Transcript of Australian Team Press Conference
November 25, 2003

DAVIS CUP BY BNP PARIBAS

WORLD GROUP FINAL, AUSTRALIA V SPAIN

ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE PARK

28-30 NOVEMBER, 2003

INTERVIEW WITH: JOHN FITZGERALD, TODD WOODBRIDE,

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS, LLEYTON HEWITT, WAYNE ARTHURS

DATE: 25 NOVEMBER 2003

QUESTION: Mark, what did you think of the court yesterday?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: It was pretty exciting walking out and seeing that grass court out there. It made me feel pretty good. I am pretty excited about it. It was playing a little heavy yesterday but every day the court is cut a millimetre and by the time the matches start on Friday it will nice and quick which will be great.

QUESTION: In terms of the bounce, Mark, are you happy with the evenness?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: Like I said, yesterday was a little heavier and today will be a little quicker, it will be down a millimetre, down to seven millimetres today and, you know, I'll be looking forward to getting out there and seeing what it is like today. Especially I think the court is going to be a little harder and a little better after each day of hitting, so all in all it's pretty fair.

QUESTION: Mark, you had a bit of a stiff shoulder yesterday; how has that pulled up this morning?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: Not really a stiff shoulder, just like Rusty said, and I haven't been at it for a few weeks so I just want it to be close enough for me and I just wanted to relax and get ready for today, it felt pretty good. I just want to make sure my body is in good condition on Friday so if there is any niggling things that are bothering me, I just want to take care of them earlier on.

QUESTION: So no problem?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: No problem at all.

QUESTION: Mark, we all know about your feelings after you lose in May but do you agree with the remarks of Mr Hewitt about the lack of the Spaniards for the Davis Cup tradition and everything in Barcelona?

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I definitely think Rusty said that in that way. I don't want to say anything negative. We are thinking about preparing for Friday and that is where our mind is. Anything else, I am sure we don't want to discuss anything like that or talk about that. We just want to keep things nice and positive and think about the tie that starts on Friday. This is the finals, as big as it gets, and I think it will be a shame to shadow it with negative things.

QUESTION: Mark, the last time you led the team was in Nice for the final and all four of you were there. Have you thought back to that time at all, and it is sort of like you have come together again, this group, and have you thought back and can you take some confidence and inspiration from that time?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: I think we can all definitely look back and take things away from that final. For me it was the last final I played in Davis Cup and I have always said that it was the best experience and best feeling I have ever had in tennis in my career so far. I think if there is anything that could top a Davis Cup win away is a Davis Cup win at home, so with that, every Davis Cup is a different tie, anything can happen so obviously I can take some experience away from Nice but I feel like this is so much bigger.

QUESTION: Mark, was there ever a point in your tennis career you thought perhaps with your injuries and then you play a bit hard, you think that you might not ever get back to this position preparing for a final?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: No, I never thought that. I definitely thought we have got such a strong team, in depth and everything and if we come together as a team and compete and just drive each other on, which we have been doing all year, we are going to be a hell of a tough team to beat and tough country to beat and that has always been my feelings as well as everyone else in the team. So I am even sure this won't be our last year.

QUESTION: Given what happened at Wimbledon, Mark, is it sort of a repeat of your journey back to be playing in the final in your home town?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: It's just pretty much - if this was a story, then it couldn't be much of a better ending, hopefully that Davis Cup cup on the weekend.

QUESTION: Mark, have you given much thought to who your first singles match might be against?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: No, whether it be Moya or Lopez, I honestly don't care, I know what I have to do and I really don't care who they put up to play me.

QUESTION: Would you prefer to play any particular one?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: No, I wouldn't care. For me I will be looking at a face at the other end, I will be concentrating on the ball and taking it one point at a time.

QUESTION: Fitzy, your gut feeling of whether they play Moya or Lopez?

JOHN FITZGERALD: Have a rest, okay.

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: I will take this one.

JOHN FITZGERALD: Look, I think it's a guess. We don't know who they are going to play. I don't think I can add anything else except what I said yesterday, they have a big decision to make and that's their decision and we won't be surprised either way, whoever they choose out of those two.

QUESTION: Lleyton, the Spanish have said a lot about the fact you haven't played a match for a couple of months. What is your response to the doubts about your preparation?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It is a different kind of match, I think, playing on grass so it is a bit of an equalizer in that whole sense. I have had a lot more practice on grass than any of those guys have. They have played a lot of matches, they have played them all indoors, most of them indoors, last few weeks, last few months and I guess I can draw a lot of confidence from my last two matches that I played and they were two on this very arena and against especially Federer, a worthy opponent. So, I am just going to take those memories out there and hopefully get off to a great start.

