Lleyton Hewitt Interview - Day 7 4th round loss
Monday, July 2, 2001

N. ESCUDE/L. Hewitt
4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4


Q. Did you have much juice in the tank in the fifth set or were things
starting to take a toll?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I actually felt fine. My fitness really wasn't a worry.
Obviously I was a bit let down after having won love, love, 30. Then, 15-30,
he hit a great return. You know, I don't know how he hit that shot that he
hit. That would have given me two breakpoints. I felt like I was starting to
get on top, in control then. That put a bit of a dent in the confidence, I
think. Then I played a couple of slack points the start of the next game.
Then he sort of picked up again. He got on a bit of a roll from there.

Q. The start of the sets, a problem again for you instead of having a period
where you relaxed?

LLEYTON HEWITT: The first set, I didn't really have many chances. He came out
and was too good at the start of the first. Second set, that's when I
struggled a little bit, early in that one, for sure. I didn't hang with him.
Then I still got an opportunity, though. I kept fighting that set. 4-All I
had two breakpoints there. You know, didn't capitalize. You know, paid the
price. It was going to be hard. He would have beat me if I got into a
two-set-to-love lead.

Q. Did you feel at any stage of the tournament that you were likely to win
it? You had a few struggles to get to this point. Did you ever feel like you
had it?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. That's hard to say. I'd never been past the third
round. You know, it would be silly for me to think that I'm going to hold up
the trophy next Sunday.

Q. Were you playing well enough to do that, did you feel?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No. I would have had to play a lot better, that's for sure.
You know, I've had a glimpse of playing well over the last four weeks, but I
would have had to do it every match for five sets, every set from now on, if
you're going to win it. I would have had to play a lot better than I did
today.

Q. Do you think Pat can win it?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I think Pat's got a big chance. He hasn't been playing his
best tennis so far, but I actually think that's better for him. I think for
him -- you know, he struggled a bit more than he did last year through to
this stage so far. But he's still there. You know, he hasn't wasted a lot of
energy getting there either. You know, I think things are panning out nicely
for him. You know, he's probably going to be my favourite. I'd like to see
him win it.

Q. Obviously you've had two tournament wins, 15 matches under your belt on
grass. You've come further than you have done before at Wimbledon. Has this
just whetted your appetite now for next summer to come back and do a lot
better and feel at home more on grass?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, for sure. You know, I've had a great grass court
season. You know, it's over though, now. Not too much I can do about it. But
obviously, you know, it comes and goes so quickly, the grass court
tournaments. You know, I've done extremely well this year. But, you know,
I'll be trying to do better in Wimbledon, in the major one, instead of
winning the other two. You know, if that happens, it happens. But obviously
my main focus is going to be Wimbledon.

Q. Do you think you maybe played one tournament too many?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, no, I don't. I think I feel good. You know, I feel fine.
It's hard to say if I got through the Dent match or something a bit easier, I
could have, you know, helped the body, as well. But, you know, you never
know. You can go in and sometimes people will say you're underdone. Went to
Queen's, lost first or second round, didn't go to Rosmalen. You can say
you're underdone, you don't have the matches on grass. There's two ways to
look at it. This year I took a chance by playing two tournaments. You know, I
definitely hit some form on grass there for a bit.

Q. When you say you knew earlier on you would have had to have lifted your
form to win this, can you put your finger on why you weren't quite at your
peak?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. You know, I just didn't feel comfortable at
all out there today. You know, I returned fairly well for most of the match.
But I just didn't feel comfortable with my groundstrokes. You know, I don't
usually have that feeling.

Q. What signal does it give to you to see Roger Federer beat Pete Sampras
today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I didn't know until I just came in five minutes ago.
It's obviously a great win for Roger, there's no doubt about that. But, I
don't know. I'm sure Pete's going to come back and be , you know, next year
as high favoured as he's ever been. But I think it says a lot of things to
other people, you know, that he is beatable here, as well. Obviously, he's
had a great career here. He's probably the best champion, the best player
ever to play here. But, you know, it's one day. I didn't see any of the
match. I can't really comment on how it went, if Roger was too good, whatever.

