June 14, 2006
Lleyton Hewitt
LONDON, ENGLAND
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Is that one of those tricky first-round matches on grass?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's always -- first match on grass is a totally -- you
want to go out there and execute and hit the ball great right from the start.
And, you know, suddenly you find yourself in a bit of a dog fight, in an awkward
match out there.
You know, every year I think the first match is always one of the toughest on
this surface, and changing. I've normally been able to translate from clay to
grass as well as anyone, but it's never easy.
Q. Here the Brits have said the grass is different this year. Balls aren't
coming through the same. I mean, the weather.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, uhm, it's slower than a fair few years ago, I think, when
I first started playing the English season, but it's no different I don't think
to the last four or five years that I've been playing here. You know, the balls
are a lot bigger, I think, since 2001, 2002 probably. You know, always I
remember last year, you know, coming here, my first couple of matches, it was
pretty slow conditions as well. You know, I played Malisse I think in the first
round, then I played Mirnyi, two totally different players last year, but the
conditions were very similar in the first couple of matches.
Q. Mark was in here a little while ago saying that he'd received an e-mail
from Wimbledon saying he wouldn't be getting a wildcard. Any thoughts on that at
all given the way he's played here today and his past record over there?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, I haven't really spoken to Mark a whole heap, you
know, since we've been here. But, yeah, if he's not getting a wildcard, that's
disappointing to him, for him, obviously. Then again, though, if it's the
Australian Open, what would we do?
So, you know, you can't, I guess -- he got one last year and, you know, you
probably have to look on the side that it's a good opportunity for him to --
he's obviously beaten a couple of good players today, back-to-back wins. So if
he can do that in qualifying, then he should be a shoo-in.
Q. Lleyton, you were just saying about getting a first match on grass under
your belt. How do you think you feel? I mean, what's the next step up for you?
What do you have to adjust? Is it just really more footwork?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, it's just footwork, rhythm, shot selection, and then
you got to execute it right. And, you know, I think a lot of that has just got
to do with hitting balls on the surface and feeling confident within yourself.
And, you know, tomorrow against Mirnyi it's gonna be another example, but a
totally different match to what I played out there today. And, yeah, it's a good
opportunity for me to step it up another gear. I'm gonna have to against him on
this surface. And, you know, hopefully I can get through that one.
Q. What are the positives you took out of today?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I got better and better as the match went on, which was a huge
positive. Yeah, it's never easy out there, you know. Obviously, he's not a grass
court player, but he's obviously done something right. He's got a match under
his belt. And he was sort of tricky out there for a lot of the time. You know,
it was important to get back straight on him early in the second set, and I was
able to do that. And the same in the third set. You know, once I got up that
double break, then pretty much I knew I was home.
Q. Besides a certain bloke from Switzerland, a lot of people say that
Wimbledon this year is wide open.
LLEYTON HEWITT: (Laughing). Well, how is it wide open?
Q. Well, who's going to get there with him. Who, besides you - obviously your
record is good on grass - who else do you think are the guys that can contend to
get to the final?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, it's hard to say. Obviously, Roddick's got a -- you know,
making the last two finals and a semifinal and losing all three to Roger, he's
got to be up there on the surface.
Henman, you know, who knows with the draw? If things pan out, he's won and he
gets a seed early, a clay court player or something like that, and it opens up
for him, then he's got a chance.
Nalbandian, obviously he can play on all surfaces and made the final there.
You know, James Blake's probably another one that has an outside shot.
I'm trying to think.
Q. Ljubicic?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, he's a little bit unproven on grass just yet. He's got a
game that should suit it well, but I don't know if I'd put him in that category
just under Roger just yet. You know, and in Grand Slams, apart from the French
Open, you know, Ljubicic is, you know, a bit of a question mark over Grand Slams
just yet.
Q. Tim is down to 75 in the world this week.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, he's obviously a lot better player than that. I don't
think anyone, you know, rates him where his ranking is at the moment, and
especially on this surface.
Who knows? Yeah, maybe this is a better year for him coming in as, you know, not
seeded and in a different situation.
Q. Would he be the one, you talk about a dangerous floater, would he be the
one that the big guys will want to avoid in that draw when it comes out?
LLEYTON HEWITT: He would have to be one of them. There's probably a handful of
guys. Safin, 90 in the world. Karlovic is dangerous. There's probably a handful
of guys, and Tim's probably at the top of that list.