QUESTION: Is this as fresh as you have felt?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yes, probably I guess, especially big ties, when we played the finals before, quite often I played the Masters Cup and the whole indoor circuit and played a lot of matches and maybe was physically run down a little bit going in and trying to bounce back and stay fresh for that whole time and it's pretty tough. I know exactly what Ferrero and Moya are going through. I am in a totally different situation myself this time but hopefully it is going to be the right preparation.

QUESTION: Have you enjoyed your time away from the game?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yes, it has been good. I have just been resting and I have been training extremely hard though, putting in a lot of hours both on the court and in the gym and done a lot of miles running and fitness work and I feel like I have prepared as well as possible and hopefully I haven't left any stones unturned.

QUESTION: You have bulked up too.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I'm massive.

QUESTION: Lleyton, you are the number two singles player, you were the number one singles player for a couple of years; does it feel any different, and in fact is it a good thing that you are the number two singles player because it shows the strength of the team? How do you feel about that?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think it makes any difference at all. You know, I am going to go out there and I feel like if I can beat Juan Carlos on day one then it gives Australia a huge advantage and that is all my focus is on, is on Ferrero on Friday and I feel like I have probably been given the opportunity in this tie to crack the whole Davis Cup final wide open I think on day one and I feel like I am good enough to do it and everyone talks about all the pressure's on us. Well, they have got two guys in the top ten played who have just played in the Masters Cup. We have got no one so we will wait and see what happens.

QUESTION: I know you don't want to say anything negative but in the 2000 in your first game you used the word revenge as your motivation for getting back in that great game.

LLEYTON HEWITT: 2000 in the final?

QUESTION: In your first match there.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I wasn't really revenge at the time.

QUESTION: You said it was revenge from all the shit that you had gotten out there?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It wasn't really revenge because that is when I actually got it, out there during that match. It was more trying to block it out as much as possible during that match.

QUESTION: How much of that is still even in the background, in your mind at the moment?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I am on the only one sitting here who played in that tie. Fitzy and Wally weren't the captain at that tie and I have very strong memories about it. I think any final in Davis Cup it is tough to take and especially I know Wayne has felt it a couple of years ago when you are the last match out there. I was the fourth match out there and I knew if I didn't win that match against Ferrero on the third day then Australia lost and it's a tough pill to swallow. It takes you a while to get over it, but it always stored up in the memory bank I guess. This is a totally different tie in a totally different country on a different surface. I have just got to go out there and worry about my game.

QUESTION: Are you hoping the Aussie crowd might give them a bit of their own medicine?

LLEYTON HEWITT: There is no way the fanatics could behave that badly.

QUESTION: You said you have Ferrero on Friday. What about if you have to you play Moya?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I will worry about him in the fifth match if I have got to play him. Hopefully I won't have to worry.

QUESTION: Are you saying Juan Carlos is not playing?

JOHN FITZGERALD: Do you know something we don't know?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It would be cruel not to play your world number 3.

QUESTION: It's a chance.

QUESTION: What do you all think of the concept of the numbers?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I think it's awesome. I am probably speaking on behalf of the whole team here, but I reckon it's incredible and I don't know who actually came up with the first idea, whether it was Fitzy or Wally.

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: I think it was too good an idea for Fitzy to come up with it

JOHN FITZGERALD: He set it up.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Fitzy and Wally came up with the idea and I think it's great. It's something that we can cherish for our whole careers, I guess, and even when we stop playing and it's something that the years building up for a guy like Todd Reid and Chris Guccione and the young guys, it's something they can look towards and sort of get presented with the gold tracksuit I guess, and get your name on it and the Coat of Arms on it as well. I think this is the ideal tie to present it.

QUESTION: Wayne, from a couple of years ago you got that last minute call up; are you ready again?

WAYNE ARTHURS: I am ready, yes. Hopefully I won't have to have that call up again but, no, I am ready; ready for this one. I have been putting in the yards since India last year, we wanted to make this our goal to win the Davis Cup this year. As Lleyton said, there is no stone unturned and everybody is prepared and everybody is ready, no matter which situation we call upon.

QUESTION: Lleyton, you had a tough match against Ferrero at the US Open; how much can you take from that match?

LLEYTON HEWITT: That is as well as I have seen Juan Carlos ever play, that day and also against Agassi the following day, I watched a little bit on TV and he played incredibly well. Hard court is different to grass though but, you know, he is a tough competitor and he obviously won Madrid a couple of weeks ago and was in the Masters Cup even though he didn't perform at his best but, you know, he is a tough player and getting better and better each year and he's getting more and more successful on other surfaces such as hard court and grass. This year he has taken big steps obviously reaching the final of the US Open and round 16 at Wimbledon.

