AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2006

Andy Roddick

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

ANDY RODDICK: The week was good, but preparation started, you know, a little while before that. You know, I feel good. I feel fit. You know, I'm excited to get it going.

ANDY RODDICK: I feel more prepared. Last year, you know, I didn't -- we played Davis Cup in December, so by the time this came around, you know, it felt pretty quick to me. I definitely feel like I did more due diligence this year, was a little more ready to go and had a little bit more time to prepare on my terms.

ANDY RODDICK: Those are numbers. As much as I'd like for them to, they don't put the ball in between the lines for you. It's just statistics. I guess it's fun to write about. But I think, you know, people say the Kooyong champion, well, Kooyong has had a long history of having the top players of the world participate in their event. I think that's more of an indicator of why the Kooyong champ goes on to play well. If you have Roger or Agassi or Sampras, those guys in the field, chances are someone from that event's going to go on and do well and possibly win the Australian Open.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, you take a little bit out of it. It was good because there was a pretty big crowd there. You know, it was definitely a great -- you know, felt like a match situation, which was good. I think that's the biggest thing. You just want to get your legs under you and play. You know, you can't simulate a crowd or ball-boys or an umpire or something like that just in practice. So it was good preparation in that aspect.

ANDY RODDICK: Very similar actually. It's a little windier over there because obviously it doesn't have the protection that the stadium does here. I've gone back and forth all week, and I really haven't noticed -- I haven't noticed too much of a difference.

ANDY RODDICK: Aren't you bored with that question yet, Bud? You have to get bored with that. It's got to be four months now. Jesus, Christ. I'm very happy, pretty happy to be living the life I'm living. Nothing is really wrong with me. You?

ANDY RODDICK: No.

ANDY RODDICK: I'm just trying to bring a little bit of a more aggressive mindset into this year, not play what I call passive/aggressiveness, you know. We'll see. I feel probably more excited to start this year than I ever have before. I'm just going to go out there. I've put in the work. I'm going to go out there and give it my best.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, I just had a defined six-week window this year where I could, you know, train every day and do my conditioning every day. I kind of knew what was ahead of me. That was nice. That's something I haven't had the luxury of doing before.

ANDY RODDICK: No, I don't think so. I certainly hope not. I wouldn't be out here training and, you know, trying to improve if I thought that was the case.

ANDY RODDICK: No, I try to use it as a positive. It really pissed me off. It put a little bit of a chip on my shoulder, I guess. I don't know if it will end up being a blessing in disguise or not. I haven't felt as motivated as I have, you know, let's say a month after that, for a while. You know, it's part of it. It's probably the most disappointing loss I've had. You know, I was talking to my parents and a bunch of other people. They say it's how you bounce back from something like that. You can either kind of lay down or try to turn it around. You know, I've chosen the latter. We'll see how it goes.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, he is my age, so I saw him in Juniors some. I mean, I know how he played back then. He has a one-handed backhand, righty. Plays a pretty good all-around game, has nice feel around the court. He's got three matches behind him from quallies, which is the one advantage that they have over us coming in.

ANDY RODDICK: No. I mean, we get asked about possible match-ups down the road and all that, but I'm worried about Michael Lammer right now. That's the honest truth. I want to get through that one and then just keep going. I know it's boring for you guys to hear us say that time after time, but that's the way we look at it. It's your job to dissect, and the what ifs, what happens, he said this person about that, therefore, whatever. We're just trying to win tennis matches.

ANDY RODDICK: I mean, you think about it just because you're trying to shoot for the best. Obviously, he's established himself as that in the last couple of years. Am I obsessed with it? Do I have pictures on my wall or something? No.

ANDY RODDICK: No, not even that yet (laughter). I think you have to be self-motivated enough first and foremost. You know, I'm gearing my training towards just becoming better with everyone. I'm not good enough to just worry about one guy. I have to worry about a whole lot of guys.

ANDY RODDICK: No, sorry. I want to be more aggressive as opposed to pretending to be aggressive.

ANDY RODDICK: I think it's more of a mindset, going after people, going after shots, committing to your shots a little bit more, kind of taking it to the person. I think it's more of a mindset than anything.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, there's been work on my volleying. I get asked a lot about it. People hear the term "aggression," for me for some reason they equate that with serving and volleying, doing that stuff. I think it can be incorporated more in probably transition. Serving and volleying, I don't have problems holding most times. I've led the tour in that the last four years. I think it has more to do with other areas of my game.

ANDY RODDICK: Chipping and coming in? Have you seen my chip? No. I don't know. Not just chipping. Other things.

ANDY RODDICK: If the opportunity presents itself, yeah. I'm not going to force it. But if it's there, yes, being able to do that.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I'm in favor of it. If we have the technology to eliminate mistakes, I'm not sure why it wouldn't be used. And I think from a fan's perspective, if I was watching, I'd think it was cool if you could throw something and challenge something. I think it would add a little sense of drama to it. You know, I think it would just add another dynamic to watching it on television, as well.

ANDY RODDICK: Not really. I mean, I've been pretty lucky to avoid major injuries so far. I don't know. I mean, I think that's something you kind of have to -- I don't know if you can plan in January what you're going to do come July. I think you kind of have to listen to your body a little bit. That has to be a decision that can be made along the way a little bit more.

ANDY RODDICK: To be honest, I haven't thought about Monte-Carlo. I'm thinking about Australia right now. Like I said, it's tough for me to make decisions that are going to come up in May right now.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I mean, I feel good now. I'm more prepared now than I have been in the past. But that doesn't always mean -- that doesn't always mean instant success, or translate into instant success. All you can do is kind of put yourself in position and try to give yourself every advantage. I feel like I've done that in the last couple of months. I'm really excited to get out there and start this year.