Wimbledon interviews 2002

back to Wimbledon 2002 main page

FINAL interview

Semi final L. HEWITT/T. Henman
7-5, 6-1, 7-5

MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Lleyton, you must be happy with the way you played today.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I played really well. Came out of the blocks well at the start. You know, took me a few games to get on to his serve at the start.
Then, you know, played -- just didn't quite get enough first serves in when I served for the first set at 5-3. He took a few more chances, though, there. You know, but I was able to come back and get right on with the job.
Obviously, the rain delay, I came out firing straightaway after that, had breakpoints the first game after the rain delay to get 4-Love. Wasn't able to quite take that. At 4-Love, I was able to get the double break.

Q. After almost four hours of tennis yesterday, with so much on the line today in this match, really only two road bumps in the entire match. Did you surprise even yourself today with how clean you played this match?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. I felt like I've been hitting the ball great the last four weeks, as soon as I came on the grass. You know, I was prepared to lay it all on the line out there today. You know, I like playing in big occasions, I like, you know, the big matches.
You know, memories come back of, you know, that US Open, knowing that I was able to, you know, play seven, you know, tough best-of-five matches there. You know, I was able to use those sweet memories to try and get through this one.

Q. Having seen what you have of Tim, having played him before, do you think he played as well as he can play today?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I thought he came out and, you know, put everything on the line at the start. You know, I thought it was pretty high-quality tennis out there. He went through a bit of a patch -- you know, I felt like I hit the ball great that 6-5 game in the first set and break and get the first set. I returned incredible that game.
Then he had a little bit of a slip-up I think in the first three games probably of the second set. Then, you know, he came out, he felt like he had to do something different, I think, to try and win. He mixed up his game a bit more out there. He tried coming in on his second serve, he tried staying back, he tried rallying from the baseline, he tried chip-charging.
I was able to sort of handle all those situations pretty well, I felt. Then the last few games, he really didn't know what to do.

Q. The question will come around again whether he can actually win Wimbledon. Would you say he can?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, he's got the perfect game to win Wimbledon. You know, in the next few years, I think even more so just because there's going to be less and less typical "serve and volley" kind of players like Tim plays. I think that's still an advantage for him, that he plays that kind of way, because there's so few players that play against that.
So the guys come on a grass court, a lot of them think that they can't beat a Tim Henman or a Patrick Rafter or Pete Sampras just because they got that typical grass court game.
You know, it's got to hurt for him to make another semifinal, but it's an incredible run what he's had, you know, the last four or five years here.

Q. Can you explain to us what it really means to you to be in the final of Wimbledon?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don't know what to say. You know, I don't think it's really sunk in just yet. But, wow, you know, it's an incredible feeling, you know, to see so many great champions, you know, up on the board that held that trophy up. For me to have, you know, a match to try and do it...
You know, it's what kids dream of, you know, sitting back at home, you know, watching Pat Cash win Wimbledon 15 years ago. It's what every Australian kid, you know, who picks up a tennis racquet dreams of, to one day be in this situation. For me to have it, you know, at the moment at the age of 21, you know, it's incredible.

Q. Have you spoken to Pat Cash much about Wimbledon and what it meant to him, what it could mean to you, for Australia?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. I haven't. Sort of done my own thing a little bit. I haven't even thought about winning it until -- you know, now it obviously comes into your mind a bit more because, you know, it's only one match away. Up to this stage, I've sort -- I've just taken it one match at a time. I hadn't made it past, you know, the second week here in the past. I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself.
You know, I knew it was going to be a huge test today against Tim in a semifinal. To this date, I haven't really thought about trying to hold up that trophy just yet.

Q. Did it cross your mind serving for the match you were one game from a Wimbledon final? Did you tighten up slightly then?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Oh, you know, I think anyone human would tighten up a little bit. But, you know, I felt like I didn't play that bad a game. You know, he came out and sort of put everything on the line, which he just about had to. I just didn't make too many first serves, I think that was the problem. If I was a bit tight, then so be it.
But, you know, I can take credit for the way that, you know, came back. And, you know, I was 15-Love down in that next game. Tim played a strange point in there. I was able to get that one with a cheap error. I just hit my straps again. Once I hit that lob to get the break, you know, I knew that was going to be too good.

Q. You do realize that you've denied yourself the opportunity of seeing Pat Cash in Sue's dress?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, he owes me a lot of money (laughter).

Q. Were you conscious, as the match progressed, that even the most partisan of the British supporters out there were really full of admiration for the way you played? Did that come through, that they were appreciating your play?
LLEYTON HEWITT: The crowd was great. Obviously, you know, I've played in some hostile arenas in Davis Cup matches. You know, this was fine. It was a great atmosphere out there.
Yeah, sure it was loud at times when, you know, Tim got out of his chair, was jogging from the changeover. You know, that's a good atmosphere to play in. I enjoy playing in that situation.
But, you know, I don't recall too many times where, you know, they go around clapping double-faults by me or stuff like that. That's what tennis is about. You know, sure, I got support when I hit a great shot or whatever - but not as much as Tim, but that's understandable.

