TRANSCRIPT OF POST-MATCH INTERVIEW
SUNDAY, 16 JULY
INTERVIEWEE: LLEYTON HEWITT
L.HEWITT/A.Sa
64 61

MODERATOR: Can I have the first question, please?

Q. Was it difficult to come back and play today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It is always tough to come back and get yourself up for a dead rubber after, you know, all the excitement yesterday, after making it through to another final two years in a row, it is a dream come true, but you have to do it for the public's sake. They paid a lot of money to come out here and watch you play good tennis, and I gave 100% out there today. I was actually very happy with the way I hit the ball.

Q. You seem to have warmed to the task a little bit, got better as the game wore on?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It was a strange sort of match. I haven't seen Sa play a lot on the tour. He mainly plays a lot of the challengers and that around the place. He played great, I thought, today. I think he is probably better than Meligeni maybe on grass as well. So I found it pretty difficult today. I am just happy to get a straight-sets win.

Q. With the way the team has performed this weekend, Newk is pretty keen to take the same combination into the final. Are you supportive of that as well?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yes, for sure. I think the team atmosphere and the camaraderie that we have got is fantastic. And as you saw yesterday, everyone was pulling for Sandon to get through, because we are just so close, and we have felt the ups and downs that everyone has in the Davis Cup team and the squad, and we all pulled together yesterday for Sandon to get through that one, and I have got all confidence that the team that we've got now can get the job done. I would like to be in that kind of atmosphere, win or lose. It is just a great atmosphere to be around these kinds of guys.

Q. Who would you prefer to play in the finals, USA or Spain?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I would like to play USA, just because it is going to be in Australia. Obviously Agassi, Sampras, I am sure Agassi and Sampras would come back and play a final on Rebound Ace. It is a pretty daunting task, I suppose, if you look at their semifinal match, the Australian Open this year, whereas you go to Spain, 17 or 18,000 Spaniards going against you on clay, which probably isn't Pat's and my best surfaces, so, you know, I still think we have a great chance whichever way it goes.

Q. The merits of keeping the same team for the final are compelling, but for future reference, would you support some sort of olive branch being offered to Mark Philippoussis to try to mend those bridges?

LLEYTON HEWITT: A lot of things have to be sorted out. Obviously the connections or the conversations that went before this week were pretty ordinary, and that is going to have to get fixed. With a new captain and coach coming in next year, it is going to be a whole different ball game as well. They are going to have to set down the law right from the start, and you have to put yourself on the line every time for your country. You can't be in and out some matches. That is the way I feel, and no matter where the Davis Cup match is, I always like to be a part of it. There is no greater honour than playing for your country.

Q. Is it fair to stay that the rest of the team would want some assurance that Mark is fully committed?

LLEYTON HEWITT: For sure. We just want to keep in the loop, I think. We have no real understanding why, you know, he is not even coming up here and supporting or whatever. It is just disappointing that another great Australian player - and I've got no doubt that he is going to win a lot of grand slam titles and possibly be the No. 1 player in the world one day; that's just the talent and the game that he has. We just want to keep in the loop in everything. We want to know if we have done something wrong as a team or if Newk and Rochey have got offside of him; maybe we can fix it for the future. Until he sort of opens up to that, we are going to struggle.

Q. Is it just disappointment or is it just sort of hostility? What is the actual feeling amongst the team?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It is mainly just disappointment at the moment, because obviously he is a great player, and as I said, he is capable of beating anyone on any given day. He is just one of those players where you just don't know; he could come out and beat Pete Sampras or he could lose to a guy ranked 50 in the world. He would be great in the future to have on our team, for sure, but obviously he has to mend a lot of things, I think, before he comes back on.