Q. You withdrew from the mixed doubles with Kim. I heard her saying it was
due to some pain in your knee. Was it really so? If so, was it still
bothering you today?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I've had a little bit of pain in my knee. You know, it really
hasn't bothered me, though, too much. You know, it bothered me more in my
first couple matches than it did the last couple.

Q. Is there a medical problem?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, they're not really sure. It's like patella-something. I
got no idea. I haven't had any scans or ultrasounds or anything done. I don't
know the exact problem. Just been getting treatment every day.

Q. Do you plan to have some scans or anything?

LLEYTON HEWITT: As I said, the last two or three days I have been feeling a
lot better, nearly 100%. I was a bit more worried at the start of the
tournament. You know, we'll just see how it goes the next few days.

Q. Pat said before you're only 20, that everyone should be patient waiting
for you to win your first Slam. Are you getting impatient?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not at all. You know, when I first came on the tour, I
had a bit of a slow start after I won Adelaide there. You know, Darren took
me over the next year. You know, we weren't trying to win Grand Slams, you
know, when you're 18, 19, 20. He was trying to work on my game when I was 23
going on till I'm 29, 30, trying to work on my game. I'm still developing the
game. You know, that comes with fitness and weight work and everything, you
know, the whole package. He told me that as soon as we started working nearly
three years ago now. You know, so far, so good. You know, I've gone up the
rankings; I keep improving every year. You know, I think my time's going to
come. I can't put a finger on when it's going to come. Hopefully not too
late. You know, I think, you know, everything's improving and I'm still
looking forward to hopefully having that one day when I get that opportunity.

Q. Do you leave this tournament thinking there's any one part of your game in
particular that you need to improve on?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, for grass, I think a bit more of an all-court game. You
know, there's no doubt I have to try to come to the net more and be a bit
more aggressive from the baseline. But, you know, that's a thing I knew
coming into Queen's this year, as well. But, you know, that's something
that's not just going to change over night (snapping fingers). You have to
work, you have to play more matches and you've got to do it in practise. You
have to go out there and practise. That's why the Davis Cup ties have helped
me on grass so far and they're going to continue to help me when we play
those ties on grass.

Q. Will you go out with more feelings of regret than achievement or vice
versa?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. You know, it's nice to have won a few
matches on Centre Court. I'm pretty happy with that. Obviously, there was an
opportunity to play, you know, a guy like Agassi in the quarterfinals. You
know, I've just missed out on that. You know, the way that I was playing
anyway, I would have got killed by him. Wouldn't have been much of a match.

Q. Do you think you played better at Queen's than you played here?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I hit the ball better, yeah.

Q. You're having a break now, I believe. How long will you hang around? How
long will you have off? What will you do?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not sure yet. Got no idea. Yeah, I don't plan on playing
again till Montreal. A few weeks off, which is nice. I've been going since
Rome. It's taking its toll now. But, you know, I've got no idea what I'm
going to do. Probably a lot of fitness work, hopefully stay healthy, get in
the gym, work pretty hard so I can last the American summer.

Q. With your game on grass, do you have a preference at all playing a big
server or a baseliner like Agassi?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, it doesn't really worry me. In the past, you know, I
really haven't minded playing the big servers such as Sampras, Rusedski,
Henman, those guys. Last week in Rosmalen I played a lot of baseliners, as
well. That didn't really affect me on an average grass court in Rosmalen A
lot softer, a lot more dodgey bounces there. I don't really have a favourite,
no.

Q. There's no bigger temptation of showing the big servers how to return?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not at all, no.

Q. You've had such great Davis Cup results obviously on grass, the two titles
at Queen's. When you've come to Wimbledon, it's still alluded you to play
quite that well. Do you scratch your head and wonder why that is?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think I will this year. You know, if it keeps
happening, you know, if I bomb out in the first couple rounds for the next
six to eight years, then I'll start wondering. I'm still young. I've had my
best result at Paris a couple weeks ago, and now at Wimbledon here. You know,
it's going to come, but it's going to take time. As I said, you know, the
changes that I'm trying to do to my game and help my game for the years to
come, it's not going to happen overnight. I've got to be patient. There's
nothing much I can do about it.

Q. Do you and Kim sometimes motivate each other by saying, "Let's see who is
the first to win a Grand Slam"?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not at all. No, we're not like that. We don't really talk
about tennis.