Q. On the face of it, you had a relatively easy straight-sets win. Can you tell us, at any point in the match, did you yourself feel under pressure or maybe you were losing a grip, maybe he still was in there with a chance of winning?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, until I walked up to shake hands, I didn't think it was out of his control or out of his reach of coming back, you know, taking it to five sets.
But, you know, there was a lot of tight situations. Early on in the first set, he had breakpoint chances to go up an early break. Could have changed, you know, the whole match. You never know.

Q. 5-All in the third, what were you thinking?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Obviously, I was a bit disappointed that I lost my serve. But I still felt like I was returning that well that I was going to give myself another opportunity to break. Even though I didn't break that game, I was still confident I could go around, take it to a tiebreaker. Obviously, a tiebreaker's anyone's game, anyone's chance there.
But, you know, I still had a 50% chance that I was going to finish off the match.

Q. Regarding Pat, do you feel like you've got any unfinished business on behalf of Australia?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know about unfinished business. Yeah, it's going to be tough going out there. I spoke with Pat this morning. You know, he wished me all the best for my match. The whole of Australia is behind me back there. It's a great feeling to have.
There's been such a great Australian tradition at Wimbledon. It's fantastic that I've been able to carry it through this year, just as Pat has done the last few years with semis and finals here.

Q. Did he give you any advice or was it just luck?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I don't think he did. No, he just said, "Good luck." Everyone is right behind him -- right behind me, sorry. Yeah, just go out there and do my best.

Q. Did he say he'd like to be here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Don't know. He sounded pretty relaxed back there. Probably playing golf and sitting on the beach. I'd like to be doing that, too.

Q. He's redesigned his game, he's taken a lot off his serve in order to rely more on his athletic ability, his volleying. But serving at 108 to 112, in that area, doesn't that give you a better match-up on service return than if he's hitting 120 or 125?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, but a lot of people have spoken about this the last few weeks. He's the best volleyer in the game at the moment. I think he feels in a lot of his matches that he's probably got to get a high percentage of first serves in and mix his serve up a little bit more.
Sort of give and take a little bit with either. You either go for it a little bit more, get a less percentage in. You're on the back foot with your second serve, having to hit a lot more second serves. On the other hand, he got a high percentage of first serves in, tries to close into the net a bit quicker, use his volleys a little bit more.
You know, it's up to the individual. I can't say that, you know, he should go out and try to serve and volley like Goran and bomb them down first serves, then rely on his second serve. It's going to be an awful lot tougher. He doesn't have as big a second serve as Ivanisevic or Roddick or those guys.

Q. Against a player of your returning abilities, it may get him through five rounds, but he runs up against a player with exceptional returning ability.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Still the same. You know, at the end of the day, he's got to make the call whether getting a high percentage of first serves in and not letting me have a look at a slower second serve. You know, it's still the same. If I'm going to look at second serves all day, I'm going to be laughing out there. You know, he's got to make that.
Yeah, he changed it up out there. He started getting 120, 123s out there I saw in the last few games. But in the end, it starts to give me a little bit of an opportunity. It's a little bit hit-and-miss. I start getting opportunities to get into the point after his second serve.

Q. At 21 years of age, did you envisage that you would have won a US Open, let alone being on the brink of winning a Wimbledon title?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. It's incredible. Everything that's happened the last, what is it now, about nine months, 10 months or so since the US Open, it's been incredible to have won a first Grand Slam at the age of 20; then to go on to become the youngest ever world No. 1. I mean, I don't know what to say.
You know, it's beyond what, you know, my expectations or, you know, thoughts could have been, you know, a 20-year-old, 21-year-old. Now to have another opportunity to have a go at another Grand Slam, it's a great feeling.

Q. Regardless of who you play tomorrow, you're not going to alter your game; it's up to them to alter their game to beat you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. I feel like I'm hitting the ball, you know, well enough just to go out there and worry about my game at the moment. If things aren't going well out there, then it's a best-of-five set match; I've got time to work it out and get a feeling for what's happening out there. If I have to alter mine a little bit, I'm willing to do it out there.
At the moment, the way I'm hitting the ball, the way I'm moving, I've got to worry just about my game, going out there and, you know, trying to get the job done that way.

Q. You get a bit of stick in the press once in a while. Does that help or hinder you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Doesn't worry me.

