TENNIS MASTERS CUP- HOUSTON

November 19, 2004

Andy Roddick

THE MODERATOR: Andy had 15 aces today, putting him over 1,000 for the first time in his career, with 1,008 for the season. He's the first player to do that since Goran Ivanisevic in 1998, and only the third player to do it since the ATP began keeping aces in '91. Questions for Andy.

ANDY RODDICK: In order to answer that, I'm going to need to know what "coup de grace" means (laughter).

ANDY RODDICK: That was close (smiling). At 5-0 I had a matchpoint, actually had a pretty good look at a forehand and missed it, but just by a little bit. That's the reason why you fight so hard to get a second break in a set, is just in case something doesn't go your way. You know, luckily, you know, I'd given myself a little bit of insurance by getting that second break in the second set, so it wasn't as crucial. But I'm just happy to get through.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, absolutely. They're both runners, they both make you work for every point. They both pass really well. So there's some definite similarities there. So I think playing a match against Guillermo today was good for me. You know, that being said, I think Lleyton is serving a lot better right now, so that's probably where there will be a little bit of a difference.

ANDY RODDICK: Do I have to pick one?

ANDY RODDICK: I have to pick one? I don't know, it's tough. Obviously, my roots are Nebraska. That's where I was born. I don't remember much about it. Then I, you know, kind of grew up in Texas and went to high school in Florida, so it's tough to choose one. That's like asking you to choose your mom or your dad, you know. They both mean a lot, you know...

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, right. I don't know if I'm PC enough (smiling).

ANDY RODDICK: American, yeah.

ANDY RODDICK: Any time I'm playing for $120,000 and there's no meaning involved, that's when you know I've lost it (laughing). No, I'm just playing. It's a little bit weird. I didn't know what Guillermo was going to bring to the table today. Obviously, you know, it is a little bit weird. But that being said, we are here at Masters. Therefore, it definitely adds something to the match. But, you know, there was definitely a little bit of a different feeling than there had been the previous two matches.

ANDY RODDICK: No, I think it's great. I think it's great for fans knowing, you know, going to the tournament they're going to see their favorite player three times. You're going to see the best versus the best. They see regular tournaments all year long, so I think this is a great format for a year-end championship. Obviously, it does go to knockout. So, you know, it's not like it's one or the other. I think it's a good mix.

ANDY RODDICK: I just fell asleep (laughter).

ANDY RODDICK: Actually, we were in the middle of a poker game before the match started, so I had to take BG out before I came here, and that took a little longer than I expected. But got the job done.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, if I played the point exactly how I wanted to and someone just comes up with something better, just kudos. I'm not going to get upset about something that was just too good. You know, unfortunately, that happens a little bit more in a week like this, when you're playing against the top players, than it normally would.

ANDY RODDICK: Oh, yeah. Definitely. He definitely hasn't regressed at all. You know, I think I've improved, I think Marat's, you know, more there week in and week out, and obviously now Roger has set the bar at a very high level.

ANDY RODDICK: I feel good. You know, I feel like I'm going to take a lot of positives out of the first three matches. While I haven't lost a set, I've won a couple of close ones and a lot of tiebreakers. So I don't think it was totally dominant, but, you know, I feel like I was winning the big points, and that shows a lot about the way you're competing and the way -- I feel like I was playing pretty aggressively through the first three matches and really taking it to the other guys on the big points. Maybe that's why I came up on the good side of them.

ANDY RODDICK: I think so. You know, I think, well, the primary difference between us is that Tim is a natural volleyer, I'm not. But I think it's important to, you know, have the other option and, almost more importantly, make the other person think about that option as well. You know, so that's something that I've really tried to focus on, you know, since the US Open. I've really tried working on it. I feel like it's been showing a little bit this week. Hopefully, I'll be able to build on it.

ANDY RODDICK: I was hiding behind the racquet? No, I just missed it. Unfortunately, that 70-mile-an-hour, had to move from here to here, four feet this way in about three-quarters of a second. No, I wouldn't do that. That's for sure.

ANDY RODDICK: No. I've been -- I've led or been in the lead of service games held the last three years, so I don't think that's so much the problem. I think it's more of a matchup thing. If I'm playing against someone where it would benefit me to at least have that option, then I think I can do it. I think it's more about possessing the ability to do it and having the confidence to do it rather than switching to it all the time. I don't think of it as being that difficult a decision.

ANDY RODDICK: Absolutely. I think, like you said, we're both pretty intense out there. I'm going to be taking big blows and he's going to be taking them and throwing them back at me. So, you know, it's probably, you know, I would imagine it would be a pretty fun match to watch from a fan's perspective. While we're similar in some ways, we're totally different in other ways. I think it makes for a good matchup.

ANDY RODDICK: I didn't see you back there for the beginning. I was wondering where you were going to be (laughing).

ANDY RODDICK: Oh, does it?

ANDY RODDICK: If he wins the tournament, okay. That shows you how much I was concerned with it. I said coming in it's not about -- Lleyton and I have both been the No. 1 before. So, you know, I think we'd both like to be there instead. But, you know, I'm happy that I'm coming here, I'm playing good tennis. Whatever happens, I'm going to end the year on a pretty high note. I think that's more important than the No. 2 ranking. I'm not going to go count points and come up with the scenarios and stuff. I'm just going to go out and try to win a tennis match. Wherever I end up at the end of the day, it will be all right.