QUESTION: Have you learnt something from each of your matches against him do you feel like you are getting in the groove against him and his weapon?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yes, I felt like before, you know, I felt a bit of a twinge in my hip in that match, I felt like I was actually playing incredible tennis. I thought we were playing extremely well, it was as well as I had played all year up to that point. It was one set at all, and I had two set points at to win the third set 6-4 as well and go up two sets to one, so I was a little bit unlucky I guess in that match and I took a lot of confidence into the semifinal tie and playing such a good match against Ferrero at the US Open. So, you know, you always have little ideas up your sleeve but, you know, what you see is pretty much what you get with Juan Carlos. He is not going to come out and serve volley just because it's on grass.

QUESTION: Do you have any opinion about Feliciano Lopez?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Never played him, no. Obviously he is a good grass court player and he plays well on grass, for a Spaniard it's one of his worst surfaces, I'd say, with his game, looking at his results anyway. He is going to be a tough competitor but, you know, it's a big call I have to say, you know, do you put a rookie in like that in a Davis Cup final against Mark and myself; a big call.

QUESTION: Todd, having been through these before, how do you tailor your practice so that you hopefully peak on the Saturday; are you easing into it now or are you at full throttle?

TODD WOODBRIDGE: No, I think one thing we have done well as a team in the last couple of years is individually we know what we do week in, week out that gets us to playing well at the majors or the big tournaments and Fitzy and Wally have been very good at letting us all go to our own sort of agenda in that regard. For me, I have had three or four good days where I have been on the court for a lot of hours and now it's just a matter of working on some serving, returning, a couple of sets and being fresh come the weekend. So, the preparation I think is good. It doesn't mean it will be perfect, but it's the things that I always do well at the majors to try and play well and it generally has worked for me.

QUESTION: You obviously have played more Davis Cup teams than anyone else. What is the particular characteristic, or the different thing about this team compared with others you have played in that make it stand out to you about what will make this a good final.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I think this year, in particular, we have gone about being a very good team in the sense that we have had to carry the load, everyone has done their bit. It hasn't relied solely on one player. You know, the doubles has been important, particularly in that last tie to keep Roger out on the court in that match and you have got a big gun with Flip who is so dangerous the way he plays and guys are scared of him. You have got Lleyton who guys are scared of because they know they have got to stay there four hours to beat him and You've got Wayne and I who this year have been two of the best doubles players in the world. So, the whole core of the team blends very well, it's a good match up, we cover each other's weaknesses well.

QUESTION: John, do you compare this with France and why would you win this one when we lost against France under similar sorts of circumstances?

JOHN FITZGERALD: That's a thought I guess for conjecture. I don't know how you can answer that really. We thought we had a good chance against France. We played against a team that played probably at their peak, Nicholas Escude was outstanding that weekend. I probably haven't seen him play as well since or before and they had a very, very talented all round time. So, you know, this another two horse race. You fight all year to put yourself in this position and give yourself a chance to take home the silverware and it is a long road, but there is still no guarantees when you get here. I don't know how you compare it to France. I think both of those teams - France and Spain - are extremely high quality. The Spanish team is full of class and as you would expect if you get to a Davis Cup final, there is no way you are ever going to play a team of bunnies if you are in a Davis Cup final, you expect to play the best and we feel we are doing that this weekend. So, there is no guarantees either way.

QUESTION: Todd, the fact that you have had the same team all four ties, has that helped a lot to engender a good spirit?

TODD WOODBRIDGE: Yes, I think so. I've talked about we have a really good core of people knowing what their job is, what they have got to try to do. Like Wayne said, we have all prepared very well, although sometimes it's individually, it has given us a good opportunity to know how we should feel and what we should be doing when we get to the final. I don't think any of us feel enormous pressure or nerves because we have been doing this all year now and we know what we have to do. The thing about Davis Cup matches is that they are all difficult, no matter whether they are the first round or the final, they are all played the same way. So, this time around we are doing nothing different to what we have done all year. I think that helps you in terms of your confidence and where you are.

QUESTION: Mark, Mark Philippoussis and the Australian Davis Cup team hasn't always been easy for you, but seems to be very comfortable now. What is it about? Is it something that has changed in you or the way the team operates that explains why you seem to be just so comfortable in the company now as part of a Davis Cup team member?

MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS: I would say I have always been comfortable in the Davis Cup. I wouldn't say I haven't been an easy fit in the past but every time I have been a part of the Davis Cup squad and in the team there has been nothing but positive things. You know, I enjoy - tennis is such an individual thing. You are travelling, you are on the court on your own and travelling non-stop and it's refreshing and it's great to stop after a while and be part of a team and do things with a group for a change and train and you pat each other on the back when you have a good session and help each other, which is what it is all about. When that happens I think I enjoy that and I come together well, especially with this team I get along with everyone on and off the court extremely well and you have got to be comfortable with each other. I think we are, we go to dinner every night, we play golf or whatever we have to do. I am pretty happy to be a part of a team like this.

QUESTION: I guess what I was getting at, do you feel like a team now, you are well accepted for who you are rather than maybe in the past we might have seen a round peg trying to get jammed into a square hole?