Q. Any holidaying in the next few weeks, as well?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I got no idea what I'm doing. Just thinking about
Wimbledon.

Q. Are you going to stay here?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. I'll probably watch Kim play. I don't know if
she plays tomorrow. I'll probably watch that.

Q. You talked about Pat's great chance now. Who will the players be putting
their money on? Agassi?

LLEYTON HEWITT: The other players?

Q. Yes.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I've got no idea.

Q. You, Agassi?

LLEYTON HEWITT: For me? Who would I put my money on?

Q. Yes.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I think Rafter. That's what I said. You know, I suppose it's
a bit with your heart, as well. Obviously, I'd like to see him win. But I
think, you know, he's had to work a little bit harder this year. I think we
all realise how close he was last year. You know, he was a couple of points
away from holding up the trophy. I think he wants it, this and probably the
Davis Cup at the end of the year, the two most important things left in his
career. You know, he struggled a little bit so far. But, you know, the draw's
opening up nicely for him, I think.

Q. Do you think you'll stay as long as he's in the tournament and watch him?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. I'm not sure. I haven't spoken to Darren yet.
I'm not sure what's going to happen.

END--http://www.wimbledon.com/news/interviews/

Lleyton Hewitt Interview - Day 6
Saturday, June 30, 2001

L. HEWITT/Y. El Aynaoui
7-5, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6

MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Listening to the commentary of the game, everyone seemed to suggest
whenever you were in trouble you had the ability to get out of it no matter
what happened. Is that something different this year?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, it was a tough match. It was a lot tougher than I
thought. I (inaudible) really serve out there today. I was really struggling.
You know, I felt like I started getting onto Dent as much as I could the
other day. Dent is obviously a better server. Younes served great the whole
match. Every time I got to Love-30 or 15-30, he put in two or three big
serves. He was serving right to the lines.
But I felt like, you know, I felt like the better player for the whole match.
It was just a matter of time before I'd get those opportunities to break
again. It happened in the third set there. I got fortunate at 4-All. Then in
the last set I had another opportunity to break at 5-All. He served well
again. I played a very good tiebreak.

Q. I know you treat everything as just the next step onto another game.
What's the difference in getting the first time to this level at Wimbledon?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yes, it's great to, you know, make it through to the second
week now. It's fantastic. Especially with a lot of expectation on your
shoulders, as well, coming into it.
It feels good. You know, I'm going to have a tough match. Looks as though
it's probably going to be Escude at the moment, the two Frenchies. Whichever
I play, I'm going to have to step it up another gear if I'm going to get to
the quarters.

Q. Speaking of tiebreaks, this is an area where you've had a bit of trouble,
not just this year but in past years as well. Have you changed the way you
approach tiebreaks at all?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Actually, I feel pretty good in tiebreaks. This year has been
very kind to me in tiebreaks. You know, the way that I've played at Queen's
against Henman in the two tiebreaks in the final there, I came out and played
perfect. In Brazil, I played three doubles tiebreaks and two singles against
Kuerten in that one.
You know, I feel like, you know, obviously it takes a little bit of
experience to, you know, set you up for winning seven points, win by two. But
I feel like I've been able to do that pretty well. You're always going to
lose the odd one. That's part of playing a tennis match.

Q. No different approach to them at all?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. I go out there. You know, I try to get off to
as good a start as possible. It helped today getting a mini break
straightaway.

Q. How concerned are you by how hard you're having to fight to get through
these matches?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. No, I feel pretty good out there. I feel like
I've got a lot of energy. Playing on grass, it doesn't take as much out of
you as playing on clay or hard court, I think. Especially in these
conditions, I've played a couple of rain-delayed matches, as well. I've had
delays in both my last two matches.
I feel pretty good. I get a rest after this. I got to go for broke one week
now. Hopefully I can get to the last of the week.

Q. I know you're a confirmed Aussie Rules man. We have to ask the question,
did you watch this morning?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I saw, 83, some of it. Rochey was in the changing rooms
crying (laughter). It was very hard -- watching it. Every time I came in, he
was going nuts. Obviously, a bit disappointing. The boys will bounce back,
I'm sure.