Q. Have you picked up a cold, or is it hayfever?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I've got a little bit of a cold, just getting over it.
End
of FastScripts...
June 15, 2006
LONDON, ENGLAND
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Seemed to take your chances today, with a breakpoint conversion.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Uhm, yeah. It was -- you know, it's always a tough match against
Max. Every time I played him, we've had battles. And, you know, you don't get
that many opportunities against a guy like him so if you get that second serve
on breakpoint or that slight opening, you really have to take it.
You know, that said, I still was up a break twice in the final set and wasn't
able to convert that break. You know, he played well, though, in those games.
But, you know, it's nice to come through a tight match against a good grass
court player.
Q. In terms of rankings and seedings formula for Wimbledon, do you have any
idea of where you expect to be?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, no idea. I wouldn't have a clue. I don't know how many
points I'm behind. I think where I would be anyway would not be a huge, huge
difference anyway if, you know, if you don't get in the top four anyway. Between
5 to 12 I think is very similar anyway.
So, yeah, it' just no big deal.
Q. You could play Nadal in the last eight. Of course it's a completely
different proposition on grass to how it was a few weeks ago in Paris for you.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it is, but he's a class player. I've played a lot of -- we
played Spain in the Davis Cup final, and I played against Ferrero and beat him
in a five-set marathon. You know, even though grass isn't their favorite and
best surface, these guys are class players and are able to play well. For him to
beat Mardy Fish in straight sets yesterday, you know, I rate Mardy pretty highly
on a grass court and, you know, he took care of it quite comfortably.
So, yeah, he's gonna be a tough match. You know, it would be a totally different
match to Max Mirnyi today.
Q. You said yesterday it was difficult being the first game on grass of the
season. Did you feel more comfortable out there today?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I felt a lot comfortable -- a lot more comfortable out
there, even more and more as the match went on. You know, throughout the second
and third sets, I felt like my ball striking was great out there. You know, it's
a matter of keep that going.
Obviously, you know, Max is a different kind of opponent. He doesn't give you a
lot of pace out there from the back of the court, but obviously when he's net
rushing and that, you've got to hit pinpoint accuracy from the groundies to pass
him. I was able to do that on some big points today.
Q. Fantastic dropshots in there as well, your dropshots especially.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know about a dropshot specialist, no. I throw them in
now and then, but more as a mix-up.
Q. How do you feel now compared to the same time last year?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I feel pretty good. I lost in the quarters last year here
to Karlovic which, you know, I didn't really do too much wrong that day. Just a
bit of a shoot-out with him.
So, obviously, you know, that was a good win to have under my belt today. I felt
like I'm getting better and better. But Wimbledon is a week and a half away, so
it's a matter of trying to get as many matches here as possible and do the hard
yards in practice next week.
Q. Can you take anything away from the previous four matches against Nadal,
bearing in mind that they're all on a different surface to what you're playing
here.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, not really. If we play on grass, it's probably totally
different, especially to two weeks ago. You know, it's probably more so closer
to the hard court meetings I think that we've had in the past.
Q. You've got family on tour with you. How important is that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's great. Yeah, it's obviously just nice to be able to
put your feet up and relax when you get back home after playing a tough match or
whatever. And, you know, tennis isn't sort of the focus when you get home, I
guess.
Q. How is the routine when you are here then. Is there a set bed time in
London?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. No big deal.
End
of FastScripts...
June 16, 2006
LONDON, ENGLAND
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton, please.
Q. How did you feel you were going in that game?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I felt like I was getting better as the match was going on,
obviously. I felt like I came out at the start and, you know, felt like I was
the better player out there, but it wasn't really showing on the scoreboard.
Felt like I had a lot of chances and wasn't able to take them.
You know, that's tennis when you're playing against the best guys. Against
Mirnyi yesterday, I had five breakpoints and broke, you know, all five times.
Then today I couldn't buy one.
And, you know, to his credit, though, he played some big points on those
breakpoints, and, you know, I sort of had to put my head down and work hard at
the start of the second set.
Q. I think there were 14 breakpoints in all. You took two.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. Yeah, well, that sort of says it all. As I said, there's
no real solution that much to it. Yesterday I couldn't put a foot wrong on the
breakpoints, and today I couldn't buy one.