MARK PHILIPPOUSIS: The thing is everyone is different. I think one thing that has made me even more comfortable with this team and with Fitzy and Wally, Fitzy and Wally understand everyone is different, accepts that and okay, they get together and think okay, what's the best way to go about this, what's the best progression for Flip or for Todd or Rusty or Wayne on the court and they work and make that happen, you know. Whether Rusty has to hit for three hours a day and myself for an hour and a half or two hours, you have got to try and work that in and we have been doing that and for me that is very important and makes me very comfortable and if I am happy, I play good tennis and I am very happy with this team and very comfortable with this team.

QUESTION: Fitzy, as a team did you sit down and take pow wows and ice breakers with these guys and watched video of the opposition to try and find a way of unsettling their camp or working out what your approach will be?

JOHN FITZGERALD: There has been a touch of that. There will be more of that as we lead into the weekend. Look, Mark is right, you know, a team together in Davis Cup. They are a group of individuals and they are all very different and they come together as a team to work together. So adaptability is needed by everyone, by Wally and I but by the four guys in the team and we all think differently at times and that is the secret of a successful team. There is a sense of history I think in this team. History and playing for your country is very important and that's part of the reason why we have got these new gold jackets or whatever we are going to call them, the golden fleece or the new golden jacket we are going to produce every time to a young kid who gets into this team. Because it's important and it is a sense of history. There has only ever been 91 players in the history of our sport in this country that have represented Australia at Davis Cup level. It's a small group over 90 or 100 years and I think all of these players feel that and yes, they are a group of individuals they are all different but that's the beauty of it. They are so different it's just an interesting experience every day and I think that's what bonds them together when they come together as a team to fight for a common goal and this gold jacket is going to be important to us, all of us as time goes on.

QUESTION: What I was getting at, have the boys told you things that you didn't know about the Spanish, has it worked that way?

JOHN FITZGERALD: We all contribute with any information that we have got, all of us. The guys that have played against them, they have watched them on the tour and so would any team. Quite often these guys see more of them than Wally than I these days. We see a fair bit of them but they are there at the coal face and see them playing most weeks. There is a lot of tidbits that they share of their own experiences about when they play the opposition and we get together as a team over dinner at times and we throw those around and each individual takes away what he thinks he can use. Its a constant learning experience I guess.

QUESTION: Do you prefer that it would be played with a roof or open air? Is it very important for you the kind of game?

JOHN FITZGERALD: Personally I think it is ridiculous to play grass tennis indoors. I think it's ridiculous. My request or Tennis Australia's request that this was an outdoor tournament and not that we don't think we can play well on an indoor grass court but it's like playing in a twilight zone. It's very different and strange and it's an experience that you don't experience normally. So, yes, I strongly believe their should be an outdoor tie but the ITF in their ultimate wisdom decided the roof will close if it rains. I disagree with that personally and in fact I think it will take away some of the character of the tie like I think it did in 2001. But, having said that, they are the rules, we are not making the rules and we will abide by the rules but I find it very interesting that we have the greatest technological tennis stadium in the world here and maybe in a round about way we are penalized for that.

QUESTION: The play should be suspended until rain stops?

JOHN FITZGERALD: I understand there is TV but I think the character of the sport and the character of grass tennis, it's an outdoor event and I don't know how vividly you remember the 2001 last game but it was very strange. When you play for what we think is the greatest annual team event in world sport and the last day is played indoors on a grass court it seems very strange to me.

QUESTION: Would there be any chance of the roof going on the blink if there's rain or a fuse going?

JOHN FITZGERALD: This doesn't happen in this country. I can name a few where it does happen. It will be played in the true spirit of international competition here, I can promise you that and that's the way it should be.

QUESTION: Fitzy, have you made those thoughts well known to whoever it has to be.

JOHN FITZGERALD: Yes.

QUESTION: The response.

JOHN FITZGERALD: Through the appropriate channels, yes. It's not a big deal. It's not a big deal for this team at all.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: It never rains in Melbourne anyway.

Transcript of Spanish Team Press Conference
November 25, 2003



DAVIS CUP BY BNP PARIBAS

WORLD GROUP FINAL, AUSTRALIA V SPAIN

ROD LAVER ARENA, MELBOURNE PARK

28-30 NOVEMBER, 2003

INTERVIEW WITH: ALEX CORRETJA, ALBERT COSTA,

FELICIANO LOPEZ, CARLOS MOYA, JORDI ARRESE

DATE: 25 NOVEMBER 2003


QUESTION: Alex, what do you make of Lleyton Hewitt's comments today about the lack of respect for Australia in Barcelona two years ago?

ALEX CORRETJA: Yeah, well, I believe I said already many times that we had a chat, we'd been talking together and we solved our problems, I apologised to him and to Pat already a few times and I think everything is done and now our relationship is just polite and everything. So, I didn't see any problems or any more troubles, I just come here to play tennis to help my team to win, and I don't want to enter into any fights because I think it doesn't make any sense for me.