Q. Whereabouts would you rate your form at the moment? Do you think you're
playing as well as you have at other tournaments, US Open last year? Do you
think you're playing well enough to win the whole thing?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I've definitely got to go up, play a lot better if I have a
good chance of winning it. I think I'm playing pretty good, though. The way
that I've been playing on grass, you know, the last few weeks gives me a lot
of confidence, as well.
I've beaten some top players in the last few weeks, you know, survived a
couple of tight matches already in the tournament. I've got those -- some of
the tough ones out of the way. If I get in a tight situation, I know how to
sort of react. Here at Wimbledon in the past I've maybe pushed the panic
button too early.

Q. Guys were saying they were surprised you didn't go into the net more
often. In hindsight, do you think you should have?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I probably should have. You know, it's tough when you're out
there. The guy had an extremely good forehand. Obviously, his backhand was
his more weaker shot. You know, it was hard to get to his backhand because he
kept running around hitting forehands. You have to hit it basically on a
dime, then come in on that.
I could have taken a few more chances, yeah, for sure. You know, I didn't
really want to come in on his forehand too much because it was sort of a
hit-and-miss shot. He was hitting a lot of winners off it. Did make it hard
for me from the baseline.
I felt like I was winning my service games pretty convincingly anyway. Maybe
I could have taken a few more risks on his serve.

Q. Did you feel comfortable going out on Centre Court today, more so than the
other day?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Always nice when you have a win on the board.

Q. Over the three years you've been here, have you felt constrained or
intimidated by the Centre Court, all the history?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. It's a different kind of court. There's so
much tradition, such a prestigious court out there. Such a great atmosphere
to play tennis in.
I've never felt intimidated when I step out there. You know, I'll be myself.
Paid off the last couple of matches.

Q. Players say they never look at the draw or they're taking them one match
at a time. You secretly suspect that they've snuck a peek down the line. I
wonder whether Andre Agassi has been at all on your mind during the first
week of the tournament.
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not at all. I haven't seen one of Andre's matches. That's
how much he's been on my mind.
As I said, I have Grosjean or Escude. I'm going to have to play better than I
did the last few days to get past that one. I've never been to the second
one.
My goal was to get through to the second week. Here I am. I'm going to take
it one match at a time from here.

Q. You said before you couldn't serve today. When that's happened to you in
the past, how have you gone about trying to rediscover how to serve?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I served very well.

Q. I thought you said you didn't.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I served well today. That's as well as I've served out on
Centre Court today.

Q. Do you actually feel a part of the event now, after the last couple years?
Is it a different feeling to be part of the tournament?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's a great feeling, you know, to get through to the last
16. This is when, you know, most of the top seeds start meeting each other.
This is when, you know, the tournament starts all over again.
You know, I'm feeling -- it's fantastic. I felt like I've been able to do it
at all the other three Slams. Now to be able to do it here at Wimbledon, it
means a lot to me to be able to play well here. It's an added bonus, that's
for sure.

Q. Has fatigue ever been a factor in the last couple of matches? You played
so much, quarterfinals French, back-to-back titles coming in, long match
against Taylor. Do you feel tired at all?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I actually feel good. With the days off and that, it's
been fine. I'm feeling strong. You know, I put in a bit of extra fitness work
straight after I lost in Paris. After I lost to Ferrero, I was in the gym the
next five or six days before going into Queen's. The goal was to be able to
last, you know, four tough weeks, then be able to put the feet up another
three weeks before playing the American circuit. So far it's paying off.
Obviously, I was a little bit sort of tired going into Queen's at the start.
Now I've sort of freshened up. That's good.

Q. Weight work or endurance work?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Mainly endurance work - on the bike, running, skipping, stuff
like that.

Q. With a player like Taylor, he's not going to let you get too much rhythm.
If you wind up playing Grosjean, could you have some long rallies that will
help you get grooved. Is that ultimately helping you in a tournament, or does
it make no difference whatsoever?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. Not with the matches that I've played over the
last couple of weeks. Maybe if you hadn't played too many matches coming into
a Slam, you're wanting to sort of get in a nice groove before the tournament,
before you start playing sort of the big names in the Round of 16, quarters.
I've played that many matches. I've played quite a few baseliners over the
last couple weeks. I feel like I am in a bit of a groove. Playing Dent was
sort of a one-off thing. I haven't played that many big hitters. Really most
of Rosmalen was, you know, pretty baseline sort of tennis.