So, you know, against the better players, though, especially on this surface as
well, that's when you want to step off and take those chances. You know, against
Tim tomorrow, you know, you have to take them when you get them.
Q. Apart from that, are you quite pleased with the way you're playing on
grass?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I felt like my ball-striking out there was pretty good
today. It's not easy to try and dictate play against a guy that has a swing at
everything. Sometimes you even feel like you've got good depth out there, and
he's still able to put an extremely big hit on it.
You have to try and think. I stood up in the court. I felt like I tried to
dictate play when I had the chances. You know, all in all, I served pretty well.
You know, the game that I lost in the first set, I just didn't quite make enough
first serves. Apart from that, you know, I felt like I was serving reasonably
well.
Q. What did he say to you when he shook your hand?
LLEYTON HEWITT: He just said he had a bit of soreness in his shoulder. I said, I
guess you get that after winning so many matches (smiling).
Q. Is it more difficult these days on the grass? Do you sense that it is, the
conditions are slightly tougher? He mentioned heavy balls. He didn't expect it
to be even tougher than the clay, the balls on the clay.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah.
Q. Is it harder here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I think the balls have been quite heavy for quite a few
years now, though. The courts quicken up as obviously -- you know, I felt like
the court was a lot quicker today than my first match against Vicente. And then
at Wimbledon it starts reasonably slow, the courts. You've got to protect them
as much as possible, though, so they last the two weeks as well.
Yeah, I don't know. I think a lot more baseline players, though, are, you know,
getting more and more confident on it and probably moving a lot better on it
than they had in the past, I think. That's probably the biggest difference.
And then, you know, a few years ago a guy like Nadal wouldn't have really had a
lot of confidence on grass, a guy like Moya, Ferrero, these kind of guys. But I
played them in Davis Cup, and all those guys, you know, they're class players. A
bit of self-belief out there, and they can come up with the goods.
Q. You played some bloody good matches in Paris, so you came here feeling
pretty good about yourself. Is this the continuation? Have you felt your
confidence level just rising nicely as match by match has gone by?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I feel like I've got better and better with every match so
far. My first match I felt was a little scratchy, especially at the start
against Vicente. It's just that small adjustment, though. You can't expect
miracles in your first grass court match, I think. I was able to get through
that one. I felt like I hit the ball extremely clean against Max yesterday, and
today was a totally different match.
In that respect, holds me in good stead for Wimbledon, if I play a guy like Max
Mirnyi and a guy like Nadal as well, two of the biggest extremes, I guess.
Obviously, playing Tim tomorrow is going to be a different match as well to both
those.
It's a lot of good matches going into Wimbledon.
Q. How much do you enjoy playing at this championship?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I love coming to this tournament. Yeah, it's always nice coming
back to places that you've had success at in the past. You know, I've had some
big wins against top players here, so, you know, I always look forward to this
month in London. And, you know, this and Wimbledon are probably two of my
favorite tournaments.
Q. You've got a great record against Tim. He's been saying he's rediscovered
new form on grass this week. Have you seen any of it, and what do you make of
the matchup again in the semis here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I lost to him in Miami earlier this year. You know, I
think he's been playing reasonably well this whole year really. His results
probably haven't, you know, stood out that he's been playing fantastic tennis,
but I think, you know, all in all I haven't seen him play too many really
average matches. This week I've only seen points here and there, I haven't seen
enough. But, you know, he's coming in this year in a different situation than he
probably ever has before, you know, under the radar a little bit, and maybe that
holds him in good stead.
Q. You don't seem to mind dropping a first set every now and then.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah.
Q. Is that because you get extra practice playing three sets?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. Maybe my first match, but not the next couple. I prefer to
get off to a better start. As I said, today, I was trying to get off to a good
start and I did everything that, you know, I wanted to do out there in the first
few games and couldn't break serve.
So, you know, it would be nice to win the first set tomorrow, but if it doesn't,
I won't press the panic button.
Q. You're a three-time winner here; so is Andy Roddick. Assuming you are able
to get past Tim Henman, would you like a showdown against him in the final?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know about "showdown." Whether it's Blake or González or
obviously the other guys in there, I think it leaves a pretty good field for the
tournament, you know. It's gonna be two good semifinals no matter who gets
through, Andy or Fernando. And James is obviously, you know, having the year of
his life right at the moment.
