TENNIS MASTERS CUP- HOUSTON

November 20, 2004

Andy Roddick

THE MODERATOR: First question for Andy, please.

ANDY RODDICK: Wish I could. I just think it's plain and simple; I didn't play well. He took his chances, you know, when he had them. You know, it's pretty self-explanatory. I didn't step up. You know, I just feel like I, you know, Lleyton makes you play at a certain level to beat him, and I fell far short of that today.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, you have to make things happen against Lleyton to beat him. I'm not going to go out there and, you know, just sit back and make more balls than he is and run it down. That's not the way our games match up. I have to be aggressive. But, luckily, I mean -- unluckily, I didn't do that today. A lot of times I didn't even set up a point and miss a volley. Just felt like not a lot felt right today.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I'm going to look at the positives. I played three great matches. You know, I felt like I did a lot of good things in those matches, a lot of steps in the right direction. Today I just -- I didn't do -- it was pretty much the opposite. So, you know, but I'm glad I got four matches in going into the Davis Cup final, especially intense matches such as these. So I see that as a positive.

ANDY RODDICK: I definitely lost my rhythm. I can't explain it. I mean, I feel like I hit a forehand well and I missed it by four feet. I just didn't feel like the ball was doing what I wanted it to do today.

ANDY RODDICK: I just stoned them. I've been playing -- I mean, it's pretty simple. I've been hitting them great all week, you know, better than I have. And today, that's about as bad as I have volleyed. It was just bad. But, you know, I kind of have to be proud a little bit that I committed to doing it this week. It worked for me three times, it didn't work this time. But the only way to get better at it is to keep trying it.

ANDY RODDICK: I'm glad you still say that after today.

ANDY RODDICK: Where have you been the last hour and a half (laughter)? You just get here? Did the rain throw you off?

ANDY RODDICK: There you go (laughter).

ANDY RODDICK: All right then (smiling). Yeah, I'm the man. In that case, I kick ass. I'm great. I'm volleying like a machine, yes (smiling). I don't even know if I answered your question.

ANDY RODDICK: I think so. You know, I still have a long time after this game. That's definitely one of the parts I need to work on. How do shooters get better, they keep shooting. It's something I have to continue to do. You know, the level just keeps rising, getting better and better. I think I have to focus on what I can improve on. For the large part of the year, I maybe shied away from that a little bit. That's something that I, you know, I still need to work on, I still need to commit to. Even though I volleyed like a - I was just thinking a lot of bad words - today I think through the first three matches it was about as well as I had done it. So I'm going to try to look at that instead of -- I'm just going to try to remain in denial about today.

ANDY RODDICK: No, Bud (smiling).

ANDY RODDICK: There you go.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing, you know. Obviously, I've played a lot more matches than he has this year. Like I said, I think playing a lot of intense matches this week can do nothing but help our cause over there. But your guess is as good as mine. I don't know what he's been doing as far as training. I don't know. There are a lot of questions out there. But one thing is for sure; the guy knows how to play on clay, and that's not going to change. So regardless, I'm going to have to play well and I'm going to have to try to step up.

ANDY RODDICK: You know, I'd love to make a run at No. 1 again. I'd love to win a Slam. You know, like I've been saying this whole press conference, I'd like to continue to improve some things. I think there is room for improvement. So, you know, hopefully I'll be able to accomplish some of those next year.

ANDY RODDICK: He didn't lose anything. Last year, you know, I think was a bit of a fluke for him, that he didn't play that well. You don't finish No. 1 two years in a row and then suddenly forget how to play tennis; it just doesn't happen. You know, he's just a great player, you know - bottom line. It's tough to compare. I think he's every bit as good now as he was then. Talking about the guy who's been around -- I mean, he's 23 years old.

ANDY RODDICK: I mean, there's some things. I think I placed my approach shots well but maybe just didn't get enough stick on them. But, you know, it's a fine line, you know. I think if I would have volleyed better, maybe it would have put a bit more pressure on him to come up with -- get more passing shots. First set he had some great ones. Second set I feel like I missed a little more than I should have.

ANDY RODDICK: I'm leaving -- I think we're leaving next Friday. You know, I don't know. I don't do percentages. I think we have a chance. We're going to go in there and give it our best. We're really excited to be playing in our first Davis Cup final. You know, we're definitely going to be fired up when we go over there. We're very excited.

ANDY RODDICK: No, no, no. I mean, I have a responsibility to our team, and, you know, everybody here, to be ready and be ready to play. You know, I'm going to maybe take a day off, maybe two days max, and then get out there and start preparing.

ANDY RODDICK: I ain't going out there right now, if that's what you're asking (laughter).

ANDY RODDICK: No. Didn't you hear, I'm volleying like a genius (laughter). I don't need to go out there.

ANDY RODDICK: At my club in Austin.

ANDY RODDICK: Yes.

ANDY RODDICK: They're green clay, but we're getting there in plenty of time so...