Q. Do you know your record against Escude, if it's him?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I lost to him the first time. I think I'm 2-1 up. I think
I've won the last two.

Q. How does your game match up against his, do you think?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, not bad. He's got an all-court game. He's going to
serve-volley a bit, stay back a bit. He returns very well, he moves well. You
know, I'm going to have to, you know, be prepared to return very well. He's
got a pretty good first serve. I'm going to have to, you know, being seeing
the ball well. I'm going to have to move well, you know, make some pretty
good passes I think if I'm going to win.

Q. And Grosjean?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Grosjean, I've played a few times. I don't know the record. I
think it's about even. You know, he's obviously very quick around the court.
He's probably more of a baseliner than Escude. He's got a dangerously sneaky
first serve. He wins a lot of points off his first serve, which a lot of
people don't realise, I think.
It's going to be tough either way.

Q. Did you know the Crows got beaten, as well?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I didn't know that.

Q. Two points.
LLEYTON HEWITT: At least the one result.

END--http://www.wimbledon.com/news/interviews/

<<<<< END >>>>>

Round 2 L. HEWITT/T. Dent
1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3

MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton, please. 

Q. One would imagine that Darren earned his pay today. What did he say to you during the rain delay? How did that affect your mindset?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, he came out, as I think everyone saw, he was on fire. Probably played a little bit negative at the start. Darren told me to just hang in there, try to weather the storm. That was basically it. "Try and be a bit more aggressive out there, you know, just be yourself." 
You know, I tried to come out there. I got on a bit of a roll. 5-All in the second set, I was down breakpoint, got out of it, played a good game to break. You know, kept it going. 
Obviously, was disappointed that I ended up losing the fourth set. Got a bit tight at the end of the fourth. The way I bounced back, it's as good as I have ever done.

Q. How come you weren't wearing your hat at the beginning of the match, which was unusual?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I didn't wear it much last week. It's easy now, I don't have hair in my eyes. It was all right. You know, just felt like I might whack it on there. Needed a change.

Q. A bit of a lucky omen for you? Are you going to keep it on now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. No promises. We'll see.

Q. For three years you've been hearing negative people saying, "Guy has a great game, but when he gets up against the big hitters, they're going to demolish him." Do you take special pleasure in a guy like this, hitting big serves, sent most of them back, win it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's definitely nice. Yeah, a lot of people start to think if you have a big serve, you're just about home. I draw confidence from guys like that, you know, especially Michael Chang a few years ago, now Andre Agassi. He's won, you know, Grand Slams on all surfaces now. You know, that's the kind of guy that I look to. He's beaten the best players on every surface, he's beaten the specialists on every surface. 
I draw strength from that. 
I go out there and I know that my rush return of serve is one of my main strengths out there. I look forward to playing those matches because it's sort of their strength against my strength. You know, it doesn't always come out my way, but on this occasion, the last few occasions, it has.

Q. Your thoughts on winning a match on Centre Court? 
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's nice (smiling). It's nice to have won a singles instead of mixed doubles last year.

Q. What do you think would have happened had you not had that rain delay?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. You know, he had to go off a little bit. There's no way that he'd be ranked 143 or whatever he is in the world if he kept playing like that for three-out-of-five sets, three to five sets. You know, so he had to go off. 
You know, I raised my game, though, as well. Who knows? If I was still out there, when I was going to actually put the foot down was another question. 

Q. What was it like to face some of those serves?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's a big serve. Obviously you get frustrated. You get to 15-40s, get these opportunities, puts a 140 down the middle and you can't do a thing about it. You get frustrated. I've had to deal with that a lot of times in the past. It's something that you just have to try and shrug off, keep plugging away. I know I'm a good enough returner to get my opportunities.

Q. What was going on in your mind when he's throwing up the ball?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not a lot (laughter). A bit of guesswork. I don't know. It's hard to say. Obviously, I'm starting to think about where he's gone in the past, trying to read his mind a little bit, as well. 
But, you know, I think I'm just fortunate enough to have pretty quick reflexes when it comes to a thing like that. I sort of react very quickly. 