Q. Doesn't worry you either way?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No.

Q. You talk about Australia being behind you. Tim gets it every year at Wimbledon, but it's a lot of pressure. Do you think there's too much pressure on him to do well here?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. He does get an awful lot of pressure. But I think he blocks it out fantastic. You know, he's done well here. Whether he can hold up the trophy, that's another question. But, you know, he's had an incredible run, in any book, any person's book. What is it, four semis, a quarter, Round of 16, the last six years? You know, that's a great effort.
You know, he does cop a lot of pressure. He's got to try and block it out. I'm good mates with him. I think he deals with it fine. In the locker rooms, he always looks very relaxed. He's a really nice guy.

Q. Can you tell us what you know about either of the two guys you might face in the final, perhaps what you expect?
LLEYTON HEWITT: They're both, you know, pretty much baseline players. I haven't seen them play an awful lot here in this tournament, or on grass for that fact. But I played Nalbandian a few months ago in Barcelona in the second or third round there on clay. You know, he's good from the baseline. Nice forehand. Probably forehand's a slight strength, I'd say. But he's got a nice, you know, rally kind of backhand. I'm not sure how much he's coming into the net. Wouldn't have a clue.
Malisse, well, you know, he's very talented. I think we've all known that for a few years. It was just sort of a matter of time before he started to break through in bigger events. I played him twice, once on clay, once on grass at Queen's in the first round two years ago.
Yeah, I've got to go out there, play my game, put my head down, see what happens.

Q. Would winning Wimbledon prove in your own mind that you are truly the No. 1 player in the world? Do you have any doubts? Would winning here settle all of them?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, it doesn't worry me. There's other things that, you know -- winning Wimbledon, going out there and doing it. I'm not worried about trying to prove myself the No. 1 player in the world in the rankings. Couldn't give a stuff about it.

Q. What are you going to do for the next couple days?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Chill out.

Q. How will you do that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Do nothing (laughter).

Q. Watch a few videos?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I haven't watched many videos. Footy is on this weekend back home. Get on the Internet and cheer my boys on.

L. HEWITT/S. Schalken
6-2, 6-2, 6-7, 1-6, 7-5

MODERATOR: Who is first?

Q. Lleyton, you took the first two sets, things were looking really good. In the end, it turned out to be a really tough match. Can you go through what really happened?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I was on fire. You know, he didn't play his best tennis, but I was playing pretty well I felt two sets. I must have had about 500 breakpoints in the third set, and wasn't able to take one. Could have easily been 6-2, 6-2, 5-Love, I felt. There was only one game in the third set that I didn't think I had a breakpoint. There were a couple Love-40 games in that set, as well. 6-5 up, I had 15-40 still, a couple of match points there. You know, but to his credit, I really didn't have many chances on those breakpoints.
Then the match sort of turned. He got confident. He was not making any mistakes that he made in the first, you know, two and a half sets. He started stepping it up. It turned into a dogfight.

Q. How much are you thinking, "I could have done without that," and how much are you thinking, "At least I came through it, and mentally it's a good thing"?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, you know, I'm 21. You know, I'm not too worried about the body. You know, I'll actually take confidence from what happened at the US Open. I went through an absolutely grueling match against Roddick in the quarterfinals and then bounced back and played Saturday, Sunday, back to back, the best tennis I've ever played against a couple of the most experienced guys in Grand Slams. So, you know, I can draw confidence from that.
I think I'm fit enough to bounce back and be ready as soon as the bell goes to come out firing.

Q. JohnNewcombe gave an opinion a year ago. John is not the absolute authority on everything, but he's a past winner. He felt one of the keys to your game would be could you endure the length of a two-week tournament, winning back-to-back big matches physically, that maybe this was a question in your coming up towards the top end of the game. How do you feel about that physical element?
LLEYTON HEWITT: As I just said, you know, the US Open, you know, I had some extremely tough matches in there. I had a five-setter against Blake. I had obviously the five-set marathon against Roddick. I'd have to say the Roddick match on hard court took more out of me than the match out there today on a grass court where the points are a little bit shorter.
You know, there was probably a lot more emotion I think in the Roddick match rather than the match today, as well. You know, I felt like I was able to bounce back from that, you know, pretty well.
You know, who really knows? I'm hoping it's going to be the same come tomorrow.

Q. How much do you think you'll be able to temperamentally shut off the Brit side of the match and concentrate on the tennis as opposed to the personal issues of the semi?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I can draw strength from, you know, matches that I've played in clutch situations in Davis Cup ties that I've played where I haven't had the crowd on my side and I've been able to block it out pretty well. I've played -- you know, not too many better matches I can remember than beating Gustavo Kuerten in Florianopolis.

Q. Sjeng told us what he thought was so tough about Lleyton Hewitt. What do you think makes you such a tough opponent?
LLEYTON HEWITT: What did he say (smiling)?

