US Open 2004 interviews

final

R. FEDERER/L. Hewitt

6-0, 7-6, 6-0

An interview with:

LLEYTON HEWITT

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. Can you talk about Roger's ability to go out and do three in one year. Can you just talk about his ability.

LLEYTON HEWITT: He's playing incredible tennis, on all surfaces as well. You know, he had an incredible run, you know, leading up to Wimbledon and then straight after Wimbledon through to Toronto, then a little bit of a lapse which probably helped him here. But, you know, when he's, you know, playing like he did in especially the first set there today, there's very little you can do out there. He returned extremely well. It was hard to get any cheap points off him as well.

Q. Are you proud of your tournament?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I'm happy. It's obviously disappointing, you know. Any time -- this is my first loss in a Grand Slam final. Any final is hard to lose. But, you know, I'm happy with the way I'm playing. You know, when I look back on the last, you know, five weeks probably especially, it's been great tennis for me the whole time. You know, when you put yourself in a position to play in Grand Slam finals, you know, that's what you play tennis for. So, you know, it's been a good two weeks.

Q. When you were up 6-5 in the second, did you sense that that could have been the turning point right there? Obviously a little shaky on his serve. Wasn't getting first serves in. Did you think to yourself, "This could be one-set-all"?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, you know, it was only tough because the wind started picking up a little bit and he was playing with the breeze at that end, at 6-5. Then he started with the breeze in the tiebreak. It was hard to dictate play at the start of the tiebreak. He served extremely well. He made nearly all his first serves, especially at the start, when you're serving with the breeze there. I sort of just got behind the eight ball there in the tiebreak. I had to really try and get that first point, especially on my serve, then try and dictate play. He didn't give me too many free points out there. He had a little lapse there, you know, halfway through the second set, right till it was 6-5. Every game, I was nearly having breakpoints. You know, I was hustling and scrambling a lot of balls back. He came up with some big aces and stuff on the breakpoints there. But, you know, 6-Love, 2-Love, he was playing incredible tennis.

Q. Can you just describe what it was like to be dominated like that in that first set? I know you had two double-faults, but what was it like to have that happen?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, he -- you know, I felt like there was games in there where I had 15-30 on his serve once, I had 30-15 on my serves, 30-Alls, I just didn't take advantage of those. He's the kind of guy, played extremely well when I played him in Hamburg this year on clay for the first set. Played incredible tennis, very similar to today. When he's on fire with his forehand, it's very hard to get it to his backhand too often as well. He was obviously serving extremely well.

Q. He has so much going for him, dominant No. 1, great on really all surfaces, no real weaknesses. You're such a tremendous student of the game right now. Can you talk in terms of him with the other great players of the Open era. Does he have a chance, really, of becoming the best of all time?

LLEYTON HEWITT: He's definitely got a chance, there's no doubt about it. Especially the way that he's had this year as well, and, you know, he's, you know, always going to have a chance going into every major, even the French Open. You know, he lost in the third round this year to Guga, but it's going to take a guy like Guga or someone like that to beat him at every Slam. So, you know, you like your chances of him trying to pick up at least one out of the four every year for a few years.

Q. Slow hard court, who would you pick, Pete or Roger?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, mate, it's hard to say. You know, we're fortunate that Roger could take, you know, after Pete's left, then Roger comes in. You know, that could help tennis in the big picture. You know, there's still a lot of guys. Obviously, Andy is going to be pushing. You know, a lot depends on the day as well. Pete had an awesome serve, you know. It's very hard for anyone to break his serve. Whether Roger could do that at the best, it's hard to say.

Q. Do you feel like anyone today, with him playing like that, could have done much better than you did?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I don't think anyone in the -- anyone in the actual tournament (laughter). I don't know. Maybe. Maybe Pete Sampras, you know. As I said, it's very hard to, you know, obviously with their serve and whatever... But, you know, I just couldn't get enough cheap points off my service games to be able to put pressure on his. If I was able to hold my service games a little bit easier, then I would have been able to take a few more chances on his service games. So when he's up a break, especially, and he's a great frontrunner, he really gets confident.

Q. What's it going to take to get to his level? Can you get to his level?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Keep working. You know, that's why tennis is so tough. I think every year it gets tougher and tougher. Yeah, it's something, you know, you've got to work on your weaknesses, small areas of your game that can make that small difference. Could be just one match, like a Grand Slam final here. So, you know, that's why you stay motivated to try and keep improving, keep up with the best players in the world.

Q. Do you think it's a fair reflection now that you're just behind Andy and Roger in the rankings, back to 3?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I'm playing well enough, I think, to definitely be in the Top 5. You know, I've had a pretty consistent year this year. The guys that I've lost to, I've lost to Roger in three out of the four majors. You know, who knows? If I could have met him a little bit later in the Aussie and at Wimbledon, then I could have maybe gone a little bit higher in the rankings. He's obviously the stand-out this year.

Q. What's next for you? Home? Marriage?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Is that a good question (laughter)? I've got a Davis Cup tie.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about that. Morocco going to be quite dangerous, aren't they?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, really depends who they field in their team. I assume Arazi is coming. I don't know if El Aynaoui is, after he had to withdraw here. I haven't really been thinking about it too much the last couple of weeks, but obviously on grass in Perth, it's an awkward few days because, you know, you know you can't win the Davis Cup this year but you've got to go out there and put everything on the line just to make sure you don't get relegated.

Q. Any contact, wouldn't have been, but do you know much about whether Mark will be fully fit?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not sure. I really don't know. As I said, I haven't really been worrying about the Davis Cup tie until now.

Q. Obviously some sort of speculation, he's had such an average year, would you give him your backing to continue playing this year?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, if he's fully fit, you know. Mark Philippoussis is dangerous any time. He's obviously had to pull out here, so there's something wrong, whether he had a small tear or whatever, I'm not sure. There's obviously something wrong there. You know, if he's not 100 percent fit, then there's no point putting yourself through a whole week and a half of practice leading up to a Davis Cup tie.

Q. Do you think Roger can or will eventually win more than 14 Grand Slams?

LLEYTON HEWITT: As I say, he's got a chance. Three in one year is always going to -- he's got a chance, especially the way his style is as well. He can play on all surfaces.

Q. Does he have a weakness?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Today he didn't have too many, but, you know, there's obviously, you know, a couple of games there where I had a window of opportunity where he started missing a little bit. If I could have held my serve easier at the start of the match, and, as I said, put some pressure on his service games, it could have been a little bit different. But that's why he's such a good player. He can come out and play a real flashy game on your service games, then free hitting on his so...