Q. [Inaudible question].

LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously it is going to hurt maybe a few players. It could be Sandon. He has put himself on the line every time. He has come back, and I think Adelaide really showed. He lost in Zurich, which must have been very tough, and he lost the other two ties in five setters as well, and he still put himself on the line and practised 100 percent every day for the boys and gave us what we needed leading into that tie, and that's why everyone just felt so close to him yesterday and wanted him to win so badly, because he really has been a big part. Even though he didn't play in the winning team last year, he was still part of the whole year. This is our team sort of bonding that we have got at the moment. Obviously I would feel pretty disappointed for Sandon whichever way we went. But at the moment I feel that the doubles rubber could be a crucial one. If we went to Spain and I feel if we played two singles players and two doubles players, as long as Pat and myself are fit, then I feel like we have a good chance.

Q. How important are the Olympics for you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, it is like Davis Cup; playing for your country is the greatest honour, and I'm thrilled. I watched the Olympics four years ago and never dreamed that I was going to be playing in Sydney. To actually have that opportunity now, it is a childhood dream come true.

Q. This will probably be the last Davis Cup on the potato patch; it will probably be dug up. It has been special for you. Would you be keen to --?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I was just about to say that. They could send a piece back to my place, yes.

Q. This is probably the second-last time Newcombe and Roche will be in charge. Could you just give us your favourite time of their association with you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It is hard to say. I have had so many of them. Obviously I feel probably one of them was obviously when I beat Kafelnikov here last year, just to put them through to the final, because Newk and Roche gave me that opportunity, and they had a lot of faith in me in the Boston tie to put me in there when really anything could have happened; I could have exploded out there on the court under that pressure. They had so much faith in me. To be able to beat the No.2 player in the world, to give them that final after Newk said it a lot, that they copped a lot of flak at the start of their career as captain and coach when they were struggling there for a while, and that was a fantastic feeling to actually get them through that. Probably the second biggest one was actually beating Federer in Zurich when you knew it was going to be their last year. Even though I didn't play in Mildura, I was starting to get those feelings again in Zurich of that Mildura tie. The worst possible scenario was going to be Newcombe and Roche having to play a qualifying match around this time now to sort of get us back in the world group. That was probably the second-biggest one.

Q. Another question on the finals. Should we go there with two specialist singles players, isn't that a risk? One can get hurt, one can get sick, play a bad match?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Lot of time between sort of now and then as well, you know. It is a little bit similar to here, though, really. We only came here with two singles players in the end. If Pat or myself did get injured, Pat's shoulder played up or my ankle played up again, then we could have been in a little bit of trouble. That's just a risk you take, I suppose. We have had to take it a lot in the past, because with the Woodies and that as well, we have got always had such a strong doubles pair, and obviously it is disappointing that Todd can't be in the final, but that's your opportunity for Sandon to step up to the mark.

Q. Do you think it is more important, despite the camaraderie you mentioned before in the team, to pick the best players available?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I think the ties that we have been through together and the feeling that I got, I would rather be in the team, win or lose. We have been through the tough times and the good times together, and win or lose, come December, I would rather be in that team.

Q. Would you have ... Davis Cup captain any day?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I haven't really thought about it, to tell you the truth.

Q. What is your schedule between now and the US Open?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I am going to have a bit of a break now, really, and see how it pulls up. It has been pretty sore the last couple of weeks. Then I am meant to play Toronto, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, a week off, US Open, then back for the Olympics. Pretty hectic schedule, but I have no points to defend from the American summer last year, where I actually twisted my ankle pretty bad and didn't play any of those events, so I see this time of the year on American hardcourt, which is one of my favourite surfaces, as a big stepping stone for me.

Q. Do you think the surface at Homebush Bay will be the same as it was in January?

LLEYTON HEWITT: For sure. I love - it was actually very slow out there in Sydney, I think because it was a new court compared with the Adelaide or the Melbourne court. But it suits my game perfectly. It was a great arena to play in, that one; very similar to Court 1 at Wimbledon.

MODERATOR: Any final questions?
Transcripts by Realtime Links Pty Ltd  

TRANSCRIPT OF POST-MATCH INTERVIEW
FRIDAY, 14 JULY
INTERVIEWEES: LLEYTON HEWITT AND JOHN NEWCOMBE
L.HEWITT/F.Meligeni
6-4, 6-2, 6,3


MODERATOR: Can I have the first question, please?