Q. I'll tell you later.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. I'm sure, you know, the never-say-die attitude, you know, keep fighting every point. You know, he had a lot of chances there in the fifth set and he wasn't able to take full advantage of them. I think that's one aspect, I'm being very mentally tough out there, as well. They're probably the two big keys.

Q. Which side of the family tree does your fighting spirit come from?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. My mum and dad are pretty competitive, I think, both of them. They both played professional sport. My dad's side of the family's probably more sporting than -- you know, my uncle, grandfather, all played professional football. But my mum was a professional net ball player.

Q. When you double-faulted in the 11th game of the fifth at deuce.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Can't remember.

Q. I was going to say, did you feel you might at that moment be on the brink of defeat?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I faced a lot of breakpoints there. Must have been at least two or three - 4-All, the 5-All games in the fifth.
You know, I knew I still had an opportunity. I went for a couple of serves out wide and caught the tape. You know, you live and die by it sometimes. You know, it was nice that I still hung in there and, you know, didn't throw away the next point. You know, it was probably better in hindsight that I double-faulted at deuce rather than his ad.
But I hung in there and wasn't prepared to give it away that easily.

Q. When you're digging deep and shouting, who is that aimed at? Who do you focus on?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. It's not really focused on anyone. You know, it's obviously probably to my camp, I guess. But, you know, I pick out a lot of people in the crowd that I know. You know, everyone gets a little bit of a pump now and then.

Q. Everyone is saying that the pressure is not on Tim, he's got nothing to lose against you. Presumably with such a big crowd on his side, you've got nothing to lose really.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think for sure. I think Tim -- how many times has he made the semifinals here? This is my first time. I'm 21. I'm sure I'm going to have, you know, other chances to do well at Wimbledon. Obviously, he's probably got, you know, maybe less chances than I'm going to have in the future.
So, you know, in that way, I think there's a lot of pressure on him to do well. He's made the semis so many times, and everyone expects so much of him, you know, here at Wimbledon. Everyone's been asking the question, "When is he going to finally get through to the final and give himself a chance to win?"
Maybe tomorrow is his opportunity, but I feel like we've both been able to handle the pressure pretty well over the last week and a half anyway so far.

Q. In effect, that might give you an advantage on some decisive points?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It doesn't worry me. I think I put up -- you know, if there is added pressure on me, I block it out pretty well anyway. But I'll be going out there, you know, I'll be free out there. I don't feel like there's any -- that much added pressure on me going out there.
As I said, this is, what, only my fourth time at Wimbledon, my first semifinal, first time I've been deep into the tournament. You know, sure, I want to get through to the final, just like anyone would. But, you know, it is my first time. You know, I haven't been out there in a semifinal just yet.

Q. What do you feel, in broad issues,the match could turn on, what aspects?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Don't know. We'll have to wait and see tomorrow.

Q. Is there a psychological boost because of your record against Tim or can you -- will you both ignore that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think we'll both ignore it pretty much. Obviously, I would rather be -- would rather have won 5-nil rather than being down 0-5. But coming out there tomorrow, it's Wimbledon.
This is where he's performed so well over so many years. It's an incredible record that he's got here. You know, no one can take that away from him. As I said before, this is my first time here. You know, you can sort of throw, you know, the record of us playing I think -- the head-to-heads out the window a little bit tomorrow.

Q. Australia is a great sporting nation. Do you think anyone in Australia doesn't know what Wimbledon is?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I don't. No. Someone out in the Outback may not, but that's about it.

Q. Andre did it 10 years ago from the back. The way the courts are set up at the moment, do you feel of all the years, this is a pretty good one to be a guy who likes to play it from the back?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. Doesn't really worry me. Queen's, I found especially on Saturday and Sunday the last few years, it's been lightning quick. Really good bounce out there. It hasn't really worried me, the pace, so much. I think the court's holding up pretty well.
Sure it's getting a bit dirty at the back of the court, baseline areas, four or five guys in the quarterfinals playing mostly from the back of the court. But I think it's holding up well enough.
You know, I actually think Court 1 has probably taken a bit more of a hammering than Centre Court. I haven't seen it today, but I thought Court 1 was, you know, struggling a little bit out there today. I think it's actually playing slower, Court 1 than Centre Court.

Q. Have you had any word from Pat at all, any advice?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I haven't worried about speaking to him. I'm sure he doesn't want to. Here I'm in the semifinals at Wimbledon, and he could have been No. 2 seed down at the bottom there playing Lapentti or Nalbandian.

Q. You mentioned your camp there. Who will be there tomorrow for you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Same guys, family, Kim, my mate Hayden from Australia, physio, trainer, (inaudible) Fanatics, one of my mates from Australia. Got a few guys here.