Q. If you were trying to describe to someone what it's like to face his forehand when he's hitting it the way he was at times today, how would you describe it?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to predict, you know, where he's going on it. He moves into the forehand so well. He can -- there's not too many players who can actually hit the ball on the rise like he does. He takes it so early and hits it so clean. You know, he can hit with -- you know, there's a breakpoint in there where he came up with a short forehand crosscourt angle. It held up in the breeze and I couldn't get to it. Shots like that, you know, he makes them look a lot easier. They're not that easy to hit.

Q. When you had breakpoints against him, he seems to be so calm and comes up really with great shots.

LLEYTON HEWITT: He's got a great serve to back him up as well. It's not a huge first serve but he hits the corners very well. I think in a lot of these matches in tight situations, his serve gets him out of a lot of trouble.

Q. The way Andy is playing, the way Roger is playing, do you still see a Grand Slam title in the future for yourself?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I think so. I played extremely well the last couple of weeks. You know, obviously, for me, you know, the French Open's probably the least highest chance, I guess, of winning it. But, you know, I'll keep working towards that and try to get better and better on clay. But the other three majors, you know, I give myself a chance every time I step on the court in those. You know, at Wimbledon I think there's only probably a handful of guys that are capable of winning that tournament. You know, the Australian Open and US Open, there's probably a few more. But, you know, then again, you get someone -- Andre went very close to beating Roger here. The draw opens up, matchups open up, you know. It just depends who you play in different matches and how the draws open up.

Q. What did you say to Roger when you shook hands?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I said, "Right on, mate. Incredible year."

Q. Up until the beginning of this year, you pretty much had his number. Now he's beaten you four straight times. Is his progress this year basically due to mental toughness, or is it just mental toughness and then the shots just happen to go along with it?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I think his confidence, especially with his style of game, if he didn't have the confidence with his style of game, such -- he goes for so many shots out there, you know, then you'd miss a lot more than he's missing. He's just so confident this whole year. He believes in his ability - and so he should, you know. But that's what's probably making it even tougher, I think, now, because he actually believes -- probably after Wimbledon, he won Wimbledon the first time last year. And then, you know, dominated the Masters Cup at the end of the year. I think since then he's just sort of picked it up another notch.

Q. Is the mental toughness the aspect that changed most about his game?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I think so. Probably. Yeah, he just doesn't give you too many easy points. I think in the past he probably gave you a few more cheaper points. Probably especially on your service games. Where today, the first set, he gave me nothing.

Q. Down a set and 2-Love, were you thinking, "This guy has to cool off at some point," or were you just trying to hold on for dear life a little bit?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I was just trying to hang in there more than anything. If I could -- at least in the second set I was just trying to keep within at least one service break and keep trying to put pressure on his serve. I felt there's going to be an opportunity where I'll get a breakpoint or two and I've got to try to take them. In the end I had quite a few breakpoints, three or four games in a row on his service games. I was only able to take that one at 5-4. But, you know, I was just really trying to hang in there, keep pressuring him, make him at least serve out the set.

Q. What do you make of the fact that Roger is doing all this without a coach?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I don't know (smiling). You know, maybe he doesn't need one. I know he's got a close mate with him, he comes to all the major tournaments with him.

Q. Who is that?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know who the guy is. I think it's a Swiss guy. But he's a pretty quiet guy, I think, hits up with him. Obviously knows Roger extremely well. You know, I think as a tennis player, you need people around you that you get along with extremely well, so...

Q. He has so much going for him, the way he constructs points, his creativity is incredible, the confidence and mental toughness. What aspect do you think is his very strongest? What impresses you, what one quality impresses you the most?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Probably his shot-making I think. You know, his shot-making is second to none at the moment especially. He can, wherever he is on the court, he moves extremely well for a bigger guy as well. So, you know, he comes up with, you know -- it's hard to get him out of position.

Q. Can you think of any other player that you've ever played who even approaches that shot-making ability?

LLEYTON HEWITT: You know Andre is obviously a great shot-maker as well. They're a different kind of shot-maker. Roger plays with probably a little bit more flair than Andre. He can come to the net, has a little bit more of an all-court game and uses his serve, bigger serve, more than Andre. Apart from that, there's no one that's probably close to Roger, I don't think.

Q. You came onto the scene at a young age and you were successful at a young age. Is it tough to -- I can't imagine that you've been double bageled before. Is it difficult to swallow?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I'm -- not really, it's obviously disappointing just to lose the match. You know, at the end of the day I go out there, give 100 percent, and, you know, there's not a lot I could do out there. Especially in the first set, I didn't even have that many real opportunities to get my teeth into the match.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports...

semifinal

L. HEWITT/J. Johansson

6‑4, 7‑5, 6‑3

An interview with:

LLEYTON HEWITT

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. Were you surprised a little bit at how you were able to get yourself so pumped up?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I've had to play against other Aussie guys in the past. It's something that, you know, you just got to really put your competitive hat on out there and just worry about trying to get the job done and not worrying about who's on the other side of the net.

Q. Were you actually more comfortable playing him?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not necessarily. It's awkward. Obviously, I know his game, but he knows mine as well. It's awkward on, you know, knowing someone that you've practiced with a lot and going out there and actually have to play him. That's his biggest match and one of my biggest matches as well, in a semi of a Grand Slam. So it's a little bit awkward.

Q. Have you seen your sister yet?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not yet, no. No.

Q. Were you worried about her feelings of being torn at all?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, she was going to be happy for someone and disappointed for someone no matter what. It's an awkward situation, but I'm sure in the years to come we'll probably have it a lot more than just this first time today.

Q. One of the things that Joachim said the other day was he had dinner with your mom and dad, Jaslyn. At some point were you thinking, "We might hook up at some point"?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really, I wasn't, you know, looking much past the guys that I had to play and just taking it one match at a time. You know, obviously once I got through my match and he had to play Roddick, then there was always going to be a chance in a two‑horse race.

But until then I wasn't really worrying about it too much.

Q. Were you feeling physically fresher out there than when you went to the Wimbledon finals?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, probably. I feel good at the moment. I haven't spent a lot of energy out there. I feel confident where my game's at at the moment as well.

Q. What are you taking from the fact that you haven't dropped a set this year? Is that a big confidence booster?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not a lot. Whether I went through in five sets or whatever, just to get through to the final more than anything.

So I won't be focusing on, you know, the fact that I haven't dropped a set going into tomorrow's match at all.

Q. Has something this summer changed for you, that you picked up and are really at the top again? Can you pinpoint something in your game or mentally that has turned things around for you so dramatically?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. I feel like I've played pretty well this whole year. You know, in most tournaments, obviously clay is not my strongest surface, but I feel like I had a good clay court season. Grass court, I felt like I played well. The two guys I lost to is Roddick and Federer in my two grass court tournaments.

But I feel like, you know, this whole year I've played pretty consistently. I enjoy playing on the American hard courts here, and, you know, obviously, picking up confidence, you know, winning some matches as well, that's always going to help.