QUESTION: Are you surprised to keep reading about it in that case?

ALEX CORRETJA: No, maybe if they ask him, so maybe he said his point of view, he probably was thinking that we behaved bad against him in Barcelona and that is why he said. It's normal because we are playing again in another final; Spain verses Australia, or Australia verses Spain and in that case, in Barcelona, we had this problem so that is why probably he came up with the same problem again, but as I said, I don't want to enter into any troubles beside the tennis court.

QUESTION: What sort of reception do you expect to get from the Australian crowd?

ALEX CORRETJA: Me?

QUESTION: Yes.

ALEX CORRETJA: Personally, well, I have got a lot of respect for Aussie people, I think they are pretty open guys and they always treat me really well, and I don't see any reason why they're going to go against me or anything. I believe it's going to be just a nice tie and we'll try to play our best, that is the most important thing. If they feel like they have to do something against me or feeling that I didn't behave well in Barcelona and now they have to do it against me again, then I will have to accept it. I mean, I'm not going to enter into any controversy with the public or anything, I'm just going to try and play my best and that is all. I'm not going to get into any fight with the them, or either the team. I think I have a really good relationship with some of the guys in the team - in the Aussie team, and that is enough for me.

QUESTION: Carlos, what do you think of the court so far?

CARLOS MOYA: I mean it is still a grass court, but I feel the Rod Laver arena is a different court than what we practice in at Kooyong. I think it's a bit slower than there, so every day is better and better. Because last time I played on grass was like two years ago, so now I feel better on the first day, but for sure the next day I'm going to feel better.

QUESTION: Carlos, are you expecting to play singles on Friday?

CARLOS MOYA: Well, I came here to help the team and what I want is to play, but it's the captain's choice, or we have to accept the decision. They believe I'm ready, and if I have to play on Friday, I'm ready for it.

QUESTION: Are you confident you can hold up a singles berth?

CARLOS MOYA: Well, who knows, it isn't going to be easy. We came here to win. We are going to do our best and give 100 per cent. Who knows how difficult it is going to be playing Australia on grass, but we have to accept it and as I said, we are here to try and win.

QUESTION: In English one for Carlos Ferrero: Do you remember Wimbledon you beat Escude; do you remember that match?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes.

QUESTION: Was it a good impression, or?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: It was as good win, I remember. But what do you want, I don't know?

QUESTION: Perhaps you can repeat here as good as win. I mean, if you beat him in Wimbledon you can beat him also on grass or whatever?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I can't beat him here because - - -

QUESTION: He is no not here - - -

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Yes.

QUESTION: I think I see some good matches before. I remember Carlos playing well in Halle in some tournaments, and this year in Wimbledon - beating Jason Stoltenberg at Wimbledon and he's played a lot of matches on grass?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: He's played a lot of matches on grass than I played and I played good, so I'm going to try and keep playing good here.

QUESTION: Jordi, may I ask you: How close are you to deciding the makeup of the team, the singles and the doubles; have you decided?

JORDI AIRESE: Sorry, but my English is not impressionable. We know that this team, we are prepared to play any matches and we know that Corretja and Feliciano will play doubles on Saturday. We have many changes for play, are different than Australian team that play for sure; Philippoussis, Hewitt and Woodbridge up for the doubles. I'm sure not.

QUESTION: That is fine, yes.

JORDI AIRESE: If not, I go better in Spanish and he will translate me. That is okay?

QUESTION: Are you still thinking about who will play the singles?

JORDI AIRESE: I don't give you ideas for the team, this is only on the team. Secret for the moment, but Thursday we give our ideas.

QUESTION: Pedro, you might want to translate this one: John Fitzgerald said before that he believes that the roof should not be used, it should be that if it rains you just cover the courts and stop until it stops raining and then you start again, where as the policy says that the roof must be shut; what does the Spanish captain think of that?

JORDI AIRESE: I think if it has rained.

QUESTION: So, no roof; you don't think the roof should be shut?

JORDI AIRESE: No.

QUESTION: Feliciano, are you prepared, are you confident to take a singles berth if you're called up to play singles?

FELICIANO LOPEZ: Yes, I have to be ready if they decide that I have to play, this is the only thing.

QUESTION: When do you expect to find out?

FELICIANO LOPEZ: Sorry?

QUESTION: When would you expect to know?

FELICIANO LOPEZ: Well, I already know who is going to play on Friday, but this is all I can do.

QUESTION: Carlos, how much more difficult is it to beat Hewitt on grass for you than any other surface?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: I don't know yet because I never played against him on grass, it's going to be the first time if I play, so I will try to find a way if I play.

QUESTION: Do you expect to play on Friday; do you expect to be playing singles?