Q. 15-All in what turned out to be the final game, you pushed into the net and drove him into a backhand error. Was that a gamble or just the way that point was being played?
LLEYTON HEWITT: A little bit of a gamble, I think. He wasn't missing anything from the back of the court. I felt like I was dragging him wide all the time on both wings. He didn't miss a ball. You know, the court was a little bit slower out there, as well, so it gave him a bit more time to get back. He just had such good rhythm. On that one I just felt like, you know, maybe it was the right time just to push in and make him go for a passing shot. He half shanked it.
But still, you know, 30-All point. I came up with a big, you know, curler up-the-line passing shot which is a bigger point, I think.

Q. Does the fact that it's a Brit on Centre Court Wimbledon going to give you an extra buzz, add extra spice to the match tomorrow?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, doesn't worry me who I'm playing. You know, it's a semifinal of Wimbledon. If you can't get up for it, might as well put your racquets away, not bother turning up.
I'll be up no matter who I'm playing. Sure, it's going to be, you know, great atmosphere out there. That's for sure.

Q. Does the fact that perhaps the American game might be in a bit of transition, may not have someone of your age who is of comparable status in the rankings, mean that you can dominate for many years? Perhaps if Tim does win tomorrow and get through, you'll be back, he'll still have to face you again and again as a top seed?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I feel like one of the advantages I have is I can play on all surfaces I feel now. That's a huge edge to have going into every Grand Slam. Not this year, but there are so many clay-courters who just roll up here, roll the arm over, see you later on day one.
I feel like I go to all four Slams and I have a realistic chance of winning them. That's a great thing to have for me. Obviously, the Americans have Roddick coming up. He's their next big hope, I think. But I feel confident that I can -- obviously, hard court is probably my preferred surface, but now grass and clay are getting up there, as well.

Q. As well as Sjeng served today, have you ever lost as many breakpoints in a row?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don't think so. It was strange. There wasn't really that much I could do on the breakpoints, I felt. Every time I got to Love-40, he came out and served three bombs. If I got a racquet on them, I only just got them over the net, he was able to come in and put an easy winner away. Otherwise he served aces or unreturnables on most of them.
Yeah, it was starting to get a little bit frustrating. It was like he was half giving me to go Love-40 up, then saying, "I'm not going to give you the game, though." Obviously, the telling part was he got a little bit shaky when he was up a break twice in the fifth set.

4th round  L. HEWITT/M. Youzhny
6-3, 6-3, 7-5

MODERATOR: Questions for Lleyton.

Q. Made you work pretty hard at the end. Is that what you needed?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, he's a good player. I was expecting, you know, a tough match going out there.
I'm happy to get through in straight sets. I still wouldn't want to be deep in the fourth set. He was getting better and better as the match went on. It was pretty important to, you know, come out of those few breakpoints that I had towards the end of the third and get out of them, then able to put a little bit of pressure on his last service game.

Q. Conditions a little windy and cold.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it was tough. Tough conditions. Conditions you want to, you know, not spend a lot of time out there. You want to get on and off and into the locker room as soon as possible.
You know, I'm pretty happy to have got through in straight sets.

Q. I know you don't like looking forward. Must be interesting with your next match, Schalken, 2-0 in the last couple meetings.
LLEYTON HEWITT: He's a tough player. You know, I played him at the French in the third round. After the press conference, the Dutch journalists said he's never been past the third round in a Slam. I found that pretty surprising because he's a great player. Got a lot of respect for his game. He plays well on all surfaces, as well. I've seen him play well here in the past.
We had an extremely tough match, I think 6-3, only one break in the match at Queen's two weeks ago. He won a tournament in Rosmalen last week. He's obviously seeing the ball well.
I'm going to have to play better again, you know, if I'm going to get on top of him. Then again, I feel like I'm getting better and better with each match.

Q. Have you ever played in any colder temperatures than today?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Colder?

Q. Yes.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm sure I have (smiling).

Q. I noticed you had a T-shirt underneath your shirt.
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, that's one shirt.

Q. What's the difficulty of playing Schalken?
LLEYTON HEWITT: He's an all-court player. He's got a good serve. As I said, he can play, you know, from the baseline. And he also can come in, as well.
You know, I'm not that surprised to see him here in the quarterfinals. I'm going to take it really seriously. I'm going to go out there and play as well as I can if I'm going to win.

Q. You had some tactical advise for him for his Chang match, he said. Are you that close?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, he just -- we're good friends. He lives in Belgium, I think. Has his house in Belgium, as well.
He just asked me a few things because I played Michael last week. You know, I get along really well with Sjeng. He's a great guy.