Q. Could you elaborate a bit on the Centre Court issue? Pat spoke before, it might be a bit of a phobia for you to have not won before. You spoke about being inhibited on that court before. How important was it for you to win today? 
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I don't feel intimidated or anything out there. It's a court where you've got to go for your shots I think to pay off, and I haven't done that as well as I probably should have the last few years. I played a little bit negative when I've gone out there. It's a different kind of court. Court 1 is a lot higher bounce. It's better I think for a baseline player to play on Court 1 than Centre Court, that's for sure. 
You know, the ball stayed low. I think as we saw, Taylor Dent, I didn't know he could slice that well, but he has a very heavy slice. It's very hard, when they're coming in off that, very hard to pass. That's what Jan-Michael did, and that's what Boris Becker did two years ago when I played him. It's obviously a big relief, though, for me not to have to worry about it again.

Q. Monkey off the back a bit, is it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: A little bit. I didn't go out there with that in mind. I went out there to try to get into the third round of Wimbledon.

Q. What about when you started to tighten up the fourth set? Was it creeping into your mind then?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. You know, all I was thinking about was trying to get a first serve in. Felt like I hadn't made a first serve for a couple of games. Probably only four or five points in a row when I didn't get one. That never came into my mind when I was out there.

Q. Fourth set, serving at 40-15, take us through the game, particularly the double-fault. 
LLEYTON HEWITT: I was probably a bit lucky to get up 40-15, actually. He should have won the first point, if I recall rightly. Got to 40-15. You know, probably should have gone the percentage serve. I went for a serve out wide to his forehand. He slapped it back. I was on the defense then. Sort of got it back. He chip-charged. You know, I missed the pass, backhand pass. Then I missed another first serve on the next point. He hit a great chip-charge actually on that one for second serve. I hit the ball long up the line in a passing shot. Two double-faults. You sort of live and die by it. 
I go for my second serve under pressure. I went for it. Breakpoint down then. Didn't pay off. It's won me a helluva lot of matches. 

Q. El Aynaoui next round. What are your thoughts?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Haven't really thought about it. You know, probably sit down and talk to a few people. I've never played him. Haven't really seen him play a lot. Obviously, you know, I think he won in straight sets today, so he's playing pretty good.
It's going to be, you know, something I've got to go out there and just play my game. I think against a guy like him, he's not a grass court specialist. I have to go out there and attack right from the start.

Q. Do you think you can win the tournament?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's a long way from winning. I've only equaled my best ever effort here. You know, another week and a half to go. 

Q. Do you train your reflexes? Do you play video games? Do you do something for that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really (laughter). I've always been, you know, the smaller kid, I suppose, growing up, had to face the bigger servers, guys who were two or three years older. I never played my age group in Juniors. I always have had to -- you know, it's just come over time. I was a very good returner in Juniors, as well. It was one of my main strengths. I think that's got to do with practising with better players, bigger guys when I was younger.

Q. Do you have a certain pleasure in going against the grain? Pete and Guga are largely one-surface players to a certain degree. You play on all surfaces. You play Davis Cup and regular circuit. You play against bigger players. Does that give you a certain pride?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I enjoy it. There's no way I'm going to miss a Grand Slam. I love competing. I love playing the Grand Slams. That's the majors. When you sit down at the start of the year, you write down what you want to do for the year, the Grand Slams are penciled in, the Masters Series, and then the Davis Cup is there all the time for me. 
It's a little bit different issues I think for other guys. They have problems with Davis Cup because of the scheduling, because of coaches, because of all this other stuff, whereas I love getting out there, competing, playing for my country. 
For the tournaments, I think I'm fortunate enough that I've been able to adjust my game to be able to play on all surfaces. It's been a lot of hard work. It hasn't come like that (snapping fingers). I didn't know how to play on grass, I didn't know how to play on clay three years ago. It's something that Darren has really helped me with. Just being patient, thinking, you know, hoping that it's going to come with time. You know, I'm still learning a lot about clay and grass courts at the moment.

Q. Some say that grass already is your best surface. Would you agree with that at all?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, probably not. You know, I grew up on hard courts. I know how to play on hard courts a lot better than grass still. Hard courts, I know what to do under pressure a lot more than on grass. I'm still learning a lot. 
You know, Davis Cup ties have helped me in that situation, playing pressure matches on grass. The last couple years, it's probably been my worst surface really. I've had to learn to play on it.

