WIMBLEDON

June 25, 2005

Andy Roddick

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please, for Andy Roddick.

ANDY RODDICK: I have many emotional problems, but they weren't caused by having to go on the court three days in a row. No, I mean, it was fine. You kind of expect that from Wimbledon. You know, last year I had to play the semis over a couple days and, you know, there's a lot of waiting around. I think you just kind of have to expect that here at Wimbledon.

ANDY RODDICK: What will I do on my day off? Not do press conferences.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. Probably just come out, have a light hit early and try to find something to fill my time for the rest of the day. I don't know.

ANDY RODDICK: It was nice. I mean, I felt like I hit the ball -- that's as well as I've hit the ball so far this tournament. And it was nice to get someone where I had some rallies and was able to kind of find some rhythm, you know, close it out in three. That was big for me, as well. All in all, I'm happy. It's always good to get to the second week. You know, mission accomplished for the first week. Now it's time to get down to business.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, you know, with all due respect, I've put myself in position to do well a couple of times. I think, you know, like I said yesterday, having the option of doing something else, coming to net a little more if need be and consistent returning. I think those are the two things that will be key for me. You know, those are probably more specific to Wimbledon, but, you know, I always look to put a lot of first serves in. I feel like that puts pressure on people.

ANDY RODDICK: I'm still alive. That's the goal. But I feel good. You know, I think I've won, you know, couple matches in a row now dating back to Queen's, and I feel pretty good on the grass. You know, I feel good going into the second week.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know if I'm good enough to time it out like that and decide when I'm going to play good. I kind of try to play as well as I can all the time. Easier said than done. But it's definitely, you know, always a big relief to kind of get through the first couple of rounds. You know, be alive come the second week. You know, that's where the big matches start happening. You know, a lot of it is about survival.

ANDY RODDICK: The thing that impresses me most about him, is that a lot of Juniors when they come in, they try to play too well, and he's out there playing his game. He's not going for too much. He's playing well within himself and he's competing. You know, you see a lot of these kids come in and try to just, you know, win, win every point with a winner or, you know, go for spectacular shots because they feel they have to. He's basically saying, "Here's the meat and potatoes of my game; you try to find a way to beat me." It's a pretty mature outlook for someone so young.

ANDY RODDICK: This is the first ever year where I felt old. I'm giving advice. Jesus. You know how scary that thought is?

ANDY RODDICK: What does she have to say about it? I mean, what was her response (smiling)? She get on her phone and like call someone (laughing)?

ANDY RODDICK: I think in women's tennis it's not as surprising to see someone young do so well, you know. You don't see a lot of 17-, 18-year-old kids play well right away on the men's tour - maybe two or three out there. I don't know. I feel like he doesn't really need any advice. He's out there competing. Maybe just there are going to be a lot of people trying to get at him now and just make good decisions and keep the right people around you, people you trust. As far as on court, he's just fine.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, he had a tape around his stomach.

ANDY RODDICK: I'm guessing it was his stomach.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. But, I mean, that's either -- you know, who knows. Maybe he was just being tough and not being dramatic about it. I didn't notice anything before or after. I didn't notice a different from before and then after. You know, maybe that's a question that he could answer better than I could. I'm not sure. It surprised me when he called for the trainer.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I mean, I think -- I mean, I watched his match today before I went on. You know, but I'm not calling him at home or anything. But I was -- I watch him. I think -- I don't know if I so much zone in on him. I think you just kind of know what's going on in the tournament. If his matches are on, I definitely watch, for sure.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. You know, I'm not the one --

ANDY RODDICK: On both of them. I'm not the one making those decisions. It was a little weird this year to have such a kind of a thing going on with seeding, and I have no control over it.

ANDY RODDICK: I was the first one to say that, you know, either way, probably each of us had an argument. I was actually surprised I was seeded 2. I'm not sure. I think it's proven over and over that grass is the most extreme surface. I mean, you see 3 and 4 seeds go out. You know, so it's pretty much the way it's always been done. I think it's a good system because there's so few tournaments on grass. The players who really know how to play on it really comfortable have an extreme advantage. If we had a three-month grass court season like the clay court season, then maybe it would be a little different. But I don't know.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, it is a Slam final that I lost. But I don't know, you know. Who knows? I mean, I'm kind of playing this year for this year. It's not the same tournament to me. I think it's always good if you've experienced something before, you know, if you get back in that situation, it's not a total surprise for you; you know what to expect a little bit more. But I won't be able to answer that until, you know, the tournament's done.

ANDY RODDICK: Uhm, I'm happy to get through the first week. I don't know how to do comparisons on year-to-year basis. I kind of play every tournament for itself. But it's big to get through, you know. Kind of -- the match yesterday I felt was big for me. That really felt good to get through that one because, as you know, I'd struggled a little bit in the five-setters. You know, that was kind of a big stage for me to start turning it around. You know, so I feel relieved and I feel good going into the second week.

ANDY RODDICK: My mom told me I look like shit - I mean bad-ly. I don't know. She didn't say that. Just, just decided it was gonna go. No real superstition.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, I've actually played really good tennis against him in the past. Four times. I don't know. But I played some really good matches against him and they've been pretty comfortable wins - but I don't expect that again. I mean, I played a really high level against him every time I played him. So hopefully I could do that again, but we'll see.

ANDY RODDICK: Bud, are you feeling the pressure? What does it feel like? How are you coping with being the only journalist to wear a shirt like that?

ANDY RODDICK: No, I was pretty relieved right away, as you could probably tell from my reaction. I was probably a lot more emotional out there than I would be normally in the second round of a Grand Slam. I mean, the biggest thing is I'm still alive in Wimbledon with a shot. Had I had to go home yesterday, I wouldn't be very happy. You know, there's a big difference between, you know, being on a flight home right now and being here talking to you guys after a win. So it's a big relief, but, you know, that's in the past now. You kind of have to look forward.