Q. Things couldn't have been much smoother for you up to the start of this week. Do you think it might have been better if you actually had one big test?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. You know, I think it can work either way. If you're getting through, you've got a lot of confidence going, you know, you know -- I've had a few tight sets, there's no doubt about that. The last set out there today was tight. I've had to come through in pressure situations, breakpoints down, stuff like that. I've played already a breaker against Carraz in the second round. I feel good.
At least, you know, I've played some tough matches, you know, some tough sets in there. But also I haven't lost a lot of energy so far, which is a good thing from the way I play and my standpoint so far through to the quarters.

Q. Do you enjoy being the favorite in matches?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Doesn't worry me. You've got to deal with it somehow.

Q. How do you look at it?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Go out there and, you know, I've got to win seven matches, just like a qualifier, or whoever, as soon as they get in the draw. You've got to beat the seven guys put in front of you. I don't look to see if, you know, Agassi and Sampras bombed out. They're in the other half. I can't do much about that.
You know, I go out there and, you know, put it on the line every time. If I'm good enough, I'm good enough.

Q. Are you surprised that Henman has such a tournament?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Who?

Q. Henman.
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, a little bit. I expected Draper to, you know, give him a good match. I've practiced a lot with Scott. I'm good mates with him.
You know, he gave him a tough match. But then again, you know, Tim came through when he needed to. The same against Ferreira. I think everyone who expected, who knew tennis, knew it was going to be an extremely tough match. Wayne, you know, he was a serious contender. He's been around for a long time. I wasn't that surprised that it was that tough a match.
Then, you know, today, I think he's up a break in the third now. You know, that guy's a good player. Not probably the best match-ups for Tim, I don't say.

Q. Several years ago players with big serves used to have an advantage on grass. Now that tendency seems to be changing. Do you think your play style suits the grass courts? How do you analyze the trend?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it's -- you know, I've practiced a lot on grass over the last couple years. I've always come and played normally the two lead-up tournaments before Wimbledon. It's not a long grass court preparation. And also Davis Cup ties, normally have to train a week and a half before Davis Cup ties that we play on grass, as well.
You know, that added practice and playing a few more matches throughout the year is obviously a benefit for the Australians.
You know, I don't know why guys, Nalbandian, Lapentti, are coming through. I'm not sure. I think if you return well and you stay aggressive from the back of the court and you pass well, then I don't think there's any reason why the baseliners shouldn't do that well.

Q. Is there anything that you sort of think about when you dig a bit of a hole for yourself? One occasion you were down three breakpoints. You have this extraordinary mental strength to get out of it. Is there anything that clicks in your mind, "I'm not out of here"?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, one point at a time.

Q. It's a gift that you've got.
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I don't panic. I don't worry about it. Because I go down Love-40, I'm not going to throw a point away. It's hard enough to get a break anytime. I'm not going to give, you know, the guy a break of my serve.
Every time, I just, you know, try and guts it out, and play maybe a little bit more percentage tennis. But, you know, the last few matches I've been able to -- everyone the last few weeks at Queen's when I was facing breakpoints, I was able to come up with a big serve. That's another dimension to my game that I'm trying to add.
In clutch situations, you know, you see so many times Sampras, these guys, come up breakpoints down, they serve an ace. You know, I'm not saying I'm going to serve an ace every time, but I want to at least, you know, try and put in a tough serve to, you know, put myself in the front foot right from the start of that point.

Q. You of course ranked second after Sampras in terms of number of wins on grass, yet this is your first quarterfinal in Wimbledon. How would you explain that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: When you win Queen's three years in a row, that explains it.

Q. My point is, why you haven't been a breakthrough in Wimbledon.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think last year I played extremely well. I lost to a guy who was too good on the day. Escude played great last year. He took a set off Agassi before he got injured during that match. He's a great grass court player.
I think coming in last year, I had a lot of confidence. It was only a few points that I didn't take last year. You know, I was able to -- I still lost to him in the Davis Cup final, exactly the same score. I came to Queen's again this year, you know, tried to start off in the same fashion. So far so good at Wimbledon.

Q. He mixed up his game in the second set, started going for the regular use of the dropshot. Did that make a particularly interesting challenge for you, the game today, his approach to the match?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I was expecting him to hit a fair few dropshots. He played about 50,000 of them last week in Rosmalen. I was actually surprised that it took him, you know, deep into the second set before he started.
You know, I think it was a way I was beating him from the back of the court at the time. He really didn't know what to do. He didn't know whether to come in. You know, that 5-1, I had two breakpoints at 15-40, he did two dropshots. It paid off in the end for him. He got out of that game; but it was half just about throwing the game away as well. That's the way I looked at it. It actually gave me confidence that he's going for those kinds of shots at that point.

Q. Showed he was in trouble.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't think he really knew how to beat me from the back of the court at the time. He was trying everything. It was a half tank to throw away the second set. To his credit, though, he bounced back and played extremely well in the third set.