So, yeah, no, I don't think anyone's ever won here four times, so it would
definitely be good to put myself in a position to do that. But, you know,
whoever -- if I can get through Tim, then whoever is in the final is not going
to be an easy matchup.
Q. You talk about Tim being under the radar. Do you think you're under the
radar as well a little bit?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, maybe a little bit.
Q. People are talking about a lot of other players, apart from someone who's
actually won here and won Wimbledon.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I guess a lot of people in the last six months or so have
just been talking about two players in tennis.
I know Wimbledon's a totally different situation and Roger is going to be the
clear-cut favorite. But as I've said right along, there's probably a handful of
guys just below him that have a real crack at it, and I'd like to think that I'm
in that group.
Q. We're doing a little documentary on Andy Murray. Could I get your thoughts
on his rise through the rankings over the past year.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's obviously -- this is where he sort of made his
breakthrough last year, I guess. You know, I think he settled on to the tour
pretty well. It's never easy in your first year. You know, he won a title at my
expense, which was fantastic for him.
Yeah, it's obviously a big thing, though, to win your first title, I think, to
get that breakthrough. You know, I guess the next year or so is a bit of a
settling-in phase for him and trying to make that next step now - not just be a
regular player on the tour week in, week out, to be a dominant player. It's just
going to get tougher and tougher, I guess.
Q. Is getting the right coach key to making that step up?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It definitely can't hurt. It can only be a positive. Then again,
you know, I think you definitely need someone that you mix extremely well with
and get along with as well. You know, only he'll know the right person, I guess.
Q. Do you mind telling me what you like about his game in particular, and how
high you think he can go in the rankings.
LLEYTON HEWITT: He moves extremely well for a big kid. He cuts off angles well.
You know, he can change pace as well as anyone out there, you know. He rallies a
lot of balls, but he can pull the trigger when he wants to and does it extremely
well.
So they're, I think, his biggest strengths.
End
of FastScripts...
June 17, 2006
LONDON, ENGLAND
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton, please.
Q. What is your view on the line call that everyone's talking about?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Uhm, you know, from where I was sitting, it was obviously pretty
close. I thought it was as much out as in. You know, whether it was in or out, I
got no idea a hundred percent.
Obviously, there's always rough line calls. I think grass is probably one of the
tougher surfaces to call lines on because some balls are just shooting through
that quickly. You know, I felt like there was, you know, a number of line calls
today that probably didn't go in my favor either. I guess it just depends during
what situation; otherwise, they don't get spoken about.
Q. How do you feel you played in the third set coming from a break down?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, not too bad. I felt like I started returning better again.
I felt like I won the first set playing pretty good tennis out there. And at the
start of the second I had chances to break early and go up a set and a break,
and he served well on the big points out there today. And, you know, his serve
didn't really go off until a bit later during the third set where I started
getting some opportunities on his second serve to put a bit of pressure on him.
Up till then, you know, he was hitting his first serve well, and I couldn't try
and dictate too much on the return of serve, and he was always the one getting
that first hit in.
Q. How distracting is it for you, or how easy is it for you, to maintain your
concentration when there's bad line calls and referees being called and all that
stuff going on?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's not easy. It's not easy for anyone, but it's something you
got to try and block it out as much as possible. As I said before, there were
times during the match where I felt like some calls didn't quite go my way or
the way I saw it anyway. That's happened in, you know, most of my matches over
the last couple of days, but you got to try and block it out.
As I said, I think grass, it's probably the toughest surface for the umpires to
get it right a hundred percent of the time, you know, especially on service
lines and that because the ball is coming through so fast on so many of them.
You know, sometimes, you know, whether you see chalk or you see dust fly up,
they're two different things. I think sometimes they rely a little bit too much,
if you see a puff of something come up, they assume it's chalk. Quite often,
it's a bit of dust behind the baseline or whatever.
So, you know, I think it's tough for everyone. I felt like I handled the
situation pretty well, though, today.
Q. Where do you stand on HawkEye or the use of electronic line calling?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don't know. I've never -- it hasn't been something that
I think I've been ready to sort of say, Yeah, let's do it all the time. I guess
I've been a bit skeptical, you know, as soon as it was announced. I know Federer
(indiscernible), a few guys weren't the biggest fans right off. From just my
experience in Miami, it felt a little bit Mickey Mouse a couple of times.
