US OPEN

August 31, 2003

Andy Roddick

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Andy.

ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, I'd like to think it was a little bit of a combo. I don't think Flavio played his best tennis today. But I played pretty solid throughout the match, so that was okay.

ANDY RODDICK: Actually, I didn't serve that high of a percentage today. I don't know if it got above 50. It was down in the 40s for a lot of the day. I was hitting my spots when I was making it. That was good.

ANDY RODDICK: A little bit. It's kind of tough not to glance. You kind of wonder how you're doing. I don't think it has any purposeful use when you're actually out there. I don't know if it helps or not. My curiosity gets the better of me, I guess (smiling).

ANDY RODDICK: I enjoyed it. When he went and sat down and told people to take his picture, that was funny. I gave him a little clap for that. He probably wasn't feeling too good about his game just then. At least he was showing people that, you know, it's okay, it wasn't the end of the world.

ANDY RODDICK: I was surprised because I didn't realize it was on his mind. You know, but that's about it. I mean, I was surprised, you know, but I didn't really know what to say.

ANDY RODDICK: Oh, completely. I talked to him a little while after my press conference, and maybe kind of wanted to get it straight from the source, straight from his mouth, see what he had to say. So we had a very professional talk. It's over, it's done.

ANDY RODDICK: No, I can remember that. I've done it plenty.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I think that's obvious. But I don't think you ever forget about losing. I mean, you know, you try to keep it away as long as possible. But, you know, that's part of professional sports, is losing. I just hope it doesn't happen soon.

ANDY RODDICK: The French was pretty disappointing because I don't feel like I played really well. You know, I let myself down. I flipped out in my head. There wasn't a whole lot of positives I could take away from that.

ANDY RODDICK: Xavier and I have played I think seven times now. You know, he's very talented. He's very fast, very natural with his strokes. He's always tough to play. Dmitry is pretty explosive. I've known about him for many years now. I always thought he would have achieved more by this point because I think he's a very good player.

ANDY RODDICK: There was no need. There was no need for it. I've been playing like that for the last three months. Just so happened that the other night I really needed it. I didn't feel totally in control. That was something -- I didn't really promote it that much the other night either, I don't think. You know, that's the way I've been doing things.

ANDY RODDICK: Sorry?

ANDY RODDICK: No. I haven't talked to Nicolas about what happened.

ANDY RODDICK: Doesn't matter. I am where I am. You know, who knows what the case would be. You know, I feel fortunate that a lot of the tournaments are in the US. But last I checked, I've gotten to two semifinals in foreign countries this year, and Grand Slams. I don't know how relevant that is.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, I love the fans, obviously. But they're a little exuberant, which is great. But it's just a matter of, you know, I love signing autographs afterwards. But when I'm going to the court and actually practicing, it's business. Kind of afterwards, I like to interact with the fans a little bit more. But when I'm going there, I have practice on my mind.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. I came here for my ninth birthday in '92. I was pumped. I was just running around everywhere. I remember I snuck into the players lounge. There was tons of tennis going on, but I was having too much fun just watching people go by. I just kind of sat there.

ANDY RODDICK: Eventually, yeah. I don't think anybody's going to bother a nine-year-old kid. I was smart enough not to go and ask for autographs and pictures. I was kind of sitting in the corner, watching people go by. Thought it was pretty cool.

ANDY RODDICK: It's going to be fun to watch because their styles are so contrasting. Obviously, Taylor doesn't have anything to lose. It's going to be huge serve going up against great returns. You know, who knows. It's going to be fun to watch, though.

ANDY RODDICK: I thought I was pretty solid all around. Maybe frustrated him that I was, you know -- I wasn't afraid to play long rallies, you know, keep the ball on the court and make him work for his points. And I thought I returned pretty well.

ANDY RODDICK: Obviously, it's been a big help for me. But I don't know. I don't think it's my place to call if it's been too much attention or whatnot. That's not really me.

ANDY RODDICK: I saw my friends, my family yesterday in the evening. But, you know, it lasted about an hour. It wasn't too big of a deal. I wanted to kind of forget that it was my birthday.

ANDY RODDICK: No, no. That's afterwards. I got to make up for it afterwards.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah. It's not an issue. It was more precautionary the other night. I could feel it maybe tightening up a little bit. It wasn't even to the point where it was painful. But I just kind of wanted to take care of it in case it turned into something more.

ANDY RODDICK: No, zero.

ANDY RODDICK: In selling the game?

ANDY RODDICK: It's not my job to sell the game. But if I can help in any way to promote the game, then obviously I'm for that.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, for sure. Obviously, I've been given this amazing life due to tennis. You know, I think it's a no brainer to try to help the game and promote it and make it bigger and better.

ANDY RODDICK: Yes. I mean, I came a bunch also because my brother played in '93 and '94 also in the Juniors. I was up here. I want to say I watched Connors and Klausic (ph). I watched Courier's match. I watched Seles. I was on grandstand all day I remember. One of the matches I remember watching from start to finish. I'm not sure if it was '93 or '94, but it was Sampras and Yzaga. I was getting mad because the Americans weren't getting behind him sufficient. 11-year-old boy wasn't doing it.

ANDY RODDICK: I saw everybody. I mean, I was there for 28 hours that day. Who didn't I see?

ANDY RODDICK: Very carefully.

ANDY RODDICK: Huh-uh. Then they'll have a bunch of kids up there (laughter).

ANDY RODDICK: I think I do. But who knows what's said when people aren't around. I mean, that was one of my main issues. I said, "If it's an issue between me and you, we'll keep it that way and we can discuss it between me and you." He understood a little bit. You know, it's over now. It's all good.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I mean, how many European soccer or football games have you watched? You know, I think there are arguments both ways. You can argue something any way you want. You know, I don't know. It's over.