Q. When you say hard courts, you're talking about dirt or cement courts?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Hard court, US Open, Australian Open, Rebound Ace. 

Q. Emotion clearly plays a big part in your game. Were you aware early in the second set you came pretty close with drilling the ball towards Taylor? Was that an attempt to try and intimidate him? Were you aware how close the ball came to him?
LLEYTON HEWITT: When was that? 

Q. Just after the rain break in the second set. 
LLEYTON HEWITT: That was in a point, though? 

Q. Right. 
LLEYTON HEWITT: Mate, I thought he was going the other way. It's as simple as that. I didn't think he'd stay in the same spot. 

Q. How important is it to you to try to get yourself psyched up, get the emotion going?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, obviously for me to get the crowd involved, that's when I play my best tennis. It's shown in the past, shown in big matches in Davis Cup in Grand Slams before. You know, it showed today. 

Q. You talked about learning still on grass courts. Could you put in words what you learned today?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard. I haven't hard time to reflect just yet. I'll learn a lot from it. There's still areas of my game I have to work than on, I think. When I didn't serve well and get a high percentage in, it made life very difficult out there. That's one area of my game. I've got to come into the net a bit more. That's going to come with time. That's not going to happen overnight. I'm not expecting it to change in my next round against El Aynaoui. That's going to come in the next two or three years. 

Q. Can you take us through one more key game, the break in the fifth set, particularly the last three points. 
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was hard. Just lost the set after being -- lost the momentum really. Got out of a good game, the first game of the fifth. Even the first point, you know, I hustled up a storm to get that point. I threw up a deep lob, which got him back on the baseline, ended up winning that point. The other ones, I just hit great returns on. You know, that's going to happen. I knew from there I was going to have to just hold my nerve and try and serve it out. 

Q. A lot of people expected after this unusually long period in Wimbledon rain to speed up the surface. Did it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I didn't notice a huge difference. Then again, as I said, Centre Court plays a little bit different to Court 1 which I played on the other day when it was very hot and dry. You know, it's hard to say. 
Definitely, Centre Court is a little bit more greasy and stays a bit lower than Court 1. 

Lleyton Hewitt Interview - Day 2
Tuesday, June 26, 2001

L. HEWITT/M. Gustafsson
6-1, 6-2, 6-4

MODERATOR: Lleyton Hewitt.

Q. How long can you sustain this run? Do you feel at all sort of weary by the
events of the past few weeks?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's not really a run, I don't think. This is a Grand Slam.
This isn't a normal ATP event. It all started for me yesterday. You know, I
forgot about the past. I'm on a streak of one win now. I got off to a good
start this year. I've done a little bit better and defended all my points
from last year, at least.

Q. Did you expect it to be that comfortable today?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Probably not. He's been playing pretty good. He made the
third round I think here last year. He's a tough competitor. He never gives
in. I just felt like, you know, I've been hitting the ball well. I tried to
take that confidence in, but you never know. On a grass court surface, he's
got a pretty big first serve. Fortunately he missed a lot of first serves,
gave me too many chances to get in the point today. That's when I really sort
of capitalised on that. I felt I had a lot of breakpoints when I didn't
convert out there, even though I won pretty convincingly in straight sets.

Q. What do you know about Taylor Dent?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I played Taylor. The only time I played him, the US Open
Juniors in second round, beat him in straight sets, but a tight match there.
He's a lot better player since then, that's for sure. But so am I. He's a big
hitter. He's come through quallies. You know, he's obviously seeing the ball
well at the moment. His confidence is high. He's got nothing to lose. I'm
going to go out there, though, I'm not going to take the match lightly at
all. You know, he's dangerous. I've got to step up there and be ready to go
right from the first point.

Q. Seems a lot more people are writing about you as a strong chance to win
the whole thing this year. Do you feel any extra pressure from that? Do you
have any ways of avoiding the pressure?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I haven't been past the third round here, so I'm not
considering myself in the first few of the favourites, that's for sure. I
give myself an outside chance. That's what I said the whole time. I believe I
can play on grass. I'm not afraid to step out there against anyone on grass
now. You know, that's a good confidence and self-belief to have in yourself
when you step out there on a surface a couple years ago I hadn't played too
many tour matches on. But there's a lot of other guys who have been to the
latter stages of Wimbledon, you know, know it a lot better than I.

