Press Conference with LLEYTON HEWITT

Safin versus Hewitt 6:3, 6:1


Question (Q): You didn’t seem as if you were 100% fit. You were like touching your body here (shows)?
Hewitt: Yes, I had a little bit of painI didn’t think anyone would notice. I wasn’t rally sure where it came from. I had it before the match and it didn’t get any better. I thought it might loosen up during the match.



Q: Did it give you difficulties during the services or throughout the game?

Hewitt: Mainly during the service, but it had influence on everything. It’s no excuse though. He hit the ball well. Also with his second serves.



Q: I know that players always think that they can change the match and can win, but when was the moment in the match when you thought that if he keeps playing like this, there’s no chance for you today.

Hewitt: I just felt like I couldn’t really get back in the match. I was down a set and double break; it was all very tough. I couldn’t get any rhythm on his service games and that made it a lot tougher.



Q: What were your tactics before you went into the match. Did you have any special things?

Hewitt: Not really. We had an extremely tough match, actually it was the same round – quarter finals – in Miami. I won that one in the third. I felt like we both really played well. It was a great match to be a part of. He’s the kind of guy, if his game is on fire, he’s very hard to beat. You just have to move very well and make him play a lot of balls.



Q: So there is nothing negative you can say about your own game?

Hewitt: I didn’t play great. It’s hard out there when you’re not playing your best tennis. Obviously my serve wasn’t good. I didn’t feel that comfortable from the baseline. But, especially in the last few matches, I felt like I’m hitting the ball well.



Q: You beat him in Miami. What would you say is the difference between your game and his?

Hewitt: It’s pretty slow clay here in Hamburg and he’s obviously a much bigger and stronger guy. So, he can hit through the slowness of the clay court whereas for the smaller guys it’s a little bit tougher. He has a big advantage in that way. The big hitters on an extremely slow clay court have a slight advantage, I think.



Q: He didn’t make any mistakes.

Hewitt: No, he played really well. There were only a few cheap points, here and there a double fault. In the end, I was feeling he was giving me a few cheap points in the last few games.



Q: Do you have any idea what exactly the injury is?

Hewitt: No, not really. I haven’t had it checked yet.



Q. Do you think this might cause a problem in Paris?

Hewitt: No, I don’t think so. It’s still just over a week away. I am sure I can bounce back. I’m sure I can take the confidence from the last few days. I felt that I played really well the last couple of days against Phau and Novak.



Q: Besides the match today, how do you look back to the clay season?

Hewitt: Not bad. Not great. I felt like in Barcelona, I played stable; I felt like Gaudio might be one of the top two or three clay court players at that stage; he won Barcelona. I had a tough draw in Monte Carlo and Rome, playing Moya in the first couple of rounds. I felt like I’ve been playing well and I haven’t had any bad losses. I lost only to three different players and two of them are Grand Slam champions. So, I can take that confidence and that knowledge into Paris.



Q: Whar are you playing before Paris?

Hewitt: I’ve got nothing on yet. I will see how my body pulls out in the next few days. Then, I will start practising again pretty soon.



Q: Who do you think is the favourite for this tournament?

Hewitt: Safin, I think for sure. I have to say: Safin and Federer in the finals would be good for the crowds – the young guys. The way Marat is playing on clay, he’s a little better then Roger at this stage. So, probably Marat would be the favourite.



Q: Have you heard that Australia had to withdraw from the World Team Cup next week, because of Rafter’s withdraw from the tournament?

Hewitt: Withdraw? We weren’t really going to go. It’s a different lead up to the French Open for me. The last two years I was in Düsseldorf and I enjoyed it. It might be a little disappointing, but I’ve done reasonably well – round of 16, quarters – the last few years at the French, but maybe I will go further with a week off. It’s a change for me and I’m looking forward to just having a relaxing week next week.