Q. You talked about being able to step up a gear on Saturday. Do you feel you still can or do you feel your game needs to?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think you can always get better. And I think, you know, so far I got through unscathed. I still feel like there's, you know, small things in my game that I can still work on for the next, you know, hopefully three matches.
You know, come Wednesday, against Sjeng, I know I'm going to have to play, you know, better than I played today. You know, it's going to be an extremely tough match. But I still feel like I'm able to, you know, go up another gear when I need to.

Q. Any specific areas?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You'll find out (smiling).

Q. Everyone knows what this means to the British players. What does it mean to you, Wimbledon? Do you think you can be considered a great without actually putting this on your list?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, Wimbledon'sWimbledon. You know, growing up in Australia, everyone knows what Wimbledon is. You know, I'm sure, you know, if you ask 95% of the people in Australia, they'll know what Wimbledon is. They'd think it's the biggest tennis tournament of the year. That's how it stands in Australia. You know, in my mind growing up, it was one of the biggest tournaments of the year.
You know, obviously the Australian Open is pretty close to my heart, as well. But coming to Wimbledon, you know, you see so many great Australian, you know, players in the locker room, the past champions. You know, some great memories, I think, of how well Australians have done here. To try to keep the tradition going, as well, some of the boys here who are Australian.

Q. You seem so comfortable and confident at Queen's every time I see you. Do you feel in any way differently on Wimbledon grass? Is it only a matter of your attention is higher?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I feel pretty much the same. You know, obviously Queen's isn't quite as big as, you know, Wimbledon as a tournament. But, you know, I feel the grass isn't that different. You know, I feel capable. I've been able to this year take the transfer from Queen's to Wimbledon maybe a little bit better than the last few years.
You know, it comes with the experience of playing Wimbledon, you know, three or four times now.

Second Round interview June 27

L. HEWITT/G. Carraz
6-4, 7-6, 6-2

MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Bit of a slow start today compared to your first match. Was that him playing really well or you just being a little slow to get going?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I was , yeah, a little bit slow, but I was still able to hold onto my serve. I didn't lose a service game all day. Even though I wasn't, you know, as sharp as probably normal, as I could have been, I was still able to, you know, get my service games under my belt, then, you know, have a go at his service game. In that way it was lucky.
The way that he served, he's obviously a big server, and I didn't go down an early break because that would have given him a lot more confidence.

Q. Were you surprised by his form? He played really well in those first two sets, but seemed to lose it after the tiebreak.
LLEYTON HEWITT: A little bit surprised, but he's obviously got a lot of confidence going. He's won three matches in quallies, then won his first round here in four sets. You know, he served big. I asked around before the match and I knew his main weapon was his serve. You know, I really couldn't get on it that much today - his first serve. Every time he got a second serve, I felt like I would win 90% of the points. On his first serve, he served really well.
Obviously, you know, he was a little bit disappointed he couldn't have won that second set tiebreaker, then he was probably on a bit of a high, then just came down, and that's when I tried to step it up another gear, you know, try and finish it off in straight sets.

Q. There were a couple of crucial calls in that tiebreak, one that went your way where there was an overrule, then another one that went your way. Do you think that affected him mentally?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I don't know. I don't know if you're calling the one I served, an ace down the T, but that was inside the line. I wouldn't say it was a huge turning point. He was actually walking before the late call came. I don't know about that one.
I can't really remember his serve that he may have argued that much. He didn't make a big scene anyway. You know, I felt like the calls in the tiebreak weren't that bad.

Q. In the tiebreak you were a mini-break down, he was about to smash his way to a couple set points. Were you surprised to be given the chance to get the ball back into play?
LLEYTON HEWITT: As I said, his first serve was huge. He didn't miss a serve in the tiebreak until 5-4. Then, you know, he didn't play the best point at 5-4. He gave me a chance. Then he missed another serve at 5-All. I was going to take it every time after that. I was going to make him play as many balls as it took in that next point. I came up with a good passing shot at 5-All.
To his credit, though, he didn't give me a cheap point at 6-5. He made me work extremely hard. You know, I felt like that was a huge turn around within two or three points.

Q. The difference in the courts, between Centre and Court 1?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It was a strange court. Yeah, it had cracks in it. It looks like, you know, there's all squares out there. It was strange.

Q. Was it slow?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not that slow. His serve was definitely coming through (smiling).

Q. Was it an even balance if there were cracks in the court?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, it was more sort of towards the end of the baseline area, just beyond the baseline. But you could actually see where it looked like it had just been like a jigsaw . They put blocks out. Whereas I didn't notice that the other day, two days ago, on Centre Court. I don't know if the weather, a bit of heat, it's starting to crack a little bit more than normal. Maybe Centre is doing that now, a couple days on as well. I'm not sure.

