.

Q. Given the way you've done on this indoor court season, do you feel you're
a big threat to win this tournament?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm definitely in there with a chance. If I play my best
tennis, I feel like I'm capable of beating anyone out there.

You look at my results in Australia, especially the Davis Cup matches that
I've played there with the Australian crowds behind me, I've had some pretty
big wins. I'm hoping to sort of take that into the Masters Cup.

Q. Will you be heading straight home tomorrow from here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, probably. At some stage.

Q. You said obviously the most important these days is Sydney, and even Davis
Cup more. But is No. 1 still on your mind now that you're getting closer to
it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not at all. If someone told me in  -- after I lost second
round in Indianapolis that I had a chance at No. 1, I would have laughed at
you.

What's happened happened. It's been great. But it really doesn't worry me. If
I get  -- the way I look at it, if I go next year and I get No. 1 on the
entry system, after the Australian Open, then, yeah, I think I'm No. 1 player
in the world. If that happens, it happens.

You know, Pat's been No. 1. I don't know if they think Marat Safin made No. 1
or not last year, even though he didn't finish 1. In my opinion, he deserved
to be called world No. 1.

Q. All the players say that at the end of this season they are getting tired.
How would you rate the energy you have left now? How long do you need to
recover 100 percent before the Masters Cup?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it is tough. It's tough to get up, you know, probably
more so for the guys who don't have a chance of making the Masters Cup, I'd
say. You know, some of those guys can tend to tap out. It's tough for
everyone to come here.

It's been pretty good weather this year in the European tournaments. If the
weather's not great, you can't go outside a lot. It is tough conditions to
play in. That's when, you know, the mentally tougher people come through.

And, you know, now that, you know, we lost today, it's probably a bonus on
the other side that I give myself a lot more time to prepare for the Masters
Cup and really have a go at the last two events of the year for me.

Q. Did you have a chance during your stay in Europe to talk with Pat Rafter
and to give us some news about his health and how he prepares for the end of
the season?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, he's struggling. He can't hit a ball over the net. You
know, he's going to be useless (laughter).

Probably won't even play (smiling).

You know, who knows. I don't know anything about his shoulder or, you know,
if it's 100 percent or not.

Q. This morning you were practicing with Kuerten. It was shocking to see you
playing the No. 1 of the world against the No. 2 of the world. What can you
say about that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: What do I say about it? I say I signed up and he signed his
name next to me. That's how it works. Doesn't worry me. Guga's a great guy. I
played him a couple times  - once in Davis Cup, once in Indianapolis a year
ago. It really doesn't worry me at all. I think it's good to get out there
and hit with the best players in the world.

END--FastScripts by ASAP Sports...

Lleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters  interviews in Ace magazine - thank you Fatima and Marly


How does it feel to be the US Open champion?
Walking out there to play Pete Sampras in my first ever Grand Slam final is something I will never forget, that's for sure. Obviously I had a few nerves coming in there, playing possibly the greatest player ever to live in probably my biggest ever match.

Has it changed you as a person?
I'm still going to be the same person. It's not going to change anything in that way. But it's an unbelievable feeling to have won a Grand Slam now. It probably takes a lot of the pressure and expectation off my back as well. When I held up the trophy I looked at the names on it. To see the guys who have won this trophy, and now have my name under theirs, is an unbelievable feeling. It's something words can't describe. You dream of winning a Grand Slam when you're a young boy growing up. I've been to so many Australian Opens, watched so many great players win there. It's these moments you dream of. For me to come through such a young age its fantastic.

What messages of support did you get before you won?
I got a couple of faxes during the couple of weeks before the final for the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard. That was pretty impressive. It meant a lot to me, anyway. Also from my football team, the Adelaide Crows. Everything has been positive from all the fans back home. And my mates that I used to go to school with whom I’m very close to and speak to every day. They all sent their best wishes. And everyone who I know back in Adelaide. I'm sure everyone was behind me.

Do you ever dream of becoming No.1 in the world?
It's not as if I go out on court every day thinking 'You have to be No.1, you'll be at the top one day soon'. It would be foolish to think like that. My game is still not complete enough to race to the top like that. My service in particular still has to improve. I intend to get to the top gradually. It' just my way to make steady and consistent progress. I'm not the great shooting star who sweeps everyone aside easily. I have to work hard on my game, looking for small improvements all the time. I'm no longer the eternal baseliner, concentrating on knocking the ball back over the net. My game has become a lot more attacking and adventurous since then. I've been paying particular attention to my volleying recently. So I am optimistic about getting closer to the very top in tennis.