JUAN CARLOS FERRERO: Of course I always expect to play because I want to play, but it is not always possible to play in this team because there are great players here, I'm not the only one player that can play good here, so I expect to play, but it is always difficult to play in this team and I will see this time if I can play.

- - - - -
 

Spanish sledge fires Hewitt up
Leo Schlink
25nov03

Lleyton Hewitt answers Leo Schlink's probing questions.

How is the final shaping up?
It's going to be an extremely tough tie. Spain's best surface definitely isn't grass, but they're such a competitive side. You just have to look at their guys. Two of them (Ferrero and Moya) have won grand slams, two of them have been world No. 1 and Corretja has made a couple of French Open finals. They know how to play under a lot of pressure and they've been one of the greatest Davis Cup nations over the past five years.

People reckon they can't play on grass.

Ferrero has played on grass only a few times and he made the round of 16 at Wimbledon this year. The guy can play. He brings a lot of class with him. He's confident, coming off the final of the US Open. I lost to him along the way, in the quarters. I've got a lot of time for his game and Carlos Moya, he's one of my toughest opponents in the past. Carlos has got the type of game that could be quite dangerous on grass. He just hasn't taken up the opportunity to play a lot of matches. He could be the most dangerous out of their whole side with the big serve and he actually has an idea around the net.

Australia was given a hard time in Barcelona in the 2000 final. What are your memories?

That was the worst crowd I've ever played in front of. There was just very little respect for the whole game and the tradition of Davis Cup. I don't mind loud crowds and whatever. Even down in Brazil, it was a tough crowd, but they were more of a carnival type of crowd and even when I'd won my matches, I got a standing ovation when I walked off the court. They could understand it's a sport and they could understand I played an incredible match. It was an awesome feeling.

But not in Spain.

They were just throwing stuff. It was disappointing even after the match when I'd lost the fourth rubber and the tie. There's no worse feeling when you've lost and I was standing at the net for a couple of minutes waiting to shake hands with Ferrero and it's not Juan Carlos's fault because there was about 15 guys lying on top of him.

Including Javier Duarte.

Yeah, including their captain. I think it was dealt with in the wrong way. I know Juan Carlos and he's a really nice guy. I shook hands with him later on. It was more people on the sidelines causing problems.

Where did you shake hands?

We were lining up on centre court about 10 minutes later to accept the medallions and meet the King and he came up to me. I had no problems with Juan Carlos. He handled himself well. He wasn't any of the guys sledging at the start of the tie.

Were Duarte and Corretja the two principal offenders?

Pretty much. You'd throw (Albert) Costa in there behind them. There's no doubt Alex and Duarte were headlining the whole situation and built it up that way and were talking to the media and the write-ups that were coming out. We went to a restaurant in Barcelona and this Spanish guy goes, `Have you seen the newspaper?' and he brings it out to the dinner and he translates it for me and it says, `You've got to learn to hate this guy' and there's a picture of me. I guess it hits home and it made me all the more hungry to go out there and beat Costa on day one, which I was able to do.

Is there any lingering animosity towards Corretja?

Not really.

What about when he drilled you in Dusseldorf in the 2001 World Team Cup?

Everyone knows how nice a guy Pat Rafter is and I've never seen Pat have a go at too many people, but he was pretty disappointed at what happened in Dusseldorf. Corretja got a short ball and basically just took my head off. Then Corretja's making a lot of excuses and Pat just confronted him and said, `Mate, Lleyton's done nothing wrong here. You're the guy who's been at his face the whole day and you could have gone anywhere with that ball'. It was nice to have a guy like Pat Rafter on your side at a time like that. It was pretty heated and I tried to stay out of it as much as possible. Going into this tie, I've spoken to Alex since then and it's all in the memory bank.

You played 14 events this year. Will it be more next season?

I would have played more at the end of the year this year, but I wanted to get my foot sorted out for the Davis Cup final. We thought this was the best preparation to get ready for a grasscourt final. We'll know in a week's time, but I'll definitely play more tournaments next year.

How important is regaining the No. 1 ranking?

Sometimes you think about it and you want to get it back. It just depends how the year turns out. At the start of the year it won't be on my mind. It's gonna be more the Aussie Open. As soon I finish here, and hopefully we've got a win, I want to take that confidence into the Australian circuit and get as many tough matches as possible. I feel I've put in enough work to last me right through until February. I feel like I can put up a pretty good show at the Australian Open. I'm not gonna be one of the high seeds, but that doesn't bother me too much.

How do you assess 2003?

Up and down. They've been times when I've been hitting the ball pretty well, just haven't taken opportunities when they arose. Whereas the two years before that when I won the Masters Cup and won slams, any time I got a slight opportunity, I took it straight away.

Was Wimbledon an example of missed opportunity?