Q. What was your take on yesterday with Pete and Andre and Marat going out? What do you think it does to the tournament overall?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Still a lot of good players left in the tournament, you know. What is it, I've won two matches, so there's five to go. For me, I just look at the five opponents that I have to play. You know, you can't get -- in Grand Slams, you can't get too far ahead of yourself.
It was an extraordinary day to lose three of the biggest names around. But, you know, I'm not that surprised. The depth in men's tennis is incredible. You know, you have a slightly off day, you know, it won't be good enough.

Q. You said something very interesting the other day where you said that everyone learns from experience. It's now been close to a year since all that happened at the US Open, which was controversial, confusing. Could you take a moment and tell us what are the things you've learned from that experience?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I just block out as many things as possible. I wasn't going to let anything, you know, ruin the way that I was playing throughout that second week, and nothing did. I got better and better with every match that I played. You know, I learned how to block out everything, apart from going out there and playing, you know, the tennis that I felt like I was capable of doing.

Q. Is that easy for you to have that focus?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'd say I'm pretty mentally tough. I'm probably one of the most mentally tough guys around. You know, it wasn't that hard for me. You know, I concentrate on my tennis every time I step on the court. You know, it wasn't that hard, I don't think, for me to go out there and do it. Just concentrate on the tennis and nothing else.

Q. When you talk about blocking out things, today were you able to block out Kim's score?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I saw it. You know, can't do much about it. I didn't see a ball hit. You know, no use in me worrying about it when I'm out there. You know, just concentrate on my game.

Q. Appeared to be a little bit more aggression in your game today compared to the first one. You played the little dink across the court. Have you been working on that with anybody?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not really. You know, just felt like obviously Jonas probably passes a lot better than that guy today would. So I just tried to add a little bit more, another dimension, just to keep the guy on his toes a little bit, to be not as predictable out there.
I felt like when I came in, I volleyed well.

Q. Was it difficult to get yourself up for this game against a fairly low-ranked opponent maybe not too many people have heard of?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. You know, if you can't get up for Wimbledon, you can't get up for much. You know, I feel if you don't get up for matches, you'll have results like some of the big guys did yesterday, and Federer had a couple of days ago. You know, you've got to be prepared to play your best tennis and put your A game on the line every time you step out there.

Q. A British government minister today has said that the women's champion at Wimbledon should receive the same prize money as the men. Do you think that's fair? Do you agree with that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, it's hard to say. I don't have a huge -- if they're putting -- bringing as many people into the game, then I think that's the main thing. You know, we're still playing best-of-five sets, though, and lasting a long time.
But I think at the end of the day if people want to come in and watch women's tennis more than men's tennis, they deserve the same. Until that happens, I don't know.

Q. I don't know if you've seen any of this fuss about John McEnroe and steroid. I wondered whether steroid abuse is anything you've come across in the game?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I haven't read anything or heard anything.

Q. Come across in your own experiences?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No. The only things I've heard of steroids, getting banned, was Coria and Chela and Korda. That's all I know about it.

Q. Do you think it would make any difference? I would think steroids in tennis wouldn't contribute that much to your game.
LLEYTON HEWITT: You'll have to ask the experts. I don't really know much about it. I'd say if it's going to help one area, it's probably training or something. I guess, being fitter and training harder. I'm not an expert on that. I wouldn't have a clue.

Q. Do you have any superstitions you take out there on court with you?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really.

Q. After what happened yesterday, presumably you didn't want to become the next big name to go out, do you think because the public don't know the guys advancing and they do know the ones that went out, the tournament has been slightly devalued?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Wimbledon is Wimbledon. Really, I don't really care if I get to Sunday week who I'm playing. You know, qualifier, lucky loser, No. 2 seed, doesn't matter. We're all starting in the tournament.
You know, obviously it's a shame I think for the crowd and the spectators maybe that they don't get to see Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi walk out and play again another match. We saw it happen at the Australian Open. A lot of big names went out early. I don't think it hurt the tournament at all.

Q. Ferrero lost today. Costa didn't come here. Obviously the French Open finalists didn't do well here. Do you think it's becoming harder to win both back to back? Do you think it can be done in this era?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It's definitely going to be tough. You know, the French probably takes a lot more out of you, I think, energy-wise. To try and back it up, you still have a couple weeks, but normally if you win the French, it's going to be hard to go out and practice on grass the following week. You're going to need a bit of a break.
With that, I think it's probably harder. I think you don't get as such good preparation if you go late into the French Open. You don't get that time to adjust maybe as well as some of the other guys who lose, you know, in the first three or four rounds.

Q. But it can be done, do you think?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Sure. I'm sure some people still on the tour can do it.