I think a lot of players, you sort of exploit it at different times sometimes in
matches. You know, I know if it's gonna bring the crowds and, you know, viewing
into it more, then that's a positive. But I don't think we should lose what
we've got in the game, I guess, and not try and turn it into a sideshow too
much.
Q. That high ball that you had in the second set then it dropped to just your
side of the net, couldn't quite put it away, then you lost your serve, was it
that offputting, that particular shot? The crowd suddenly cheers.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I wasn't -- well, I didn't lose my serve because of that
point. I went down Love-15 and then Tim hit a great point the next point and
that put me Love-30. I still got back to 30-All that game, but there was very
little I could do about it. I was gonna have an easy volley there, you know, for
a second, and then all of a sudden it's clipped the tape and sort of come on to
me, you know, pretty quick there.
But it wasn't something that, you know, I didn't feel like I focused or dwelled
on it too long out there. You know, I didn't really worry about the next -- the
following game. I had breakpoint to break back and wasn't able to take it. It
wasn't something that played in my mind too much.
Q. How do you see Tim's game a week before Wimbledon? How dangerous might he
be as an unseeded player?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think his game's pretty good when he puts it all together.
Stays confident out there and plays loosely, I guess, you know. Goes for his
shots a bit more.
Today I felt like he served extremely well. From the parts that I saw against
Tursunov, I don't think he played quite as well as he probably did today in most
of it. Seemed like he was giving Tursunov a lot more second serves and chances
to hit out there. A guy like Tursunov is going to take those opportunities. Had
set point in the second set.
He's going to be definitely one of the most dangerous unseeded players, along
with Safin, these kind of guys.
Q. Is he going to be a player that for the top players like yourself, if you
got him in the first round, you're going to think, "Oh, no"?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know about that. I think a lot of us would definitely
see it as a challenge, you know. The year I won Wimbledon, I played Jonas
Bjorkman. I know he's not in the same quite caliber as Henman, but still a tough
first round. He just won Nottingham.
Sometimes that kicks you into gear, I guess. You got to concentrate and go out
there and play some of your best tennis early on, and sometimes that helps you
out later in the tournament.
He's definitely going to be one of the dangerous floaters, that's for sure.
Q. If you could look ahead to the possible two finalists. Your record against
both of them is heavily weighted in your favor, but they have won on the last
occasion. Can you look at the two of them, Roddick and Blake?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, no matter which one I play, it's gonna be a tough
match. I guess their confidence -- they're confident for different reasons.
James, obviously, because he's had such a great year so far and finished the
year so well at the end of last year, so he's just naturally playing confident
on really any surface at the moment. Whereas Andy, he's sort of getting his
confidence back coming on a grass court again, and obviously coming to a place
where he's played so well.
You know, they're similar in the fact that, you know, the serve and the
forehands are two big areas, and that's what I've got to try and counterattack
as much as possible and get as many balls back as possible.
If I go out there with the attitude -- I felt like I was hitting the ball
extremely well, especially in the first set there today. If I can play like
that, then I'm going to give them a run for their money.
Q. Were you surprised at all Mark got a Wimbledon wildcard?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Uhm, I was only surprised after what you guys told me about Mark
got told he wasn't getting one or whatever.
So, you know, I hadn't really thought about it too much, and then obviously I
heard that he got one. So, you know, that's great for him, and it makes it a lot
easier just to focus obviously on, you know, going out there and, you know, not
having to worry about grinding out three qualifying matches, I guess. It's not
easy to go and play at Roehampton. Not quite the same situation you find at
Wimbledon.
Q. Which of the three top Britons would you least like to face at Wimbledon:
Murray, Rusedski or Henman?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. I'd take my chances against either of them.
But they're all tough in their own way. You know, Greg's obviously dangerous
with his lefty serve, you know. It's different to most guys' serves out there on
tour.
You know, Murray is going to -- even though his confidence is probably not at
the highest level right at the moment, playing your home Grand Slam, you lift.
Tim is probably, obviously out of the three of them, playing the best tennis
right at the moment.
So they're all not easy draws, I wouldn't say, for seeded guys early on.