It was a hiccup. I was hitting the ball incredibly well in practice leading in. That was the most disappointing thing, because I felt I could have done a bit of damage in the tournament. The draws definitely open up at Wimbledon. I had a set and a lot of break points (in the first round against Croat Ivo Karlovic) and even a set point to go up two sets to love, but I didn't take that."

Was the US Open the turnaround?

I felt like I played great. I could have been up two sets to one against Juan Carlos (in the quarter-finals) and then I got a little injury to my hip and that was the end of that. Ferrero went out and destroyed Agassi the next day so, in no means, was that a bad loss. I turned things around in that tournament and it showed in the Davis Cup semi-final against Federer.

Why does your coach Roger Rasheed get bagged so much?

It was an awkward time for him to step up, but I just wish people would actually see or know before they start bagging him, just how much work he does put in. He puts in an incredible amount. He got bagged at Wimbledon for supposedly not knowing enough about my opponent (Karlovic). That's just rubbish because I've never had a coach who's scouted more and tried to find out as much as possible about that guy. It wasn't as if I wasn't prepared. He (Karlovic) had a freak day. I couldn't be happier with Roger.

How does he rate with your previous coaches, Darren Cahill and Jason Stoltenberg?

They're all different. Both Darren and Jason were great. Roger probably brings a little bit more to the table. He brings a big package. He's a great motivator, which is a huge thing for me. We both come from a football background, which helps. We have a keen interest. He works extremely hard, as hard as any coach I've ever worked with, and you only have to look at how strong and fit he is. If I'm half as fit as him, I'll be right. People wouldn't have a clue about him or what he's done behind the scenes. In tennis, it's one on one and any small problems, you've gotta be like their best mate, a coach.

What about the criticism about having your parents, Glynn and Sherilyn, at tournaments?

It's disappointing, there's no need for it and it's weird. When I lost the first round of Wimbledon, people are gonna try and blame something. For some reason, it was Roger, it was my parents, it was me staying to watch Kim (Clijsters) at the French Open final. All of these people are pulling out different reasons and you go back 12 months when I won Wimbledon, all the media was saying what a good influence it was to have my parents with me. It doesn't make sense. But what would they know? There's a lot of people who would not have a clue about me, my family or anyone. At the end of the day, I know the people who care about me, not only on the court but off the court as well.

How do you regard the media?

There are some great media people and there are some average media people. There have been times when I've struggled with a lot of media and the most disappointing thing is when people are always trying to find a negative, always trying to bag me and write negative articles.

Were you misrepresented in the controversy over racism with James Blake at the 2001 US Open?

For sure. The media built it up into something it wasn't and no one wants to believe your side of the story. It was tough fronting the media every day after that and it got to the stage where you just put a wall up basically. You gave them very little answers and tried to get out of there as soon as possible and this was while I was winning the US Open. I guess it made me hungrier. When I played Roddick in the quarters, I was always gonna win that match. I don't care how far I was down or how much it was hurting, I was gonna do everything to beat that because part of the American media was trying to push the Blake thing into something bigger than it was. It was a bad thing for Andy because I took it out on him in that match.

Have you ever stepped over the line with your attitude on court?

Probably a couple of times.

When?

A match at the French Open in '99, first round against (Argentina's Martin) Rodriguez and it probably cost me the match because I wasted so much energy through the match.

Was it verbals against him or what?

I was negative the whole time, more than anything. If you can turn that negative into a positive, that's fine, but I had so much negative energy out there I was weighing myself down. I spoke to Newk a lot about it when he was Davis Cup captain and I feel most of the time I'm able to forget about it and build on to the positives and most of the time I do that pretty well.

What's the best sledge you've handed out or worn?

The one (I wore) before the Davis Cup final against Spain was a beauty.

Kafelnikov had a go during the '99 semi-final in Brisbane.

Yeah, that was a good one, too. Actually, Yevgeny and I get along pretty well now. You've gotta take Yevgeny with a grain of salt sometimes. He's a funny guy off the court.

Why don't you set up a US base?

The States just doesn't do it for me, living-wise. I just couldn't live anywhere else but Australia.

You spend a bit of time in Europe.

Belgium is sort of my base over there at Kim's place. I don't get hassled there. I can do my training over there and the people are great. But I love coming home and, with so many Davis Cup ties at home, there's really no point in having a place in the States. Everyone's different. Pat liked having a place in Bermuda; Todd Woodbridge liked Orlando; I just like coming home.

How much of an influence is Andrew McLeod?

He's sort of my best mate now. I've met him a few times and I've got to know him over the past year or so. He's such a down-to-earth guy. He's an awesome footballer as well.

How was the Brownlow?

Awesome. I was on the table with all the guys and to have someone from your club, Mark Ricciuto, get up there and win the Brownlow is pretty awesome. I'd just beaten Federer and then I'm going to the Brownlow night. It was a couple of awesome nights in a row.