Q. At Wimbledon there was a lot of talk about a so‑called Roddick‑Federer rivalry. How did that make you feel, that people had forgotten you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. Those two guys were making ‑‑ obviously Roddick won one here and Federer had won a fair few Grand Slams. They're playing No. 1 and 2 in the world. Didn't really worry me too much. You've got to get the runs on the board and go out there and make semis and finals of Grand Slams and really challenge the best guys out there.

Q. Did you feel it would be just a matter of time before you would be back in a Slam final or did you know you had to step up your level a bit to get here?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Felt like this whole year I've been playing pretty well. The guys that I lost to in the Slams, I lost to both Roger in the Aussie and Wimbledon. Those two matches I felt like I played extremely well. Was probably a little unlucky that I drew him in the earlier rounds, Round of 16 and a quarter.

I knew I was not far off the mark. As I said, I like playing in the US Open. I think the conditions, the atmosphere here really suits. I think the court surface suits my game. I felt confident, obviously, coming in, winning a lot of matches.

Q. Still, as your ranking fell a little bit and you had some losses, did you ever have any, within yourself, within your own mind, you might have doubts coming back to the very top, elite level to these Slam finals?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not when you beat Ferrero and Federer in two Davis Cup matches at the end of last year.

So, you know, they were the No. 1 and 2 players in the world at the time. Didn't really enter my mind too much.

Q. You've spoken a lot over the last couple of weeks ‑‑

LLEYTON HEWITT: Who's that, sorry?

Q. I know you've spoken in the last couple of weeks about where your game is compared to 2001. Do you think things started to click for you, this turnaround, from last year's US Open?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I think so. I think this time last year I played extremely well at the US Open here. There was no shame in losing to Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarters. It was an extremely tough match that could have gone either way. Then he went on to beat Andre in four sets and lose to Roddick in the final.

Since then, I've played extremely well. Obviously had a big break between the Federer Davis Cup match and the Ferrero one. But I was able to do a lot of fitness work and I guess just freshen up as well for the whole 2004 season. I think that's been one huge positive going through this whole year.

Q. Were you surprised by how well Johansson played in this tournament, reaching the semifinals?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, little bit surprised but not overly surprised. He's got a great game and he's got a lot of talent. He's obviously a little bit raw at the moment, you know. He just hasn't been in this position of playing in big matches.

But, yeah, with this week he's going to go well and truly into the Top 20 in the rankings. That's where he deserves to be with his game.

Q. You won here 2001, just two days before 9/11. Today is 9/11. What does that mean for you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's a weird feeling. Obviously, I was on a flight straight after I had just won my first major when it happened. I didn't know until I touched down in Sydney anything about it. So it's ‑‑ it was a real weird feeling back then purely because we'd just been in New York and, you know, nothing had happened. Then you hop on a plane and, you know, the whole world's changed in a lot of ways.

All the memories of that, I guess. That was two days after I won my first major, obviously, as well.

Q. Would you relish the opportunity to play Roger Federer in the final here, big stage?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I look forward to playing a final against anyone in a major. Obviously, playing Roger, No. 1 player in the world, I'm going to have to play some great tennis to get on top of him. But I feel like I'm playing well at the moment and I give myself a good chance.

Q. Couple of people have asked you to compare your form to 2001. Does that make you want to prove a point at all, or does it annoy you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. I feel like I'm wasting my breath, but that's about it.

Q. To get back to 9/11, the police and firemen were honored between the second and third sets of your match today. As much as you try to not think about anything but tennis, how hard is that today, to turn on the TV, you're seeing all kinds of tributes?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's an awkward day, but, you know, we can't do much about it either. You got to play a semi of a Grand Slam on the same day. It's obviously awkward, TV in the locker room and everything are going through tributes at Ground Zero, stuff like that. Makes you think a lot about tennis as a sport and there's a lot more to life than just winning a couple of tennis matches as well.

Q. If it's Federer, is there an advantage, since you've won here and he has not?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. You know, Roger's such a good player and, yeah, if I've got to play him, he's obviously come through and beaten Agassi and Henman and won big matches here in the past.

So I don't, you know, I don't think that's a huge advantage.

Q. What weaknesses in his game do you think you can exploit if you do play him?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. There's not a lot of them (smiling).

Q. If you have a good day tomorrow and end up lifting the trophy, what would that mean to you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, it would be great, you know, obviously, to win another Grand Slam. And, you know, that's where my priorities are ‑ the four majors and Davis Cup. The last major of the year. Yeah, it's a great opportunity for me to go out there and actually play for the title here again.

Q. How do you manage to maintain the same hunger level year after year?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm not sure. I'm obviously very competitive and love getting out there and, you know, trying to improve my game as well. I think Roger has obviously tried to take the game to another level. You've got to keep working and work on your weaknesses and try and improve those to stay with the best guys and stay at the top of the game.

Q. Can you talk about the possibility of playing Henman.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, you know, I've obviously got a good record against Tim. We've had a lot of tight matches in the past. He's going to mix his game up a lot. He serve‑volleys, he stays back, he chip charges. You know, he does a lot of different stuff against me out there. It would be a tough match.

It would be Tim's first Grand Slam final. You know, who would have thought it would be the US Open before Wimbledon. But, you know, it's still not as much pressure on him here, I guess, as there is at Wimbledon.

Q. More confident playing him than Federer?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, with records maybe, but they're both class players. I mean, in a big situation, I don't think records are going to account for a lot out there tomorrow. You've got one match and you've got to go out there and compete and handle the pressure and the expectation. And, you know, obviously Roger has been able to do that extremely well in Grand Slam finals.

Q. In terms of relishing the idea, not so much Roger, but the idea that you've got yourself on the stage, is this what you build it all for, is to play the No. 1 guy in one of the biggest stages in the game?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, but, you know, final's a final. If it's Tim, it's still going to be a massive day for me tomorrow.

You know, obviously playing Roger, with the way his ranking is, his form at the moment, going for his third Slam of the year, it makes it into a huge match.

But playing Tim as well, in a Grand Slam final just to try to win the US Open, Tim will be going for his first major. Obviously, he's pretty hungry to get that one under his belt as well.

So for me it's just a matter of trying to block out all the outside pressures and influences, I guess, and just concentrating on my game tomorrow no matter who I'm up against.

Q. During your two Slam runs and your years at No. 1, you were playing the big points great. Is it fair to say in your two losses to Roger at the Slams, he was playing the big points better than you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, there's no doubt there were only a couple points here and there. I could have been up a set and a break at Melbourne. Wimbledon, I was broken the end of the fourth set and wasn't able to consolidate that break and take it to a fifth set.

That's what you have to do against the best guys in the world ‑ whether it's Roger, Andre, Andy, whoever. You've got to be able to do that.