Q. Can I just ask you, going back to the qualifying at Roehampton, when was
the last year you played there, and what do you remember of it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I only played it once in '98. I lost to Nicklas Kulti first
round. You know, the courts were pretty average back then. I don't know how much
better they are now.
But, you know, it's a hard slog to get through, qualifying out there. You know,
I'd say for any guys that qualify, it's a huge satisfaction to get through from
playing at Roehampton on some dodgy grass courts to going to play on lush
Wimbledon grass courts.
Q. Is tomorrow a nice way to be spending Father's Day?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Is it Father's Day?
Q. It's Father's Day here tomorrow.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Here, oh. Poor me, huh (smiling)?
End
of FastScripts...
June 18, 2006
LONDON, ENGLAND
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton, please.
Q. First title in a while. Must be pretty pleased that it's come here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, yeah, it's always nice to be playing on, you know, the last
Sunday of a tournament, of any tournament. And, you know, this place has always
been pretty special to me. You know, I really enjoy coming back here every year.
You know, sort of the same this year, I've got better as the week's gone on. And
that's sort of been in the past as well when I've had to play Sampras and Henman
and these guys in the semis and finals here, I've got better as the week's gone
on. Hopefully, it's going to lead to good preparation for a week's time.
Q. What does this do for your Wimbledon confidence?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It doesn't hurt it, you know. I felt like in Paris I was hitting
the ball well. It was a matter of trying to take that confidence after not
playing a whole heap of tennis for a few weeks and sort of working, you know,
getting confident on my ankle as well. And, you know, that's got better and
better.
You know, I think once I started feeling like I could move a hundred percent out
there, then it made life a lot easier for me to play my best tennis out there.
And, you know, today, I felt like I played pretty flawless tennis for most of
it. You know, I was pretty happy with the way that I struck the ball. I served
really well and put pressure on his serve as much as possible.
Q. When was the last time you felt in this sort of groove where it just
seemed to click and you're feeling good about it and don't have to worry about
the ankle or anything like that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Uhm, it's hard to say, you know. Last year, it was a different
year I guess because I sort of had these little periods where I had time off and
I came here to London. I actually felt like at Wimbledon last year I was hitting
the ball really well considering that I'd only played Queen's before that. I had
a break from Indian Wells to Queen's through two different injuries.
Obviously, before that was sort of the Australian Open and Indian Wells, where I
made both the finals there, and won Sydney. That was probably the last time that
I actually was able to get on a bit of a run, I guess.
Q. As someone who's as competitive as you are, Lleyton, not having won your
last four finals, was it beginning to get to you a little bit? Or you knew at
some stage it would --
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was frustrating, you know, in terms of the finals that I've
lost have, you know, all been, you know, tough matches. And, you know, against
Murray it could have gone either way, six in the third. Against James in Las
Vegas, I had chances early in the third set and ended up losing there, one
break. Obviously, Safin in the final of the Aussie, and Federer in the final of
Indian Wells.
It hasn't been that I've played poorly in those finals, but if you keep putting
yourself in those situations, then hopefully, you know, you're gonna come out on
the right side of it.
It's nice to win here, though, for a fourth time as well.
Q. How much of a step up do you think you made today compared with yesterday
and the rest of the week?
LLEYTON HEWITT: From my first match to today has been a big step up. You know, I
felt like, you know, I really felt at home out there today on the court. You
know, it was pretty much, you know, the way that I've played in the past here
when I've beaten good grass court players.
Yesterday I felt like I was striking the ball well. It was a different kind of
match, I think. I had probably early chances in the second set against Tim and
wasn't quite able to take them.
But, you know, the way that I came out at the start against Tim was similar to
the way I played for both sets out there today.
Q. In this next week, this week off, what will you concentrate on? Will there
be anything specific that you'll want to work on before the start?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, just sort of trying to keep the rhythm there now more than
anything. You know, as I said, I felt like I was striking the ball well in
Paris, especially in my last two matches against Hrbaty and Nadal. It was a
matter of bringing that on to the grass, and I think I've been able to, you
know. Since adjusting from clay to grass, I think the actual ball-striking has
still been the same. Now I just feel a lot more comfortable having five tough
matches on this surface.
So it's a matter of just, I guess, keeping your confidence up and, you know,
staying relaxed and, you know, putting in enough time on there not to lose touch
as well of the good things that I've done this week.