What have you learnt from Andrew?

We both understand what the other is going through. A bit like me and Kim, I guess. We're all in the same boat, so if we go out to dinner we've both got to sign autographs, have photos taken. We both understand the pressures the other is under. He'd never seen a live tennis match until the Davis Cup semi and he was there for the Federer match, and I was starting to do a couple of Andrew McLeod moves out there when he kicks goals.

Is playing football still an ambition?

I don't think it's realistic. I'd have to put a bit of weight on, totally different conditions, but I love getting out there and having a kick. If you could change sports, that would be pretty awesome.

Pat Rafter's influence?

He really helped me out when he didn't have to. He did it for Australian tennis; that's why I get satisfaction hitting with Todd Reid and seeing his success. Newk and Rochey helped Pat with that and trying to build the next generation. Pat was an awesome guy to hang around with. People wanted a piece of him everywhere. To hang around with him for a couple of years before I had to go through that was a great learning experience. Plus he's a great mate. Whenever I'm having problems or need something, I can give him a call and feel like I'm talking to an older brother.

How did you cope with the politics between Pat and Mark Philippoussis back in 1997-99?

It was awkward because I didn't know Mark that well. I was an orange boy and I had no say in the Zimbabwe debacle in Mildura (in '98). I was seeing it all happen and not knowing much about it. Then I was playing doubles with Pat and he and Mark had a little bit of a thing going. Mark thought I was on Pat's side at the time and I didn't get to know Mark at all until the last couple of years.

How much has it changed?

We've worked on a good friendship and bond, we've played a lot of doubles together, a lot of golf together and he's a real nice guy.

Has Mark been badly treated by the media because he's not the same kind of bloke as Pat?

He's very similar to me in a lot of ways and there are knockers out there who'll knock Mark about anything, about what he buys, what he does, how he handles situations. He does a lot of things for charity, tries to help out where possible and loves playing for his country. He's misunderstood in a lot of areas. His parents have been bagged, mine have been bagged. I've got to know (his dad) Nick over this year and, mate, he's been awesome.

How important is popularity among the Australian crowd to you?

An awful lot, because I'm playing for them. When I was down against Federer, the whole crowd got behind me and backed me in from that point on. I was getting a standing ovation every time I came out. After I won that match, I was on a high for days.

Safin, Federer, Ferrero, Roddick and yourself. It's a pretty exciting group?

You can throw in Nalbandian as well. He's got an awesome game and probably should have beaten Roddick at the US Open. There's gonna be little rivalries all the time and you're probably not gonna see an Agassi-Sampras rivalry, just little ones all the time because there are so many talents out there.

Of that group, who's the most dangerous when they're on? Safin?

Safin's up there. He returns so well, moves so well on every shot. He hits it so hard on every shot and he's got a bomb of a serve and he can play on all surfaces. Roddick is still a bit limited on clay against Ferrero, Coria and Nalbandian. Ferrero is a great player on all surfaces, so is Nalbandian, and Federer is probably the most talented of all, but I've got the best record against him of all of them.

Are they all good blokes?

Most of them. I get along well with Roger. He's a great guy.

What about Roddick?

He's a different kind of guy. I don't spend a lot of time with him. His coach in the past (Tarik Benhabiles), I didn't have a lot of time for at all. He was a bigger problem than Andy.

How many coaches cheat?

Plenty who try and cheat.

What do you think of the officiating?

They've gotta work on it. There's a lot of blokes out there speaking to their coaches all the time in matches.

You've been on the road since you were 16. Have you missed out on anything?

I missed out on a few good parties, but I wouldn't change a thing. When the opportunity came up, either to stay at school and do Year 12 or play tennis, I didn't think twice about it.

What's your best match?

Against Kuerten in Brazil (2001 Davis Cup quarter-final) is up there; the last two sets against Roger (in September's semi); the Wimbledon semi-final against Henman (2002) and probably my last two matches when I won the US Open (2001).

How important has the relationship with Kim been for your career?

It's been great for both of us in the sense we've been there for each other during the best times of our careers. She got to No. 1, I got to No. 1. There's not too many couples who can say that and we were together at the same time. It's pretty awesome what's happened in both our careers and it's been great we've been there for each other.

Marriage?

Don't know at the moment. Play it by ear. She's a great girl and we're very happy at the moment. I don't know how far down the track that is.

Retirement?

I don't know until it presents itself. I'll keep playing while I'm enjoying it and the motivation is still there. Also injuries, you saw what happened to Pat. I definitely won't be going around at the same age Agassi is (33). I'd like to keep Davis Cup longer than anything else.

What are you worth?

Wouldn't have a clue. Glynn takes care of most of it. He worked in finance before. He spent a lot of time doing all that stuff. He lets me know what I need to know, but the numbers I wouldn't know. I'm not playing for the money, otherwise I wouldn't be playing Davis Cup