Q. [Inaudible question] Was that the overall factor today?

JOHN NEWCOMBE: I thought our guys played very well. They did what had to be done and probably what showed out a little bit in the end was our guys were more - their games are more experienced on grass. I think that was the big advantage we had out there today.

Q. You felt you got your foot on their front at this stage?

JOHN NEWCOMBE: Yeah, we got 'em pinned on the ropes, but that doesn't always mean anything, does it? I mean, Rocky got off the ropes a lot of times, didn't he?

Q. You looked in control from the outset. Was that the way it felt?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, pretty much. I broke the first game but I didn't do anything superb. Then I played a very slack game the next time, the sun was in the wrong position. You know, I didn't go out and be aggressive at all. When I broke from 40-0 on his serve in the next game it was a bit of a turning point. I didn't lose my serve again after I lost it the first service game. I felt in control of the match and I felt like I did what I needed to without playing brilliantly.

Q. ..Part of why your game out there today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Just playing the big points well at the right times. When I needed to break I broke. I think it really showed because he gave everything he had in that third set there and we're on serve, we had a couple of opportunities, 30-alls and deuces to break there on my serve and early break on the - I came out with the big points at the right times. I think that comes down to a bit more experience on grass.

Q. We didn't see the same emotion as we did last year. You didn't seem as pumped up. Did you not feel the need to be?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It was a totally different match from the Kafelnikov match. This guy didn't come out and open his mouth before the tie. You know, it was just a totally different situation out there. I think I was sort of - last year I was obviously the underdog going into that match against Kafelnikov, whereas this year he was the underdog and I was meant to go out there and win and win convincingly. In the end I did. I didn't feel I needed to go up the top. When I wanted to feel pumped I did a little fist to myself, I did it. I kept my emotion pretty well today.

Q. What was it like waiting to play second on opening day for you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I've never won doing it before. It's nice to get that experience under my belt if we do make the final and I've got to do it there again. So it's - I probably found it a bit easier playing first in the past, just because you know what time you're going to be on; you're straight out there. It's a little bit tough, you don't know how much to get into the match of Pat's because you don't want to waste some energy getting into that match that you might need in your match. I watched the first set of Pat's. It made it a lot easier after seeing that brilliant match of his.

Q. Have you seen the handstands before?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, that's the first today. He is a bit of a character, I think.

Q. Didn't put you off?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I saw him doing it. I was waiting for the crowd to erupt, then it happened, and you know, he got some bad line calls today; both of us did. He complained there for a while over one of them. I felt I kept my concentration pretty well.

Q. [Inaudible question]?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. It's - obviously I - I try to block it out right away but you go to sleep at night and you're obviously thinking about it. When I see Jan-Michael Gambill going through the quarterfinals and push Sampras in four sets, I'm thinking that could've been my chance of making the quarterfinal of Wimbledon and playing possibly the greatest player ever there.

You know, then I sat down and spoke to a few people, spoke to Scott Draper, he just tried to lay it out, you know, "You've had a great six months. Even though you've lost the first round Wimbledon, you're going to have a lot of opportunities and be more hungry next year when you do go there." That's sport, I suppose, and part of being a professional athlete, having good days and bad days. Obviously it was disappointing it happened - one of my worst days in tennis happened at such a big event.

Q. [Inaudible question.]

LLEYTON HEWITT: He just brings a lot of confidence with himself. It's just a - confidence - it's a presence of him having him around the team. Every time he steps on the court you feel he's going to get the job done. I have so much confidence in him every time he goes on the court. And the way he played today was just superb again. He's just one of those guys who always gives 100% for his country. He didn't play last year but he also - he came here and supported the team and he was here every day as long as everyone was here. He was on the court working with Wayne a lot because Wayne was very inexperienced at that point. It's just that presence he has around the team. I think it really does lift the confidence level for a lot of the players, particularly Wayne last year.