Q. Is this on a par, your form, with 2002, better or worse?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, the way I've played the last few matches, the last
couple of matches anyway, I think ball-striking-wise, it's the same as when I
won here, you know, the three times before.
Uhm, you know, obviously, you know, Federer is going to be the guy to beat at
Wimbledon. You know, who knows if I have to meet him in a quarter, semi, or
final if I get there.
But Grand Slams are funny things. You have to try to find a way to get through
the first week and put yourself in a position in the second week, and a lot of
strange things happen.
Q. Obviously, you don't lack confidence because you don't go on the court
without that confidence, but how excited are you about the chance you've given
yourself over the coming weeks now by this win, and the confidence boost you
take with you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, I feel confident. You know, I guess over the last
year or so there's been times where I felt like I've hit the ball extremely well
and, you know, I felt like I came awfully close to knocking Roger off in the
semis of the US Open last year as well. There's been times where I just haven't
been able to put a whole string of tournaments together, I guess, due to small
niggling injuries.
You know, this is obviously, you know, a small ankle injury going into the
French wasn't the ideal preparation, but I feel like I've been able to turn that
around now. Now it's heading in the right direction, so hopefully I can keep it
going.
Q. Nice to share it on a -- you said on the interviews it's not Father's Day
in Australia, but nice to share it with family?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's great. This is the first title I've obviously won
since being married and having Mia. So, you know, it's nice to have them here
with me, that's for sure. You know, apart from I guess winning a Grand Slam,
this is probably the next best tournament, I think, for me.
Q. How does the field at Wimbledon stop Roger Federer this year?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. No one's been able to do it the last three years.
So no one's really come that close either, I don't think.
He's obviously had a few hiccups this week in Germany, but he still finds a way
to win. That's why he's the best player in the world. It's gonna take someone to
play an awfully good match, especially over five sets, to beat him at Wimbledon.
Q. Is there a preferable time to meet him in a tournament, semis, quarters?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. Up till the French Open, Roger had never lost,
you know, a Grand Slam final before, so he's obviously extremely good in big
matches, I think. You know, the last two years at Wimbledon I've lost to him in
the quarters and the semis, so it would be nice for me to meet him maybe in the
final.
Q. With the seedings for Wimbledon and the formula, first part of the
question is do you agree that it is something different rather than just going
with the rankings for the seedings? And where would you think you should be
seeded? Roddick was saying yesterday that he doesn't see it as a shoo-in for him
to be No. 2 when you consider Nadal's performance even though it's on a
different surface. Looking at yourself, firstly, the formula then, where do you
think you should be?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously, you know, it's a bit strange last year to be No. 2 in
the world and drop down after you've -- apart from Roger, I've been the last
person to win the tournament. I find that a bit strange. I think that's probably
the first time that something like that's happened, though. It's normally, you
know, people that have done well or won the tournament move up, not down.
So, for me, that was obviously a bit strange last year. You know, I wouldn't
have a clue points-wise what the formula does or where it puts you or whatever.
I wouldn't have the slightest idea.
So, you know, obviously, Roger and Nadal are that far ahead of anyone else in
actual points that I find that - I don't know how it works - but I'd find it
hard for Andy to catch Nadal. You know, I'm not sure how the point system works,
though. But, yeah, Nadal is No. 2 for a reason, and, you know, he probably
deserves to be the No. 2 seed, I think.
Q. Where do you think you should be?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I got no idea, mate.
Q. Are you following the soccer results?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, absolutely. You guys don't want to talk about the rugby,
so talk about the soccer (laughing).
You guys must be a bit worried about meeting us (smiling).
Q. You went to Roger after as well. Is it good for him that you've got a
title now?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's always good. Roger and I get along extremely well,
you know, on and off the court. You know, he's a lot more than just a tennis
coach for me. You know, he's been fantastic in my corner. He does a lot more
work than any tennis coach that I've had in the past as well. He really is a
full package for me.
It's always nice to do well. Obviously, it's disappointing when I made a few
finals and came awfully close to the Australian Open, the big one that we
wanted. It's nice to get back in the winner's circle. I'm sure he enjoys it.
Q. Is there any way you can sort of control what would be a bit of a circus
around you and the family? Have you thought about how you're going to protect
yourself from a bit of intrusion?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Intrusion? I just worry about playing my tennis matches.
Q. Doesn't faze you at all?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No.
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