What would you say are your best qualities? I'm not the sort that gives up very easily. Every time I go out on court, I’m prepared to go to the limit and to put in 150 per cent effort. There are players who have particular strengths, such as an extremely good backhand or an attacking game. But being able to show incredible passion and commitment is also strength. And I make the most of this strength. I use it to get the better of my opponents and to intimidate them. There is no way I’ll ever be able to compete with the six foot giants...those guys that have a perfect service and extra reach for volleys. I have to work on the strength, such as running and walking for three, four or five hours at a time, if need be. If you like, I’m the revolutionary, using guile and cunning and patience to bring down those in power.


Aren't you worried that, because your game uses up so much energy, you will be burnt out within a few years?
That’s not the sort of thing you think about when you're my age. At the moment, my legs feel as if they could carry on running on forever and ever. On the other hand, even now I am careful to stick to a sensible schedule and to take the breaks I need from time to time.

You've been criticised for behaving like a lout on court, showing no respect or good manners.
Some people have the wrong impression about me. As far as I am concerned, certain forms of behavior are no more than a way of achieving my ambition to be successful. I have the utmost respect for every player on the tour. The thing is, this is professional tennis, not a girls' school. Its' an environment in which everyone wants to get to the top and, in order to do so, they have to defeat others and eliminate them in the sporting arena. It is part of this job to assert yourself over your opponent and to motivate yourself properly. That’s what I do. Perhaps sometimes I go over the top. But maybe that'll change as I get older. I know very well that I let emotions get the better of me. There are times when you make a gesture you shouldn't or say something you shouldn't. You regret it as soon as you've done it. But you have to make allowances for the heat of the moment. You're under pressure week in, week out. Wherever you go, people want to see top performances combined with super-perfect behavior. Is there any other professional sport with that sort of pressure, virtually 52 weeks a year?

So you think tennis is a cruel business?
Of course. It's one of those areas where the competitors are absolutely out on their own, where you have to fend for yourself. Apart from a couple of guys you can rely on, we swim in shark infested waters. Its not surprising that most people are happy to get the chance to spend a couple of days playing in a team in the Davis Cup, where they don't have to cope with the pressure on their own.

So it doesn't surprise you that many pros are finishing their careers earlier than they are used to?
Not at all, I can't imagine still being out on court when I’m in my mid-thirties. Particularly as the demands are increasing all the time, because more and more players are becoming more and more skillful all the time. Nowadays, its no big deal if the No.80 in men's tennis beats the No.1

You probably know more about women's tennis than most other ATP players because your girlfriend Kim Clijsters is on the WTA tour. How difficult is it to maintain a relationship when your professional paths only cross at the Grand Slams and a couple of other tournaments?
I don't like to talk about private matters like this. But of course the fundamental thing we have to accept is that we cannot and will not see each other every day. It means we appreciate it all the more when we do get to see each other. But sometimes I do make the effort during one of my breaks to go and watch a tournament where Kim is playing.

Did Kim give you any advice before the US Open final?
Go and enjoy myself. That was basically it. She'd been through a lot. She knew it was a big occasion. Obviously she came so close herself, two points away from winning the French Open. She knows what it's like to be in that situation. I can tell you it's lot easier being out there playing instead of sitting in the crowd and watching that French Open in Paris.


What is your ambition now?
It would be superb if I could win the Australian Open in Melbourne. I call it 'my' Grand Slam. I have particular memories of this tournament. I went to the National Tennis Center when I was still a young boy, watching the big names of the last generation, such as Ivan Lendl, who was practicing with Tony Roche on the outside courts. The Aussie Open is a bit like a home-from-home for me as a tennis player. Every time I step onto court there I have an extra spring in my step. This year I made an extremely good start to the season, but maybe it was too good for me to be able to produce my best performance at the Open. Next year I need to think very carefully how to prepare for Melbourne.