There's only a couple points within a match. Whether that's going to be the same case tomorrow, whether it's only two or three points to change the outcome of the a match, but you've got to be able to step on those points and play the points well.

Q. You've probably played more than anyone going into the Open. Is that something you've learned from last season, you have to have a lot of matches under your belt to play well?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not necessarily. I just felt like this year I just want to continue my run. I felt like I was starting to hit some pretty good form coming in. I enjoy playing on the hard court season. I just didn't feel like, you know, Cincinnati and Washington had taken a real heap out of me physically. That's why I wanted to keep going in Long Island. Yeah, I think this year it definitely paid off, though, coming into the US Open.

Q. Is the way you played the last two matches enough to win the title irrespective of who you face, or do you have to lift it another notch or is it a case of gauging it as the match goes on?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I think the way that I've played last couple of days, I'm definitely in with a shot; there's no doubt about that.

But, you know, I think I can still improve on some areas. If I can do that, then obviously I'm going to have a better chance.

But, you know, a lot depends on what your opponent does as well. There's only two guys out there. You know, playing Tommy Haas and also Johansson is a little bit different to maybe Roger Federer who's been out there and won Grand Slams.

So, you really ‑‑ sometimes you can only do as much as your opponent lets you do as well.

Q. Johansson mentioned he is going to Australia. Will you be practicing together?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Probably at some stage. I'll probably practice my golf against him (laughter).

Q. Will you remind him of this day a lot?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No. He's already ‑‑ he'll probably ‑‑ he's already made a few comments to me in the locker room. He's not gonna get me a Christmas present. He reckons that was mine today, so anyway (smiling)...

FastScripts by ASAP Sports...

L. HEWITT/J. Johansson

6-4, 7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Well, not really. Always a little bit nervous before you go into a match, but nothing special I think.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, not really, actually.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No. I mean, he's always pumped and he's playing good when he's pumped. There's no reason for not being pumped today.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I mean, it was best thing for her to do was sit up there, so it was all right.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I can't really remember it. I think he served to my forehand, did he?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I remember that. I think it was a forehand. Yeah, I can't really remember it. I can't really remember which one it was, sorry.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Actually, I can't remember. I think he said something about a good tournament. That's nothing I normally remember.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I saw her for few seconds. Yeah, I spoke.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Same thing as Lleyton said, good tournament and I should be proud of myself for these two weeks here.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I think I'm going to be leaving, but I think Jaslyn is staying.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I felt fine. I'm not sure how he felt, but it seemed like he felt fine, too. I mean, he won 3-Love. Obviously, he played pretty well today. Didn't affect us, I think.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No. I think he played the way I thought he was going to play. And I think I played the match well even though I think I didn't play as well as I was hoping. But I think my tactic worked all right.

I missed a few easy shots. I got broken three times from the same end. I didn't take care of the breakpoint I had. But it was like I thought it was gonna be.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I mean, he gets a lot of balls back. I'm used to that when I been practicing with him. But I think today he got it back very low, so it was tough for me to hit winners from that position. When they're a little bit higher, then It's easier for me. But I think he kept the ball very low when he was under pressure. I think that's why the reason he won today.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: The way it turned out, yes. But normally I think I would say no.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, I won Memphis this year. I thought that was pretty good for me. Fourth round Wimbledon. I guess if you make a semis, obviously that's better than the fourth round, so maybe, yeah.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I don't think that happened to me today, no.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I mean, I think I learned a lot from him. I think he would have started to read my serve anyway, so, no.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, the way he's been playing these two weeks, he hasn't lost a set. The way I felt he's playing now, compared to how he did in the beginning, when it was in Toronto, but actually he was sick, it was his first tournament after Wimbledon, I think he improved a lot. If he's playing like this, it's going to be tough other for the other guy at this point.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Not really four years.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I only practiced with him one and a half years now, a little bit forth and back. It feels like he's got a lot of matches, like he's got a lot of confidence because he's won every match he's played the last three, four weeks. He's playing more aggressive and that makes him a dangerous player.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: He got a high percentage of first serves in, I think, so obviously that helps him a lot.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Not that much, but I mean, I thought it could have been a quiet minute before the match, but that didn't happen. Everyone was standing up after two sets and I noticed why. I think that's a good thing to do, but I don't think it affected me.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, if I could come into the net when I got some chances instead of staying back, then I have to hit another one. But today my tactic was staying back and trying to outhit him from the baseline. I think if I could improve that game, I would raise my level a little bit more.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I'm working on it.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I'm going to go back now and practice for three weeks before the European indoor season, then I will be going down there in the beginning of December.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, it's nice.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: It's similar to the Australian Open, so it's good.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I'm not sure.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We'll wait for next match.

quarterfinal

L. HEWITT/T. Haas 6‑2, 6‑2, 6‑2

An interview with: LLEYTON HEWITT

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. How tough was it out there, the conditions?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it was ‑‑ I would have said before the match they're the toughest probably conditions I ever played in were probably here when I made the semis against Enqvist at night. I don't know. I felt out there equally as bad as that night.

Q. What was that like?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It was windy. It was like a hurricane had come up, I think, as well. Similar conditions. It's always ‑‑ the present's always going to feel worse, I guess, at the time. But it was tough conditions.

Q. He was expected to be your toughest opponent so far. Is it getting to a point now where you're just playing so well?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don't know. I think the wind today, obviously, you had to go out there with the right mindset, you had to be very patient, mentally tough out there and not let it affect you and realize that it was going to be the same situation for both players.

I tried to stay as positive as I could out there. I reckon I did that extremely well today. I really didn't let it worry me at all. I took my time when I needed to and played percentage tennis.

Q. You had very few unforced errors.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I was happy with the way I played. It's tough to go from playing one end compared to the other end with so different margins for error out there, going for your shots and choosing the right ones to go for. Knowing that Tommy is a real shot‑maker out there, I was just trying to put pressure on him, make him come up with that extra shot all the time.

Q. When did you sense he was getting frustrated? Seemed like when you broke him at the end of the first set he seemed to lose quite a bit.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, when I broke him in the first set. I think it was to go up 3‑1. Yeah, I could sense that he wasn't enjoying playing in the wind. He couldn't play his free flying game. And, you know, as I said, he's a real shot‑maker out there. He started chip charging, coming in to serve‑volleying, mixing up his game a lot more, which he doesn't feel comfortable doing all the time. It's not his A game.

For me, that was a good sign that I was playing my game, getting on top of him. As the match turned around, he had patches where he tried to have little bursts here and there. I just really had to keep on top of those situations.

Q. It's been a while since you got into a semifinal?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's always nice being, you know, in the last two or three days of a Grand Slam. And, you know, I've always played well here in New York. You know, I felt good coming in. It's not going to get any easier, I know that, and especially going back‑to‑back Saturday, Sunday, if I can go through.

But I haven't put a foot wrong just yet.

