TMS - MADRID

October 16, 2003

Andy Roddick

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Andy.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, absolutely. He played a great match. You know, I played a bad game at 5-3 to let him back into it. But then from then on, he just played really good tennis. On the first set tiebreaker, I played pretty well up to 4-3. A couple of points I thought I had him, and he came up with shots that were too good.

ANDY RODDICK: He returned well. You know, I don't know what my first serve percentage was, but it had to be in the 40s or so. I was giving him looks at a lot of serves, so that made it a lot easier on him. I think that's the one thing I didn't do that well today, was serve. Besides that, I played okay.

ANDY RODDICK: Not really, not really. I was out there, was competing. You know, I just didn't have my best stuff today. He stepped up and he played really well. There's not much I can do. He didn't let me back in. He played a good match. I was very impressed with him. He played well.

ANDY RODDICK: The last I heard, the last report I got last night was that they had split sets. Then I woke up this morning, and my coach told me that I was pretty close, maybe a couple inches (laughter). But you know, it would have been nice, but it's not something that I can worry about too much. I kind of just have to try to take care of what's in front of me.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, absolutely. He's won Masters Series titles. He won a Grand Slam this year. He played well on the hard courts, at the US Open. For sure. I think whoever finishes No. 1 between myself, Roger, and Ferrero, definitely deserves it.

ANDY RODDICK: If he doesn't reach the semifinals?

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. Like I said, I don't follow it that closely down to the points. It would be better if I had won a big match to get it or something like that. But, you know, I'm worried about the end of the year because there's going to be, you know, tons of these scenarios for the next three tournaments, if this guy wins, this guy loses, this guy... I'll leave that to you guys. I'm not that smart to figure all that stuff out.

ANDY RODDICK: I'm excited for it. You know, I think it's luck of the draw that the first time I'm participating in it, it's the first time it's been in the States since I think '89. So obviously I feel pretty lucky. It's in Houston, which is one of my favorite events. So I'm definitely looking forward to it.

ANDY RODDICK: You know, I'd like to think so. But, you know, the way it is with tennis players, you want to put on your game face. You don't want someone thinking that they're playing really well. They wouldn't show me even if they did. I feel a little bit better since then, but I'm not sure (smiling). That's something you'd have to ask somebody else.

ANDY RODDICK: What are you asking?

ANDY RODDICK: Obviously, I mean, the home team I think always has a little bit of an advantage. Australia picked a surface that they thought would be the best for them. But, you know, Davis Cup is very equalizing. Even though grass isn't Spain's favorite surface, I don't think it was France's favorite surface either two years ago when they upset Australia. Who knows. Davis Cup, it's different than anything else as far as tennis goes. You know, I'll have fun watching it.