You're now ranked ahead of Pat Rafter, so that makes you Australia's No.1. Does that carry a certain weight of responsibility in a country with such a strong tradition?
Let's wait and see whether Pat comes back after his break at the end of the year. That would be great news for Australian tennis, particularly for the Davis Cup team. But it's something he has to decide for himself; after all, he has already done a great deal for Australian tennis. I can only hope that I can live up to the standard he has set. What I’ve found particularly surprising about him is the way he has found time for young players like me. He has always given me advice when I’ve asked for it and he’s always made time. He's quite simply the kind of bloke you'd like as a mate. It's going to be quite some finish to this year. There's the Davis Cup final and then the Masters Cup in Sydney. Of course it’s going to be exhausting. But as a professional these are the test you look to for a special thrill. These are the matches you do all the hard work on the practice court and the weight training for. It could still be a great year.

Which players do you think will be your greatest rivals during the next few years?
Plenty of those from the 'New Balls Please' campaign. First and foremost Gustavo Kuerten, who is improving all the time and is virtually unbeatable at the moment. That makes me even more proud of my win over him in his home country in the Davis Cup earlier this year. That’s probably the best win of my career so far. Safin, Ferrero and Roddick are going to be among those in with a shout, too. Unfortunately, there are loads of incredibly good players on the tour. But that’s also what makes the whole thing so interesting.

Some people have accused you of racism because of the incident during your US Open match with James Blake when you pointed out that the line judge who footfaulted you was the same color as your opponent.
I think the incident got blown out of proportion. It was one of the worst moments of my career. I copped a lot of flak for it, when I didn't mean anything bad by it at all. At the end of the day, I come from a very multi-cultural country down in Australia. I treat everyone as an equal but I’ll certainly learn from it.

According to Richard Williams, you said what you did because of your upbringing in Australia, where whites have treated Aborigines very badly.
I've got no problem with Aborigines at all. We had them at school; we've grown up together. (What Williams is talking about) is something that happened so long ago. It had nothing to do with me at all.

Kim Clijsters interview in Ace magazine



Is the sudden emergence of two world class Belgian players-yourself and Justine Henin-a coincidence, or is it the result of work by the Belgian tennis authorities?
I just think that we have been very lucky with the talent that Justine and I both have. And, of course, we have had the support of our coaches and our parents and we've worked very hard since we were five or six years old. Everything is paying off right now.

What would you have done if you hadn't been a pro tennis player?
I think I would have probably done something with kids. I really like young kids. I've always liked speaking different languages, so I would have probably studied something with more languages.

Who is your most feared opponent?
One of the Williams sisters or Lindsey Davenport, because those are the players I have never beaten before. I'd like to beat them the most.

Who do you see as the World No 1 in five years' time?
You never know how long the Williams sisters are going to keep playing, or Lindsey Davenport or Martina Hingis. You have to look at the young players coming up that are doing really well. You have Lina Krasnoroutskya, Jelena Dokic, Elena Dementieva and Justine Henin. I think they will probably have a chance.

What is your proudest moment?
When I beat Henin in the French Open. I was a break or double-break down in the second, and it was nice because the whole of my family was there. I was very happy with that. I think I made my parents proud with that.

What car do you drive?
I don't drive a car yet because I don't have a driver's license. I've got my paper from the driving school where I have to get one more test done before I get the license

Favorite music, films and books?
I really like live music concerts. New pop music. My favorite film is Face Off with John Travolta. Favorite book is The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans

Which tennis player do you most admire?
I’ve always admired Steffi Graf. When I was playing in junior Grand Slams I saw her play in the seniors a few times. The way she was practicing she always gave 200 per cent. I really look up to her. I suppose she’s still someone I look up to even now.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being healthy and having lots of people around you that you can trust.

What irritates you the most about your job?
That we don’t get to see our family and friends as much as normal people do. We travel so much and I end up packing my bags and unpacking my bags every week

When did you last cry and why?
Probably after the French Open when I lost to Capriati

What are you most likely to complain about in a hotel?
Mobile phones being stolen. (This happened to Kim once)

Your father Leo is a football coach and was Belgium’s player of the year in 1988. Have you inherited any football skills from him?
A little bit. I’m quite handy with my feet. I can kick the football well.
How much does it help you having your boyfriend Lleyton Hewitt on the men’s tour?
It’s nice to have him around. The tour is lonely. You don’t have many friends, so it’s nice to have someone who’s there for you and watches our matches.

Do you learn anything from watching Lleyton play?
It’s always nice to watch any men’s tennis, but I always get too nervous watching Lleyton. I don’t enjoy watching him play.