Q. Gustavo isn't playing in the doubles tomorrow. How much of a blow do you think that is...

JOHN NEWCOMBE: Sorry?

Q. Gustavo is in serious doubt for tomorrow's doubles.

JOHN NEWCOMBE: It has to be, because Kuerten and Oncins are - have a great record in Davis Cup doubles - I think they've won 10 out of 11 - so that's good news. I hadn't heard that, so thank you.

Q. Just a formality, going through the motions now?

JOHN NEWCOMBE: Nothing is a formality in Davis Cup. Any time you think anything's a formality in Davis Cup you're in a lot of trouble.

Q. [Inaudible question]?

JOHN NEWCOMBE: Right now we're thinking Sandon and Mark.

Q. [Inaudible question]?

JOHN NEWCOMBE: Since he saying the other day - I was - since he got off the plane he's had to hold his nervous system at a very high level. Right now he feels as flat as a tack. So it'd be much smarter to rest him tomorrow, and if something does happen and he's needed for the last match on Sunday, he's got a day to rest and just get his body back into shape and he can bring it up again. Besides that, we think Sandon can get the job done, and it would be nice for him to have a win, because just to get over that thing of having lost three of his doubles matches in Davis Cup and they were all close and it was unlucky, so it'd be good to get a win and wash that other stuff away, because if we get through this tie and get to the final we're going to need a doubles pair, and that could be Sandon and Mark.

Q. Lleyton, you played your natural running game and made Fernando play the running game as well. Do you think you wore him out in the end?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. He gave everything he had. I was surprised at some of the balls he got back today. He's a very good athlete; he gives 100% on every point. But it was nice sometimes that I didn't quite put her away at the right time. Maybe, hit another ball I could've put away a point before but maybe it did wear him out a bit which was nice.

Q. Have you enjoyed this week being out of the spotlight, with Philippoussis pulling out and Rafter coming in and playing? Has that helped you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's not a big deal to me, really. I try and block it out as much as possible. Obviously Rafter's getting all the attention, which is great; it's good for tennis, I think. After his Wimbledon final it was fantastic, he deserves all of it. So if - last year was a totally different situation, though, because Wayne Arthurs compared to Patrick Rafter in your team playing behind you is totally different. You have a two-time Grand Slam champion against a guy who has made Wimbledon once, so I don't really mind either. I try and block out as much of the media and publicity as possible.

Q. How does it feel having cemented your place in the team? You are no longer the young bloke who is getting a chance. You're a bona fide member of your team. This is your sixth tie.

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's a dream. At 9, 10 years old you always dream about playing Davis Cup for your country, and who would've thought that at this stage, this time this year that I would've been sort of the No. 1 player in the team and top 10 in the singles at the moment and already have won four tournaments? So it is a dream, and it is fantastic. And hopefully the boys can go out there and we can make another final and hopefully I can get another little trophy to put on my cabinet.

Q. How much of your success on tour do you attribute to your experiences at Davis Cup?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's - you know, I owe Newcombe and Roche so much for my rise at such a young age so far. They took me under their wing when I was 15 the France tie, White City, I don't think you could've written it any better for me. It was perfect. The first match I ever get to see in Davis Cup live, Rafter versus Pioline. Sitting on the sideline with the boys, having a tracksuit, going to the dinners with them and stuff like that, you want to become an - play Davis Cup for Australia. There was just that great honour of playing for your country. You know, Rochey's been a big help for me travelling all the weeks as well. He's helped me out on the tour as has Darren Cahill.

Q. Been away from Davis Cup, it means even more - ?

JOHN NEWCOMBE: No. I think he's probably, as you get older you realise that time is not for eternity and there will be a period where he's not playing any more. So there is probably that feeling that - the knowledge that it's so tough to get to a Davis Cup final that if we do get to a finals this time, it may be his last time he's there. But anyway we haven't arrived at that point. Yeah, I think it's probably just the - maybe he has two more years left after this one. And who knows with his shoulder, there's got to be the thought in the back of his mind, "Okay, things are going great now but I don't know. I could get - play a long series of tournaments and something could happen again", so. This would be a very important year for him, I'd say.