Q. Where do you think you can improve your game? Let's say you face Roddick next. How would you improve?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don't know. Today was ‑‑ you know, depending on the conditions, if you get a day like today again, it's going to be awkward. You've got to play percentage tennis. But if we get a calmer day, you can go for your shots a little bit more, obviously getting his serve back and trying to make him play as many balls as possible.

He's playing extremely well and very confident at the moment, so he should be ‑ defending champion here, going through the draw quite nicely. It's going to be a tough match and, you know, I just got to counterpunch extremely well and move extremely well.

Q. Do you think it will be an advantage for you that you've played mainly during the day, he's played all night matches. Does that work one way or another?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think so. You know, I don't think it will make a huge difference. You know, I think he enjoys playing the night matches. Last year when it came to semifinals and finals, he had to play during the day and he handled it pretty well. I think he's played one day match this tournament and he came through that pretty comfortably.

Q. In addition to the wind you were battling out there, it seemed to be a stream of planes. Does that bother you?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, not really. This week there's been a lot more, I think, than there's been in the past straight over center court, but there's not a lot you can do about it. Just block it out. Just one of those things.

Q. How much more satisfying is that win for you when you consider the conditions that you had to keep so strong mentally, to be so difficult controlling those returns and serves and all that?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's satisfying getting through, you know, with a score line like that against a class player that I've got a lot of respect for.

You know, I knew it was going to be a tough match going in. Obviously, the conditions, only this morning did I know that it was going to be those conditions, and make it that little bit more mentally draining, I guess, or mentally tougher out there.

Yeah, it's satisfying to come through, but, you know, in the past I think one huge positive I've always had is my mental toughness out there and again today it didn't let me down.

Q. Could you talk about the prospect of possibly playing Johansson. You're obviously close to him.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it would be strange playing him in a semifinals of a Slam. I've practiced with him a lot. He's got a lot of fire power, as much as Roddick. It's going to be an interesting match for him tonight purely because he's never been in this situation before. It was really just a matter of time. He can play. He plays well obviously on quicker courts. This suits his game well. I think he looks forward to big matches.

Q. Would you advantage yourself or him, the fact that you do practice together so often, or you have in the past over Christmas and stuff?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. We both know probably each other's games pretty well. I'm sure that me doing some training, Roger and I doing training with him over Christmas and stuff the last few years has helped his confidence, helped his ranking, I think, the last couple of years. That's good for him.

His last six months have been pretty impressive.

Q. Is blood thicker than water? Who will your sister root for?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. We'll have to wait and see.

Q. You have an excellent record against Andy. Do you think he's a different player, say, from this time last year than when you were beating him fairly regularly?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, there's no doubt he's a better player now than he was then. Andy has a Slam under his belt. He's been No. 1 in the world.

So, you know, he's got a lot more confidence and self‑belief, I think, in himself from when he first came on the tour. He was probably a little bit more hit‑and‑miss. Whereas these days, week in and week out, he's reaching the semis and finals of most tournaments.

So he's going to be tough in these conditions. He's going to be tougher than probably I've ever played him in the past.

Q. He used to get quite frustrated, especially against a guy like you who keeps getting it back. Have you noticed a maturity in him, he stays in the point longer than he used to?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I haven't watched that many of his matches against guys that play similar to me. I've only played him once in the last couple of years and that was Queen's. Grass is a little bit different circumstances.

I had my chances in that match. Was up an early break, served for the first set. Wasn't quite able to come through. And lost a first set tie‑break. He's going to be a tough opponent purely because he's got a lot of fire power out there.

Q. Can you talk about the crowd. You've played Davis Cup ties away, you know what it's like. In a sense, do you actually like the crowd being so for the other guy? Does it fire you up?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think it fires me up any more but I've had to play in those situations a lot through Davis Cup ties. Obviously, when you play Andy and Pete and Andre here at the US Open, in the years past, so it's something you really just have to block out and focus on your game and, yeah, it's good to have a lot of emotion out there anyway.

Q. Do you see the level of emotion approaching what it was three years ago when you guys faced here, when you were younger players, the intensity level?>

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, maybe I guess. He's improved a lotsince then, I think. You know, at the moment I'm playing as well as I did, especially the semiand final, if not maybe a little bit better.

It's building into a good match. But his results have really picked up the last couple years.

Q. Do you feel like you can still read his serve pretty well even though he continues to serve huge?>

LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh...

Q. You've had success against it in the past.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know if I can read his serve, but, you know, Federer obviously handles it pretty well. There's not that many guys, especially over the last week and a half, that have handled it very well at all.

He's obviously got a great serve and it's something I think he's improved as well in the last couple of years.

Q. Is this the freshest, I mean, I know at Wimbledon when you won, you lost a couple of sets in the quarters, but is this the freshest you've ever been going into the end of a Grand Slam?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It will be up there, I think. I haven't played too many draining matches. It's probably more mentally draining, I guess, than physically at the moment. My body feels good and you've got to feel good if you want to compete, you know, two days in a row, best‑of‑five sets against ‑‑ you know, look at the guys left in the field, they're some of the best guys playing, going around at the moment. If you're going to back it up two days in a row, you've got to be feeling very mentally and physically fresh.

Q. Do you spend any time with Joachim this week, family dinners?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not a lot, no (smiling).

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quarterfinal - mentions Lleyton and his family

J. JOHANSSON/A. Roddick 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 6-4

An interview with:

JOACHIM JOHANSSON

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. First Grand Slam quarterfinal, center court, in a tournament you only played in once before against Andy Roddick. How significant is this?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, I lost first round last year on the same court. I mean, beating Roddick on the same court this year in the quarterfinal is huge for me.

Q. How many times have you been to Adelaide?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Good question. I've been in Australia since '99. I've been there every year.

Q. You go every year around Christmas?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, the last two years I've spent Christmas in Adelaide.

Q. How many times do you think you've played Lleyton in Adelaide?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Good question. We practice that was one and a half year ago, we practiced for two, three weeks. And the same last year. Then we've been hitting at few other tournaments. I can't say how many times, but a few months total.

Q. Do you play matches or just hit?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We do everything you normally do when you practice. You hit sometimes, you play games sometimes.

Q. Who wins?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We'll see tomorrow (laughter).

Q. You are not scared that if you beat Lleyton, they will send off you from the family?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I don't think that's going to happen, though (smiling).

Q. What have you learned from Lleyton Hewitt?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, I learned a lot of things. I mean, he's a great player. He gives 100 percent every point. For me, I developed my game when I practice with him because I get so many balls back. So I have to work the ball a little more. It's been good for me.

Q. Have you caused an official division in the Hewitt camp?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We'll see tomorrow when I speak to them.

Q. What about your girlfriend, did you speak to her after the game?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yes, just a little bit. Briefly on the phone.

