AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 23, 2004

Andy Roddick

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

ANDY RODDICK: I would have checked their temperature immediately. Yeah, I felt like I was -- last two days in practice we really have been working on my returns. I guess it showed tonight. I returned better than I thought I would. That coupled with him having an off serving night, I guess it counted for that.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, absolutely. You know, people aren't very understanding that, you know, you can have an off day. You know, I think the crowd was giving it to him a little bit. That's the nature of sports. But, you know, at the same time when you're out there and you're frustrated with yourself and you're still trying your hardest, it's still pretty annoying.

ANDY RODDICK: I mean, it just depends. I mean, obviously, winning tournaments is a better feeling. But as far as -- you know, I was super happy with the way I returned tonight. I don't know if I've returned that well in a match before. I was coming in expecting just a huge battle, and, you know, it's always nice when things go your way.

ANDY RODDICK: Not really. I was toying around with my returns the last couple days and figured some stuff out. So, you know, not really. I was just seeing the ball, you know, very clearly tonight. When he would serve 205, I was reacting well and I was on it. Even the last couple of matches when they have been serving 180, I've kind of been lunging. I think I was just feeling it tonight.

ANDY RODDICK: No, because, I mean, the thing is, you know, you're so paranoid that, okay -- at least the way my mind works, you're up a break in the third, he breaks back, you're on serve, it's a battle again. So I was busy trying to focus on my match. I just heard, you know, when people were calling out and stuff, giving cat-calls and stuff. I kind of felt a little bit. But, you know, I was out there trying to play my match. I really wasn't too worried about him.

ANDY RODDICK: Exactly. I just wanted to kind of stay on as opposed to, you know, letting it go, then having it be a struggle. I wanted it to go as smooth as possible down the stretch.

ANDY RODDICK: No, not at all. You know, I'm not -- I can't do that during matches. I'm too focused on a game plan, I think. You know, when you're out there, that's what practice is for. You have to focus on the match at hand when you're out there.

ANDY RODDICK: Chalk and cheese!

ANDY RODDICK: Obviously, there's gonna be a lot more rallies. I don't know if they could be any different. I don't know if they could be any more different, you know. Sjeng, you know, I played him a couple times last summer. I played pretty well against him. He's the kind of guy where you can't really have an off day or he's going to make your life miserable. He's solid off both wings, returns serve pretty well and moves well for how big he is. I definitely have to be very concentrated.

ANDY RODDICK: Not really. There's a lot of tennis to be played before that. You know, obviously, I would jump at the opportunity. I'd be super excited. But I have a long way to go to get there. So I'll worry about that if it comes.

ANDY RODDICK: Yes and no. Even though Taylor and I are similar with our big serves, that's pretty much where it ends. I had to temper back just going for broke from the baseline. He's a different kind of attacking. He's almost controlled attacking, like slicing and coming in as opposed to going for baseline winners. I really wouldn't be the best person to tell him how to play because I have no idea how to play that kind of game.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, absolutely. Pete tuned me up pretty good at the Open a few years ago. You know, I think I've been there before a little bit.

ANDY RODDICK: No, the same as I've always worn. Just some lady wanted to call me sparkly for the night so... I mean, same ones I've been wearing, you know, since last summer.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't really treat it as any different than a regular point. Obviously, if you can make a first serve, that's half the battle. But, you know, I try not to get too psyched out from it. I think if I play a good service point, the majority of the time I will win it. I try not to, you know, change my mindset too much.

ANDY RODDICK: What was I doing? I was probably sleeping. I was at the hotel during his match. So, you know, yeah, it wasn't on TV. I couldn't come out here. I wasn't going to come out here and watch it. I think we've played each other enough that there shouldn't be too many surprises.

ANDY RODDICK: Yes and no. I think you're always trying to win as easily as possible. Not like last year, I decided to go for, "Okay, let's go for 21-19. That should be fun. People will talk about that." No. I think I'm just a better player than I was last year when I came here. I'm not consciously thinking of, you know, playing quick matches or anything like that.

ANDY RODDICK: I've improved a little bit in most aspects but a lot of it's just learning. A lot of it has to do with between the ears, not getting, you know, overly excited during matches or, you know, focusing at the task at hand. I mean, obviously physically there are some things I've done better but a lot of it is between the ears, I think.

ANDY RODDICK: I'm going to see if you can figure that one out.