MODERATOR: Any more questions?   

Lleyton defeated by Jan-Michael Gambill Wimbledon 1st round 26 June 2000 

Q. How do you explain that, or can you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I just had one of those days really. I struggled off the ground the whole day. The court I found very slippery out there. It didn't suit my game at all today. You know, you can't take anything away from the way Jan-Michael played. He was too good today.

Q. Would you say it's a psychological thing or more of a physical thing; it just didn't happen for you today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's one of those days. You know, it's just a shame. You know you're going to have days like this, but you just hope it happens in a World Series event or a little bit smaller event than Wimbledon. There's not a lot I can do about it. You know, I'm going to get it out of my mind as quickly as possible. Obviously I'm going to learn a bit from this match, as well. You know, I've got to block it out and think about Davis Cup now and then the American summer.

Q. The first sets you didn't look particularly pumped up or your normal self. Were you nervous?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Wasn't much to get pumped up about.

Q. Sometimes you get yourself up.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I tried as much as possible out there. I really had very little chances, particularly on his serve in the first two sets. He just served bombs the whole time. It wasn't till, you know, halfway I think sort of the second or third service game of his in the second set where I actually got my chance. You know, he was serving a lot of first serves. He served a lot of aces. There's not a lot you can do about it when you're in that situation.

Q. Is there any other tournament where you could feel quite as hopeless when things are going the way they developed for you today because of the nature of the surface and all that?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. Obviously I haven't experienced any other, I suppose, worse than today.

Q. It's been sort of almost impossible to pick up a paper without seeing your picture in it. Has that affected you at all coming into this?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not at all. I think I'm used to that, living in Australia, playing the Australian summer, doing very well in the Australian summer every year. It's probably very similar buildup to the Australian Open the last couple of years.

Q. Do you think you lost the game in your mind or on the court today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: The whole time I still felt that I had a chance at winning. I never doubted myself until it was over today. Even though I was 5-2 up in the third set there, you know, even when I got 6-5 down, I felt like I could still break in that game. I did have breakpoint there. Get out of it in the tiebreak. You know, it was just a little bit disappointing that I didn't take my chance late in the third set there. Who knows, you're two sets to one, if I did break twice and win that set 6-2 - I think I had three set points, he served two aces on two of those - who knows if I could have broken him twice, would have had a lot more confidence going into the fourth and maybe even the fifth set.

Q. Was there anything about his game that surprised you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No. Jan-Michael is a great player. I think up to this date, it's a little bit of a waste I suppose, some of his results. He beat me in the Scottsdale final a year and a bit ago now. I got a little bit of revenge - when was it - Miami in the quarterfinals there. He's a great player. I've got a lot of time for his game. He's got a very big game. If he's on, he's very big.

Q. Did having last week off have anything to do with today's result?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. I started hitting Thursday afternoon lightly, then just sort of built up as the days went on. You know, there's no excuse at all.

Q. What actually happened to you last week? Were you injured?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I just had a little bit of a strain on my ankle. I didn't want to risk anything on average grass courts. Even though I did play well in Queen's, I tweaked it a couple times, had to have a lot of treatment and that. I didn't think that was the best preparation going into Wimbledon. Who knows, if I won a couple of matches there, it was going to maybe swell up and I didn't want to risk it.

Q. You were okay today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I was fine.

Q. Did winning Queen's and that match against Sampras take a lot out of you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. No, not at all. The only thing it gave me was a lot of confidence, I suppose. Yeah, today doesn't show anything of what came out of Queen's I don't think at all. You know, I've still -- if you think about the two tournaments that I did play on grass, it's probably a shame that you don't get to play more tournaments on grass. Obviously the next Davis Cup tie is on grass. I'm still going to have a lot of confidence going into the Davis Cup tie against Brazil. If I do play that single's spot, I'm going to go out there and hope. I'm sure that I'm going to lift my game from today and play something like I did in Queen's.

