AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2003

Joseph Sirianni

MODERATOR: Questions.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Very exciting times. I don't know what to say. I'm just thrilled, excited to get through finally. It's the third attempt. It's just a great feeling to get through.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: I was. I was. But stayed strong. I guess I got through. I mean, it was great. Great feeling.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: '99 I played Zabaleta, lost 6-3 in the fifth. 2000 played Squillari, lost in straight sets. Today, I won in straight sets, so it was great.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Thanks to all my spectators. They got me three in the last game. Family. I do play overseas, as well. I won this wildcard and proved to myself that I can play, can play with the big guys.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Not sure. I haven't thought about it. Just going to have a bit of fun with this feeling. We'll just see what happens.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: They were. They were. Thanks to all my friends. It's just great. It's just great hearing all that support. You don't really hear it often, especially when you're overseas, being a Victorian. All that stuff, it just helps a lot.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: I don't even know myself. Probably about 40, 40 or 50.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Yes, very true.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Yes. I still keep in touch with Chris Anstey. He's in Russia playing basketball. Dustin Fletcher, he was there today. We still keep in touch.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: I spoke to Dustin yesterday a couple of times. E-mail with Chris Anstey.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: No. Just about everything. He's in a little village in I think it's called Perm (phonetic). Minus 20, minus 30, something like that. He'd like to be here.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: I did. It's been a great preparation with my coach Larry. With the Australian Open camp we had before leading up, it was great. Great lead-up. I thought I could win. It was a great opportunity. Max, I think he's a Top 50 player. I just played well, just concentrated well. I'm just thrilled.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Very important. I was nervous in the first game, especially when I was serving first. To get through that just calmed me down, calmed me down heaps. Just went on there.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: From everywhere, yeah. Throughout the whole match, they've been fantastic. Especially towards the end, just sort of cheered me on. They helped me heaps.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Exactly. I mean, we've all done well. I'm not sure how Ryan Henry went. He did win the first set.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Oh, really? You know, Jaymon Crabb, everyone is playing well, all the Aussies are playing well. I think it's because of the lead-up we've had. Australian Open camp, it's been great.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: Very important. That was my goal, to win my first round. From here, I'm just having fun. I mean, I love playing. I'm not sure who I play next. It's probably Gasquet, 16-year-old, great player. Just see how we go. I'm looking forward to the rest of the year. I think it might be a good year for me.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: High, with a lot of topspin. It was very difficult, very difficult. A few of them did get over there.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: It was good. Krajicek, similar games, both serve-volleyers, great preparation. Coach there just telling me what to do. I warmed up with Novak, as well, today.

JOSEPH SIRIANNI: My passing shots and returning. I did get a few returns down low. He popped them up. That's where I got the second chance to actually pass him. I think my backhand was probably the best today.