Q. Did she guarantee her support?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I didn't ask her about that, actually (laughter).

Q. Where do you think she's going to go?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I don't know. She said before if that would happen, she would sit in the Octagon box. But I don't think she's going to sit in any of our boxes. In the Octagon box, they have a suite up there.

Q. What happened in the third and fourth set? You were playing so well. Then you came back in the fifth. What happened to you?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Actually, I don't know. But I think I got a very bad start in both third and fourth set. I think that held me off a little bit. I was maybe concentrating little bit more on the next set. It was tough to break him. I think I started to play a bit better in the fifth. So it was good.

Q. You ultimately converted three of five break chances. How do you think you played so well in the big points like that?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I played well on these points and then I think I played well on the 50 break points he had. I think someone told me he won like 150 points and I won like 120 points. That means I won the right points. I don't know how, but it was very good for me.

Q. How much confidence did you get when you played him in Juniors a number of times and then also you played him in San Jose, a very close match earlier this year?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I think I played very well in San Jose from the baseline. I think I was dictating points even a little bit more than I did today. Unfortunately, he did 27 aces. It was tough. I had one set point and I wasn't even close to break him. But today I think I stepped back a little bit and I got a few more returns back. But, I mean, it's so tough every time we played him. We both have big serves, it's going to be tough matches.

Q. But you had confidence?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, you can't say you got confidence if you have 4-Love down, but it's been close matches and that gives me confidence. I know I can beat him, and that's what happened today.

Q. Is this the biggest win of your career so far?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, first quarterfinal. I mean, I won Memphis this year. That was very big for me. I think this could even be bigger for me.

Q. Do you have some of your own family here supporting you?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: My girlfriend.

Q. What about your parents?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, my dad is in Scotland playing golf. I was actually supposed to be with him maybe from today. I bought him a birthday present for him and my uncle. We were supposed to play golf this week, but I have to change my plans.

Q. Have you had dinner with Lleyton this tournament?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No. With the rest of the family.

Q. Not Lleyton?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Not Lleyton, no.

Q. Did you expect to hear from him?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No. After his match.

Q. What did you say to each other in that conversation?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We spoke like we normally do. We're good friends and hopefully we're going to be good friends after Saturday.

Q. Is it awkward? He said it would be very strange if you won.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, it's little bit strange. But, I mean, for me, I guess it feels good for me because it's my first semifinal and I know the guy I'm playing on Saturday. I mean, I think that makes it a little bit easier for me but little bit awkward for him. I feel I can take advantage of that.

Q. The birthday present you got for your dad, you were planning on joining him there, right?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, because I thought I would lose before that.

Q. Why the lack of confidence?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, it wasn't lack of confidence it was just the only time I could go on a golf vacation with my family. Then I said if I can't go, it would be good anyway, so...

Q. Which Swedish players did you grow up watching and admiring?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: The ones I remember is actually Edberg, because in Sweden they don't show that much tennis. They showed Wimbledon a lot, so that's what I been watching. And, I mean, Bjorn Borg is from the same city as me, so I watched some tapes from him, but I didn't actually see him live.

Q. Have you ever met him?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah. My dad used to play Davis Cup with him, so I've been practicing with him when I was 13, 14, 15 years old.

Q. Are you an equally talented golfer?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: If I would practice a little bit, maybe. But I can't putt, so that's tough.

Q. Where do you play when you're in Adelaide? Where do you practice?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: At the Memorial Drive. (Inaudible). They got a court over there. But I have been practicing on center court on Memorial Drive.

Q. On the grass?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, on the hard court.

Q. Do you think it will be more helpful for you or for Lleyton that you two have practiced so much together?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, I guess it's gonna be both actually because we know each other's game a lot, so it's tough to say, actually.

Q. You have a strategy for the game against him?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I'm sure I will have, but I haven't been thinking about that yet.

Q. If someone were to have said to you going into this tournament that you would be facing Lleyton under the circumstances, having just beaten Andy under the terms you did tonight and reaching your semifinal here, coming into this tournament, is that something that you would have thought a very probable thing?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, I knew it was possible but, I mean, a tough task. I had Ferrero in my half, and then I had Andy Roddick. But everything's possible. It's very close when you play matches, and it's just a few points here and there.

Q. You played so well at Wimbledon. Obviously, much better result here than last year when you did go out in the first round. How have you changed?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I think I do everything a little bit better. I think I move better on the court. I serve more consistent, even though I haven't served that good this tournament. I think even though I'm not serving that good, I still have a pretty high level. I start to return better, I get more balls back. I think I'm just more consistent than I used to be.

Q. You've led the tournament thus far in aces. That's got to be probably a confidence-booster?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, it helps if you get a lot of free points.

Q. Obviously, Lleyton has seen your serve a lot. Would you say he's the best guy at returning your serve?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Well, I'm not sure if he's the best return of my serve, but he's one of the best returners around, so probably. We'll see.

Q. Can you describe your experience out here tonight. The crowd was against you, how you dealt with that. Also, the emotions you've been going through since you just won.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, it was a few guys cheering for me, actually. Wasn't that many, but I think it's good when it's a good atmosphere out there. Obviously, they got to cheer for someone, and in this case it was Andy Roddick. I think it's just great fun. After the match has been -- I haven't been thinking too much, actually. There's been so much going on since I won, so we'll see after.
 

RD 4 L. HEWITT/K. Beck

6-4, 6-2, 6-2

An interview with:

LLEYTON HEWITT

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. I suppose you can only play who's put in front of you. It's very -- are you happy with the fact that you just haven't really been pushed that much so far?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, the first set today the guy played pretty good tennis, I think. Didn't make a lot of mistakes out there. You know, I tried to step it up at 4-All, played a good game to break. After that he sort of went away a little bit. I put a lot of pressure on his service games. From the first game out there today. I had two breakpoints and wasn't able to take it. And, you know, I'm happy to get through in straight sets rather than going four or five.

Q. (Inaudible question regarding his form.)

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. You know, there are definitely matches where your form probably doesn't keep up sometimes at the start of the match. You know, especially this is probably the first time he's been in a Round of 16 in a Slam as well. He's obviously going to be a bit anxious out there. Came out of a five-set match against Davydenko. So, you know, all those put aside, he probably really wanted to get off to a good start today as well.

Q. How much did it help you for being in the area for about a week before the tournament starting playing?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I would have been playing there or practicing here. You know, I got to get away I guess from Flushing Meadows for a little while and forget about that you got a Grand Slam and just work on little areas of my game and match conditions at Long Island, which is a huge positive, I think, for that tournament.