Q. Can you remember the first match you played on grass, how that felt
compared with how it felt today, for example?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not sure what the first -- would have probably been
Queen's a few years ago I think in qualifying. But it was a little bit of an
unknown thing. I didn't really know what to do, serve-volley, stay back, when
to come in. You've got to put so much emphasis on holding serve on grass. I
know that I can break most guys on grass. Even though I'm going to get the
opportunities to break, because the return of serve is one of my main areas
of my game, so I know that I'm going to get my chances. I've got to take my
chances on grass, as well. In my game, I put a lot more emphasis on my
service games and trying to hold those because I know I'll get the
opportunities later down the set.

Q. You had a very warm reception at the end there, especially considering it
was a straight-sets victory. Have you any theory as to why the crowd has
taken to you so well in England?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not sure. You know, I've done well in Queen's the last
two years now, as well - last three years really. I think that's definitely
helped. You know, there were a lot of Australians in the crowd, as well,
today. They probably got the English going as well a bit back behind me. But
I think they like to see, you know, a young guy coming here, not playing a
normal grass court style of game, you know, matching it up with the best
players in the world. That's probably one of the main reasons.

Q. How have the reactions been to your new haircut?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not bad (smiling).

Q. Some good, some bad?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, everyone's been pretty good so far.

Q. How does it feel, given that you've always had so much hair?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I feel quicker (smiling).

Q. With your different schedules, how much quality time do you really get to
spend with Kim?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, not a lot. She's obviously got goals going her way.
They're paying off at the moment. I'm going my way. So, you know, especially
at tournaments, the big tournaments like this, it's very hard.

Q. There's a lot of talk at the moment of the changing of the guard in men's
tennis with the so-called older guys nearing the end of their careers, guys
like you on the way through. Is that the way you see it? Do you feel you guys
are starting to put pressure on them now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, in some ways I think a little bit. Obviously, you
know, Kuerten, I think he's probably about 24 years old, so he's still young,
winning Grand Slams like he has. Safin is another one who is 21, already beat
Sampras in a final of a Grand Slam. You know, I think it's starting to come
through. But those guys still, as Agassi has proven at the start of this
year, he's in the best form of his career. He's capable of beating anyone on
any surface. Sampras on hard courts and grass at the moment can beat anyone
on those two surfaces, as well. You know, I don't know how many years they're
going to keep playing for. I can't see Pete losing too many matches on grass
for as long as he wants to play really.

Q. Sampras, is he, in your opinion, the favourite? Is he the guy to beat here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: He's got to be. Anyone with a record like his, he owns that
centre court out there. One guy has been able to beat him in the last eight
years. That speaks for itself.

Q. What about Pat? Did you have a chance to practise with him, see how his
game is looking up?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I haven't. I've only seen him in the locker room. He's
obviously concentrating on his match this afternoon. You know, what I've seen
over the last year since he made the final here, his Davis Cup matches on
grass, he's going to be very hard to beat, as well. I put Sampras probably
the favourite, then Rafter, Agassi, Henman the next bunch. I really do put
Pat up there. I think he's got a great opportunity this year. You know, I'd
love to see him win it - if I'm out of it - considering it's going to be his
last year.

Q. Would you put yourself below them?
LLEYTON HEWITT: There's probably a handful of guys below that. I'm probably
in that group. I'm definitely not in that category with those guys yet who
have been there. They've all been to the semifinals or better here at
Wimbledon.

Q. What was the best thing about your game today? Was it your agility on
court?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I feel like I'm moving well. I've been moving well
throughout my career. That's one of my main areas of my game. You know, I hit
my forehand well I felt out there today. I returned serve well, even though
he didn't put me under that much pressure with his first serve today. But
overall, I was happy with everything. I think I've got to work on my serve a
little bit. That's probably the main thing.

Q. Could we get the record straight on your allergy to grass, your physical
allergy.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Don't know. It's never affected me on the tennis court,
that's for sure.

END--http://www.wimbledon.com/news/interviews/

<<<<< END >>>>>