Press Conference with Lleyton Hewitt

3rd rd Gonzalez vs. Hewitt 6:1, 3:6, 6:0 15.05.2003
May 15, 2003

Q: Do you feel you had as much tennis as you wanted and do you feel you had as much quality tennis as you wanted?

A: I think so. It’s hard to reflect, but I definitely had enough court time. I feel like I’m more used to the clay court. I just got off to another slow start today. I just couldn’t get into the match early and once I got into the match, I felt like I was getting back into it and starting to get on top there. He’s a tough player to play. He doesn’t give you any kind of rhythm out there.

Q: Does it surprise you, he doesn’t win more than he does?

A: Well until last year, he didn’t really surprise anyone, but he played incredible tennis. The last few weeks, I think, he hasn’t had any great results on clay, which should be his best surface. That’s s little bit surprising. But, he’s one of those kind of guys you don’t know which day you got him sometimes. Like in the first round here: He had few matchpoints, he wins the first set 6:2, then 2:6. That’s the kind of player he is.

Q: Is he the sort of player to avoid in the first week in the French?

A: Yes, he’s going to be seeded though. I think, he’s mid twenty rankings. He’s going to be dangerous, yes, but the other thing is, is he going to get there. You don’t know. There are a lot of guys like that. He can be very dangerous.

Q: Are you good enough on clay now to win a Grand Slam?

A: I don’t know. We have to wait and see.

Q: Do you have the feeling of getting nearer to it? Over these three days, have you gotten any nearer to it?

A: I feel more comfortable. I think that’s always going to come with matches. I haven’t played a match since the Davis Cup. Early February, I played a couple of matches in singles. It’s always going to take me a few matches. I wasn’t brought up on clay. It’s more the movement and the strategy, the thinking of playing on clay.

Q: Is the clay here as tough as it can get?

A: Yes, but I’ve played some pretty good matches here in the past. It is tough conditions, but for some reason, on clay court probably is the worst kind of court you can play on, since it’s extremely heavy. The balls don’t help out at all. It’s not so much of a sliding kind of court. It’s more like a mudd kind of court. The French Open is more of a powdery kind of surface. I’ve had decent results here, but I definitely think, I’ve got better chances in the French.

Q: Over the years there haven been lots of examples of players sweeping the balls in the weeks leading into Paris, but when they get there, they have probably playing too much. Did you feel you needed a break?

A: Yes, a little bit. I just felt I needed a little break. I needed some time off. I obviously played a fair bit of tennis around Indian Wells in that short period of time. Then I had the Davis Cup. I felt more mentally tired.

Q: If you hadn’t been so mentally drained there would you have played more tournaments?

A: Maybe, I would have played one more. I’m not sure. It’s a long period of time. If I look at my chances, I probably have a better chance of winning Wimbledon than I do at the French Open. To go right through from Monte Carlo, Barcelona to Wimbledon is a hell of a long time. Not only just for me to be Europe, but to be playing those weeks as well. I want to be as fresh as I can be going into Wimbledon.

Q: Is there anything you can take out of this week for the French Open, or do you think it’s too different?

A: I don’ know. You can take a little bit. I is clay. But Carlos Moya losing to a young guy last night, you can’t read into that too much.

Q: Do you ever walk on the court wishing you didn’t have to do it, or do you always go on ready to enjoy?

A: There are times, I guess, or circumstance where you don’t really feel like playing. Yes, that’s when you’re mentally tired or a little under the weather or have an injury.

Q: Is your cold completely gone?

A: Not completely.
Q: Are you taking anything?

A: No, nothing.

Q: Is there still aq part of your game you would like to improve?

A: Yes, I still like to get more cheap points off my serve. I’ve been able to do that on grass and hard court the last couple of years, but I haven’t quite mastered that on clay. My movement has improved on clay.

Q: I remember you saying that the French Open might be the most difficult Grand Slam for you to win. Do you still see the possibility of winning it?

A: I doubt that anyone would disagree. The Australian Open is very similar to the US Open. There is no reason why I can’t win the Australian Open. I’ve got two out of the four. Obviously the French ... it’s the surface I haven’t grown up on. That’s why I thought, it’s going to take me longer. I’m getting better and better each year. I wasn’t that far away from doing a little better last year.

