AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2003

Andy Roddick

MODERATOR: Questions for Andy.

ANDY RODDICK: Tired. But I didn't cramp. I didn't have one cramp out there, and that's very, very, very satisfying for me. I did a lot of work in the off-season, and you're kind of unsure, you know, how or when it's going to pay off or if it's going to make a difference. I think it has.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, there wasn't -- you said it all in your question. I mean, I totally agree. I mean, I think my respect levels for him just grew and grew throughout the match. I'm pretty sure it's vice versa. I don't even remember ever talking to Younes before this match. But down the line, I mean, we could see each other 10 years down the line and know that we did share something pretty special.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I mean, you're not going to quit at 12-All or 13-All. You're not going to quit then. I got broken. But that being said, now I was in the same exact position as him again. He hadn't been making returns. He put a bunch of them in real quick, and good returns, too. So I didn't play a terrible game. But, you know, he stepped it up a little bit.

ANDY RODDICK: I can dream of a whole lot of stuff (laughter). But last match and this match, I mean, that's the kind of matches you have to win in a Grand Slam. You know, points are doubled when they get this far in. These are big matches. These are the ones I didn't win last year or even get to this match last year. So, yeah, it's a better feeling than going out first or second round at a Grand Slam.

ANDY RODDICK: No, no. You know, you're going to have tournaments where there's a lot of young guys deep in the tournament. You know, this tournament has, you know, proven that even the old guys, they can still play some ball. They're experienced. You know, it just goes to show what great determination someone like Younes has. He's 31 years old, he's out there for five hours, still standing at the end. It's very impressive. I don't think I'll be able to do that when I'm 31.

ANDY RODDICK: I'm sure, possibly. But not under those circumstances. You know, considering the circumstances, I'd say that's the best shot I've hit match point down.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't -- I don't think, you know, anything made a big difference. I just broke. You know, that's about it. I mean, I don't think you can say anything like I was hitting my forehand better than him or anything. I think strategy was out the door, you know, late on in that fifth set. I think it was just pure fighting.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I thought he was cramping at 12- or 13-All. I played a few points on my serve and he wasn't running real well. But then he decided he could run again, and two games later... I don't know, I thought it a couple times. I mean, he proved me wrong, I guess.

ANDY RODDICK: Wow, I didn't know that. That's pretty impressive. I mean, it's the equivalent -- what is that, the equivalent of playing eight sets or nine sets or something ridiculous like that. I'll take that ratio anytime.

ANDY RODDICK: What did he play about six hours this whole tournament?

ANDY RODDICK: That's nice. What was your original question?

ANDY RODDICK: I think so. Considering the circumstances, I mean, this is the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam. To be perfectly frank and honest, I got really lucky against Michael. I was hitting second serve aces, just tanking winners. I couldn't really move at all. But this was more about heart, I think, than that match.

ANDY RODDICK: Not really. At the end, I was impressed that he could count to 21. That was a good step for him. But, no, in all seriousness, I honestly don't remember a lot of the stuff that went on in the fifth set. You know, I think there were a couple shady calls each way.

ANDY RODDICK: No.

ANDY RODDICK: It was two days ago. But, no. Is that the longest fifth set ever?

ANDY RODDICK: That was?

ANDY RODDICK: So, no, I've never played one longer than that (smiling).

ANDY RODDICK: No, no.

ANDY RODDICK: My previous longest match was about 3:45. This was a lot more than that. I almost had to be carried off that match.

ANDY RODDICK: Any special training?

ANDY RODDICK: Like?

ANDY RODDICK: Not really. I don't think you can train for something like this tonight. You can do your best to do all the fitness. You know, I did a lot more fitness in the off-season than I did probably hitting balls. I think that was a different approach, you know, as opposed to last year I kind of enjoyed my vacation a little bit too much.

ANDY RODDICK: It was pretty cold out there. You know, they say Australia, Australia. Every night match I've played here has been freezing. But it was probably a factor, you know, good factor for both of us later on. Early on, it was tough to warm up.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, I can honestly say that coming back the other day from two and a half -- two sets and a break down did help my confidence for this match. You know, I was down two sets to one again. I was thinking, "Okay, I have done this before, and even more so, even more drastic." You know, it already kicked in a little bit.

ANDY RODDICK: This morning, yeah. I plan on sleeping sometime between now and then, eating. No, I mean, I'm obviously going to come out, probably get a couple massages tomorrow, try my best. You know, I don't want this to be the end of the tournament for me. Sera, Sera, I played five hours. That being said, I have another match to play. I'm not sure if I'll hit tomorrow. Kind of depends on how I feel. I don't know if I need more court time (smiling). But, you know, I'm going to give it my best.

ANDY RODDICK: Because the ball-boys were playing?

ANDY RODDICK: No, man, I was the one who bailed first and handed my racquet to the ball kid. I think that was a really cool moment, though. Whatever crazy number we were at, but we can still keep some humor about the game. I think that was a pretty cool moment.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I don't think so. I like the variety. There's nothing better than a fifth-set tiebreaker in New York City. But, you know, I don't know if you guys agree, but after playing in something like that, seeing something like that, I don't know if you'd get that special of a match out of a tiebreaker.