Q. Do you think this harms your chances of the single's spot?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's up to Newc and Rochey. I'm a hundred percent behind whoever they select. Obviously I think we're pretty dangerous with the three of us, you know, in the team. I don't think it damages anything really. As I said, I played one bad match. I think everyone has that.

Q. How much slower was the court here than at Queen's?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It was definitely a bit slower. I would say it was probably closer to the first couple of days of Queen's, I think. The semis and final days were lightning quick at Queen's. I think they cut it down a lot more. I just noticed it wasn't as true a court as Queen's, not even close. It's a lot more slipperier out there than Queen's.

Q. Are you disappointed to see you were playing Jan-Michael the first round, because he does have a reputation to create some upsets in his career, even though he hasn't that steady a career?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously, you know, he's not the easiest person, the person you would want to play first round. You'd much rather play him with a couple matches under your belt, feel like you're in the tournament. That's tennis, I suppose. That's sport. I've had some good draws in the past, and I've had some average draws. There's not a lot you can do about it.

Q. The buzz this week is that you might be ready to break through and win a Grand Slam title. People are asking others if they felt you were ready. In your own mind, did you feel you were?

LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, it's hard to say, I suppose. I haven't made a quarterfinal of a Grand Slam. I haven't been there towards the latter stage of a Grand Slam as yet. You know, that's sort of the next step that I've got to take, I suppose. The Masters Series I'm starting to get up there with a couple of semis now. The next step is definitely to sort of make it through to that Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday of the second week in the Slams. You know, there's still areas in my game that I've got to work on. Obviously in the back of your mind you don't think you're going to go out there and win Wimbledon. I was just taking it one match at a time.

Q. Pat said that the court was slippery, that he wasn't confident getting to the net to volley. Were you the same today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I just felt the whole court was slippery. I don't know. You know, obviously Pat and I play totally different games. He's going to look for a lot more opportunities to come to net than me. I just felt I didn't have any footing around the court at all. It was very hard if you did get pushed out wide, with my more baseline game, I really did struggle to sort of get myself back in the point, whereas at Queen's, sort of I could loop a ball back, get my footing back, have a little bit of time, get back in the point.

Q. Can you remember the last time you felt as disappointed as you do now?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. You have it nearly every week (laughter). I don't like losing.

Q. Not Centre Court at Wimbledon.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Centre Court at the Australian Open playing Norman in front of your home crowd in the Round of 16 when you're hitting the ball, you've just won two tournaments, hitting the ball great. Probably more disappointing, I'd say that one. Yeah, obviously I've had a lot of ups this year and I've had a couple of downs. The Davis Cup final last year when you lost to Cedric, I think that's probably the all-time low.

Q. Is your disappointment lightened by Kim's win?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I didn't see the match. Sorry.

Q. Do you still feel you have a future in this tournament?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I hope so (laughter).

Q. Even though you lost in the first round today, beaten by Boris last year, two powerful guys that have beaten you. If you're going to have trouble getting to the net because of the surface, must be a bit of a worry.

LLEYTON HEWITT: No worry at all. I think I'm only going to get better and better here at Wimbledon. I see the way that I played at Queen's, if I can get through to the second week, you know, the court becomes quicker and quicker, obviously gets a lot dryer out there, better underfoot. It's no big deal. 12 months from now I'm sure I'm going to be a better player than I am now. I'm going to be hungrier, as well, to do better here.

Q. What are your plans now?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Haven't even thought about it. Davis Cup is the next thing. I haven't really even thought about it.

Q. Staying here to see how Kim goes for the rest of the tournament?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I've got to talk to Newcombe and Roche about Davis Cup commitments. Obviously Davis Cup comes first. I don't want to put anything -- I want to put everything on the line and give myself the best chance of playing well in Brisbane. There's not a lot of time after the tournament here.