16.05.2002 Press conference with LLEYTON HEWITT

Hewitt versus Novak 6:4, 6:3

Question (Q): You were pretty crossed at the line guy. Can you explain that?

Hewitt: I was looking at the mark while I was sliding. The umpire wouldn’t come down and check it. He said that because I was sliding, I couldn’t look.

Q: Did you ask for the supervisor?

Hewitt: I asked the referee, because sitting on the bench and I thought he had seen it. But he said that it’s in the judgement of the linesmen.

Q: You were 3:1 up in the second set. You could have been quite relaxed. I don’t understand why you argued?

Hewitt: The ball was clearly out. I’m pretty sure I was right. Technically, from the rules, I am 100% sure I was in the right. Anyone in that situation would have reacted the same.

Q: You are moving smoothly to the week-end. What impression do you have of your game?

Hewitt: Pretty good.

Q: It was a tough game, you had to dig in.

Hewitt: Yes, he’s a tough player. I’ve got respect for him. He had an extremely well start of the year. At 5:4 in the first, we had very long games. I played the bigger points better, but it was very close.

Q: You served particularly well on some of the breakpoints.

Hewitt: Yes, I served a lot better than earlier in the week. I haven’t played many matches on clay so far.

Q: Are there any more news on the mysterious symptoms.You were suffering from tiredness.

Hewitt: It was more of a breathing thing. It has more to do with allergies. Some times in the year are better than others.

Q: Did you have it properly diagnosed?

Hewitt: Not really. There’s not too much to worry about. There are more allergies when you are older; it’s strange. It’s tough to be checked out thoroughly when you are travelling. I a rarely in Australia.

Q: Where do you think your game is?

Hewitt: Getting better. This week has been good. I raised my level when I needed to in all three matches. When I look back to the first match in Monte Carlo, I moving much better on clay. My clay court knowledge is much better.

Q: But have you got to the point where you actually enjoy playing matches on clay?

Hewitt: Clay is probably the surface, I can still learn most about: the sliding, the movement, the structure of the points. Until I started on the senior tour and had never played on clay.

Q: Do you think that this sort of knowledge will transfer to your game on other surfaces?

Hewitt: That’s hard to say. Maybe, but I don’t know.

Q: When did you get rid of your reversed cap?

Hewitt: I wore it in Rome. I just cut my hair shorter.

Q: And why the headband?

Hewitt: I didn’t feel like wearing my cap today and the sweat was going into my eyes, so I didn’t want to play without something on my head.

15.05.2002 Press Conference with LLEYTON HEWITT

Hewitt versus Phau  6:3, 6:3 

Question (Q): You must be pretty happy with that performance?

Hewitt: Yes, I felt pretty good out there from the start. I got up an early break and then a double break.  

Q: You had a very tough start into the clay court season this year?

Hewitt: Tough start? I lost three matches, that’s not too bad. I feel that I played pretty good, I had put off my clay court shoes for about 10 months. It’s always going to take a little longer than the guys who are from Spain and South America, who go home and eat clay. They are pretty much used to it, it’s a lot harder for the Australian guys and the guys who are from countries which don’t always play on clay. 

Q: Do you feel that the players play you differently now that you are the best player in the world?

Hewitt: Maybe a little bit, but not necessarily. I think they go out there and play to win. In most times, I’ve played guys who go out there and want to win.  

Q. You played against our new German generation this week. What do think

Hewitt: They are good players. I’ve played Phau before in Adelaide about 1 ½ ago in the second round. I’m much surprised he hasn’t had better results since then. I don’t really know what his best surface is. He’s quick out there, he’s good from the baseline, he’s a shotmaker. Two days ago I played Kohlschreiber: he has a very nice backhand, he’s an all court player, he serves very well, mixes it up well. But whether they can take the next step, that’s another question. 

Q: Two weeks ago, Kim won the tournament here. Is this another motivation for you to win here too?

Hewitt: Not really. These are too different careers.