Q. I know you've spoken a little bit about the Olympics before. Have you noticed Mauresmo is the only one of the eight Olympic finalists who are still here? What does that say about having a big tournament right before a Slam?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don't know. Maybe it speaks for itself a little bit. But, you know, it's always going to be tough, I think, coming off such a high for some of those, especially Gonzalez and Massu, you know, doing something -- you know, their country really never had gold medalists like that before. For them, being on Cloud 9, having to come out mentally. We all know how much tennis both guys played, especially Massu, to come back and win there, mentally it's got to be draining as well. It's not overly surprising, I don't think, for those guys to have struggled here in singles at least. For me to prepare for the US Open, as I've said all the time, is to try and get the same conditions that I've been playing in and not flying back and forth.

Q. Could you compare how you're playing at this stage to the way you were playing in 2001, Round 4, same round.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I'll answer it for the 15th time this week. There's times when I'm playing as well as then. Yeah, at the moment, I'm playing pretty solid tennis day in, day out. You know, back then, you know, in the semis or final when I played here, I played pretty faultless tennis both those matches. If I can keep doing that in the next three matches, then I'll be close.

Q. What areas of your game do you need to step up? You need to improve in the last week to another level. Are you not satisfied with any aspect?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don't know. Obviously I'm playing big points and stuff like that. But a lot depends on the spur of the moment when you're out there as well against the best players in the world. At the moment I'm happy with where my game's at. I'm ready for the challenge to try and step it up a notch. More than anything, you just got to do it when you're out there, you know, playing against those better players.

Q. There's a lot of times today where it seemed like with him you just were keeping the ball in play and waiting for him to make a mistake, which he was doing a lot of. Is that something that maybe against a Haas or a Roddick or an Agassi or Federer, that might need to change.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, in some ways. You can only play against who you go play against, look at each match differently. If I got to play Tommy next, be the favorite going into the next match, but from what I hear about the young Czech guy, he's a hell of a prospect as well. But, you know, Tommy is a class player. I've played him a lot in the past. You know, I've got to do small things maybe a little bit different, you know, against Tommy than you do against guys ranked 50 or something in the world. He's a class player who's been in the Top 5 players in the world before.

Q. Have you seen played Berdych? Have you seen him play?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I actually haven't seen him play. Obviously, he beat Federer at the Olympics. He's young, I think, and, you know, got a big serve. You know, he'll probably give Tommy, you know, a little bit of trouble out there today. Whether he wins or not, I don't know. But he's got very little to lose out there. You know, he played a couple of tough five-setters to get to the Round of 16.

Q. What memories do you have from here from a year ago, and the injury? Was that something that just happened at the time or were you carrying it for a bit?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, it just happened at the time. I felt it a little bit in Los Angeles when I made the final there a few weeks beforehand. You know, I was just trying to -- at the time I was playing pretty good tennis, I felt. The match against Ferrero was one of my best matches last year, I think, ball-striking wise. He went on to beat Agassi in four sets the next day and ended up losing to Roddick in the final. It was a little bit disappointing that the injury came back, you know, halfway through the third set there when we were a set all. I kept fighting it out but he was too good in the end.

Q. How do you see tomorrow night, the Federer match with Agassi? Any feeling about it?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, it doesn't really worry me too much. One of them's gonna come through. Good on them. But it's obviously going to be a tough match. No doubt about that. Two guys, you know, Federer plays that more style that Sampras used to play, and Andre's played against that style a lot of times. But, you know, it's hard to say. I know Indian Wells this year, I think that's the only time they played, a tough three-set match. Federer won. But then again in the Masters Cup final last year, Federer dominated in straight sets. It's going to be interesting.

Q. Any advice for him?

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I think Roger is in pretty good hands right at the moment.

Q. One of the two guys you're going to play are both having a very good summer. You're having a very good summer. Do you feel a player who's not necessarily the best player in the world but who's hot is a tougher opponent than somebody like Roger, who didn't do that well in the Olympics, etc.? Would you rather play a hot player or a very good player?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It doesn't matter. Everyone, you know, is going to be good on their day, especially when it gets this late into a tournament. But, you know, I don't think Roger's struggling. You know, he won Toronto and he's on a hell of a streak. For him to keep it up, he won tournaments on all three surfaces, three different surfaces after Toronto. You know, there's no doubt that he's had a bit of a letdown. That's probably helped him at this tournament, yeah.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports...

Rd 3   L. HEWITT/F. Lopez
6-1, 6-4, 6-2
Sunday, September 5, 2004

An interview with:

LLEYTON HEWITT

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton, please.

Q. Pretty impressive stuff. Must be pretty happy with that?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it was good. You know, obviously, when you never played a guy before, I knew he was gonna be dangerous out there. Just had to try and weather the storm and get on his serve as quickly as possible. Yeah, I really felt like I was on it right from the start.

Q. He said just now that even when he felt he was playing his best, the ball kept coming back. Is that part of the plan, keep grinding away?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I was going to make him play a lot of shots out there tonight. He's a dangerous player if you give him enough opportunities. He's obviously got a big left-handed serve if he gets his first serve in. He's got a big forehand there. I just had to try and move him around the court and not just play to his backhand, even though it was his weaker side, obviously. Not just play into that corner of the court. Really wanted to make him move and open up his backhand by going to his forehand.

Q. You probably hit it more to his forehand than he's used to seeing. He was even cheating over to his backhand, kept thinking you were going over there. Got some real easy points hitting to forehand because he was leaning the other way. You obviously thought that through?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I felt like I was hitting the ball well enough at the start not to worry about what his strengths were. I was just going to play my game. I knew he was going to be hanging over there, looking, I was going to be going to his backhand. I just felt like I was hitting the ball well enough, my forehand down the line, my backhand crosscourt, that I was going to take him on even if it was his strength. Early on I felt like I was winning a lot of points off his forehand as well.

Q. 12 straight points. I mean, 3-Love up. Pretty dream start.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it was a good start, especially against a guy like that who you've never played before. As I said, he's a dangerous opponent, if you give him a sniff. He's beaten a lot of good players. He beat Safin at Athens, I think, in the second round. He also, you know -- I know that he beat Flip in Madrid last year. So I was very, very wary of him going into the match.

Q. You looked like you were having some fun out there, a few smiles we saw. Is that the case?

LLEYTON HEWITT: It was business as usual.

Q. You haven't dropped a set yet. This time last year you had a pretty poor first week in terms of scheduling and stuff. Is it fair to say you're in a much better place to make a real strong challenge in the second week this year?

LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I don't -- the scheduling was the same for everyone last year. And, you know, playing back-to-back days, sure, it's not the ideal preparation, but physically I felt like it wasn't the biggest problem for me compared to a lot of other guys last year. So, you know, I felt like I was hitting the ball well last year. Obviously, you don't want to waste too much energy and I don't think I've had to so far - which is a good thing.

Q. Pretty much a perfect week.

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's been good enough so far.