Press Conference with Lleyton Hewitt Rd 2

Hewitt vs. Clement 6:7, 6:4, 7:6 14.05.2003



Q: You said last night that you are happy to spend a lot of time on court. Does that still apply today?

A: Yes, I’m just trying to build it up (laughs). I’m trying to make my three set matches in five setters, so I get a good preparation for the French. I’m trying to break records.

Q: It was quite a hell of a match to watch. Is it from your point of view as a player as well?

A: I wasn’t thinking it was a hell of a match at 5:4 down, but there were times in the match, I didn’t feel like I play my best tennis and I didn’t feel like I fought really hard. I came up with some big points at the right time I think. I could still be a little more aggressive out there. I was aggressive on the majority of the points, but there are still areas of my game that I feel that I can work on. But considering that I had a few weeks off, it’s probably the best preparation for the French Open. I had these long back-to-back matches the last two days and I feel as good as ever towards the end of the match. Like I could keep going. Sometimes when you come on clay for the first time, your legs get jelly.

Q: It’s certainly making you more match tough.

A: Yes, for sure. You don’t always want tight matches. But, I guess with the choice that I made to come in to just Hamburg and Dusseldorf next week and then the French, it’s probably the ideal preparation. I didn’t come to Hamburg to win the tournament. I came here as a preparation for the French Open and so far so good.

Q: What was it like at 0:5?

A: I still gave myself a chance. I knew if I can get a couple in a row, it’s going to put a little bit more pressure on him. And he’s the kind of guy you are always going to have a bit of a chance in his service games as well. He got a little bit tight there towards the end of the first set. So, I always gave myself a bit of a chance to come back. I’ve done it once before against Tommy Haas at the Australian Open and ended up winning 7:5 in the first set. So, I got a little bit pissed that I ended up losing it.

Q: Percentage-wise, where would you say your game is at the moment?

A: I felt like I played better last night, hit the ball better than today. It’s probably coming off a tough match last night, sort of slipping down a little bit today. But, I fought extremely hard, I gave everything I had, but percentage-wise I still feel like I have got room for improvement. You get into the French Open and here it’s not all percentages, but about going out there and beating everyone you’re up against and doing everything you can to win those tight matches.

Q: How much was that 5:0 start he made due to the way he played and how much due to the fact that you came off that match last night?

A: He played well at the start. He didn’t miss any balls, he was moving the ball around the court. He was moving extremely well. It was tough to get any balls past him. I didn’t feel like I played like last night. It sort was a big difference.

Q: Fernando Gonzalez is a totally different player again.

A: Yes, all three players that I’m playing have been totally different. Gonzalez has probably got one of the biggest games out there. He’s got a huge forehand, a huge backhand, a huge serve, huge, I don’t know what else. He’s a strong players. Clay is his best surface. I’m going to go out there and put my running shoes on again.

Q: How tough is it to play in these conditions. It’s very chilly out there.

A: Yes, it’s not great. I’d rather be back home in Australia (laughs). The weather is tough. Your strings move, but then it’s hard to get them back in place all the time. You ‘re sort of getting chills out on the court now and then in between points and games. It’s tough conditions, but it’s the same for both players.

Q: Did you struggle to find angles because of the heaviness of the ball?

A: Sometimes, it’s hard. Especially against a guy who moves so well. But, it’s very tough for anyone, not only myself, but for any of the bigger hitters out there to hit a lot of winners against him, because he makes you play so many balls. He’s so quick, even if you come to the net, he’s so good on the run and making passing shots. The conditions here are totally different from the French Open court. Hopefully, the weather is going to be a bit better at the French as well.

Q: This is away from the tennis slightly: One or two tennis enthusiasts in Britain are very disappointed that you have not been nominated for the Laureus Sports Award, but I suspect that's something that doesn’t really doesn’t concern you a great deal?

A: I think I’ve read it somewhere. I think one of my mates brought an article when I was back in Australia. It was the first time I heard about it. I didn’t have clue. I didn’t get nominated for last year either. I couldn’t really give a shit though.
Q: That’s what I told them.

A: You have your believers and it’s always nice to win those awards. But, I can’t be much bothered.