Q. Are you one of those blokes that worries about not having been challenged a lot, or are you just happy to get through in three and keep going?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I'm not too worried. I think, you know, I've come through, I guess, you know, Wimbledon. I got through most of my matches fairly convincingly. US Open, when I won there, I had to really, you know, dig deep a couple of times. Five-setters. So, yeah, I think at the end of the day, just want to find a way to get through those matches. And I think I've had enough tough matches over the last few months, anyway, not to really worry about getting through in four or five sets.

Q. Do you know much about Karol Beck?

LLEYTON HEWITT: I know a little bit. I've seen him play a little bit. He played well on the grass this year. He's a very compact player. He doesn't make a lot of mistakes. You know, I've got to go out there, play aggressive and play my game.

Q. He seems to be a guy that gets a lot of balls back and runs around a lot, doesn't make too many mistakes, like you. Bit different from the guys that you've been playing?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, well, it will be a different match compared to today's match, that's for sure. And probably even, you know, the Wayne Ferreira match. Arazi sort of got a lot of balls back, really didn't go for that many winners out there. Will be a little bit more similar to that. He's steady off both sides.

Q. What about your serve? Just keeps getting better?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I served well tonight. You know, I served well when I had to. And, you know, I mostly got a high percentage in out there I felt like tonight. I moved it around well. I don't think I was too predictable on my serve at all.

Q. You say a lot of times you've been working on your serve hard with your coach. What exactly have you been doing?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Just, you know, ball toss, you know getting in the mind frame of using my legs a bit more out there, pushing up through the serve. Just, you know, small reminders more than anything. But, you know, just trying to focus on that and get in a routine, I guess, so when you go out there in the match it's second nature.

Q. How important is it for you to regain that No. 1 ranking? Sort of how far along do you think you are on that mission?

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, it's not something I'm chasing. I'm not going to go out and play - as I've said the last year or so - I'm not going to go out and play every week just to try and get my ranking a little bit higher. I'm not that kind of guy. I think once I've been No. 1 in the world, doesn't interest me to go out and play every single tournament week in and week out to try to get my ranking there. If you win Slams, you're going to put yourself in a position to be in the Top 2 or 3 in the world regardless.

Q. This little streak of 13 straight now, I know I heard McEnroe ask you a similar sort of question, is this as good as you've played since maybe you were No. 1 or since 2001, 2002?

LLEYTON HEWITT: There's been patches over the last year and a half that I've played as well as I have. It's just at the moment I've been able to keep it together and play day in, day out like that. You know, as I said, the Davis Cup matches, I seem to be able to play some of my best tennis every time I step on the court. Yeah, there's been periods this year. Sydney, I played extremely well. Rotterdam I played exceptional tennis the whole week. You know, some matches on the clay and even on the grass where I've played extremely well. But, you know, the period on the American hard courts has just been -- I've been able to do it day in and day out, I think, which I've been able to keep that roll going somewhat.

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Rd 2  L. HEWITT/H. Arazi

7-6, 6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it was. It's always nice to get it, especially against a guy like him who's very flashy and capable of coming up with great shots. So it's a little bit awkward sometimes when you get in a tiebreak against a guy like that.  But I just had to hang in there. I'd only played him once before and lost to him about three years ago in Montreal. Didn't play a great match.  He's got a crafty kind of game. You know, you really got to try and dictate play out there. He doesn't give you too many cheap points out there. With the left-handed serve, it's always going to be a little bit more difficult.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I was holding serve quite well then I just lost my serve. One service game there, I just didn't play a great service game. Up one end was tougher today again than the other. But it was the opposite ends to what it was a couple of days ago when I played.  So it was just getting used to conditions and that. I just didn't quite -- you know, wasn't as aggressive right at the start today as I was two days ago. But I felt like I really stepped it up early in the second set.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know, mate. As long as you keep going, doesn't matter. Doesn't really bother me too much. Yeah, just see what happens.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, mate, doesn't bother me one way or another. I've been in both situations, and, you know, I think I've handled it pretty well in the past.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, probably goes through your mind a little bit but purely because I'd won a tournament the week before, made a final just before that. But then again, I don't feel like I wasted too much energy in Washington. Just felt like I really wanted to keep my game going and clicking along. For me, the most matches I can win, the better off I'm going to be, I think.  For me, it was just try to continue that confidence and self-belief coming into a Slam.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I have some days when I'm maybe better. Other days, you know, it's pretty hard to be probably the way that I played in the semis and final here that year in 2001. There's definitely been matches throughout this year and the end of last year in Davis Cup where I played equally as well as when I won here a few years ago.

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not for me. You know, for me, it was all about, you know, trying to prepare for the US Open and give myself as best possible chance of, you know, trying to win here again. You know, I've always had good results at the US Open and I didn't want anything to jeopardize that.  You know, in the past I've had some viruses and, you know, few health issues and whatever after long flights and that. I really didn't want -- there just wasn't enough break to fly back after Cincinnati to Greece and then come back here right before the US Open for me personally.  So my choice was to stay and, you know, acclimatize to the same conditions that I was going to be playing here in New York and so far it's paying off.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, you had Andy Roddick there, so (smiling)...

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. I think everyone knows how much I like playing for my country. You know, I think after I took eight weeks off last year to prepare for the Davis Cup match, one match, my ranking dropped ten spots, I don't think anyone questions my patriotism towards my country.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Stuck in traffic (smiling).  No, you know, it's great. It's a big city. It's a great place to visit. But I really haven't done a lot of sight-seeing that much. Last week I was going out to Long Island every day to play out there. And, you know, this week I've just been -- you come here on your off-day anyway. By the time you get out here, practice, stretch, watch a match or two, have some lunch, it's time to go back, have a massage, and get ready to play the next day.  Yeah, so I've done very little sight-seeing.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I've only practiced with him once, I think, in the past. He's a big left-hander again. I seem to be playing a lot of left-handers lately. He's got a big serve, big forehand. He chips his backhand a lot. He's a dangerous player again because he's going to be flashy on my service games and on his he's just going to try to hold his serve.  I've just got to return well, move well, and make him play those extra shots.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not necessarily. I haven't really had too much of a problem. I've been fortunate. If you play one sort of out of the blue when you haven't played them for a while, it can be difficult with the serve and adjusting to that. It MIGHT take you a set or two.  But I played a lot of them. I played three in a row at Wimbledon, first three rounds. Now I've played a lot here over the hard court summer as well.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know anything about him. I'll be trying to find out something if he gets through.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Just a point here and there, I think. You know, at least at the Australian Open and Wimbledon against Federer in both matches, you know, I was up a break late in the fourth set against Federer. If I could have pushed it to five sets, you know, you never know, having the momentum.  You know, it's just a few points here and there. In the Australian Open I was a point away from being up a set and a break.  French Open, Gaudio was just too good.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, no, I did it at Wimbledon. Not to worry.

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