WIMBLEDON

June 28, 2004

Andy Roddick

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

ANDY RODDICK: Oh, it's definitely there, that's for sure. I try to block it out as much as possible. But, you know, I think that's just one of the elements when Tim's playing and you're playing on Court 1.

ANDY RODDICK: Oh, I mean, it's a little bit of a distraction, but you know it's coming. I don't mind distractions as long as I can expect them. As long as I know it's there and I can kind of put my mind on -- focus on just dealing with it, it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

ANDY RODDICK: No, they were showing the score every switchover. Really didn't have to try to guess too hard.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, it's improved. It won me the last set, that's for sure. I had a couple bad service games there in the third set, and my return game got me through it, you know. I think I broke him three times that set. So I'm not sure if I would have done that, you know -- kind of base it on, you know, two years ago. It's a lot different than it was then.

ANDY RODDICK: It's just something you focus on, I think. You know, my backhand has just improved a lot. Obviously, that helps my return. I focused more on it. I mean, it's not something that, you know, I've obsessed over. I think it just, a lot of it comes with confidence as well.

ANDY RODDICK: Oh, I mean, he just does everything pretty well. But he hits shots that not a lot of other people even think of hitting. He's kind of - or at least it seems - I mean, he's kind of immune to pressure right now. You know, he just plays his game. He goes out. He makes you play every time. And, you know, mentally, he's very strong now.

ANDY RODDICK: Everything. I mean, he serves and volleys. His slice stays low. You know, he likes the ball down a little bit. So take your pick.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. That's for you to know, isn't it (smiling)?

ANDY RODDICK: It's huge. I mean, a tiebreaker is huge anywhere. I mean, let's say in any scenario, if you're playing a tiebreaker, it's extremely crucial. You know, I've never seen a tiebreaker that's not important or not serious as far as changing the match and changing momentum of a match. I mean, you can be winning the first set, you go into a tiebreaker, you win it, you're two sets to love. You're looking pretty good. If not, you're one set -- I mean, it's huge.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't practice tiebreakers. I don't think you can practice being in that situation. You know, part of a tiebreaker is just dealing with the pressure of it. I don't think that can be faked.

ANDY RODDICK: This is a much better position to be in (laughter). You know, it's weird how things work. Obviously, Sjeng and I knew we'd play each other again. But, you know, like I tried to say the other day, you know, once you get on the court, you try to forget about it. I'm sure we'll both be focused on winning a Wimbledon quarterfinal.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't think so. I think more than anything it was the shadows. You know, that big sweeping shadow across the court. All of a sudden the ball goes from light to dark real quick. It's tough to kind of make adjustments. I don't know if anybody else has had trouble with that, but I was struggling a little bit with it.

ANDY RODDICK: He seems like it. He gives that presence. I mean, obviously, you know, people have told me, you know, when I served at the Open, I had no nerves. I had freakin' nerves, man. I was... But, you know, he's playing the same points, you know. He has no sense of panic in his game, which is impressive.

ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean...

ANDY RODDICK: He was getting there real quick (smiling). I think he's come a long way as far as confidence goes. I mean, even two years ago people were asking, you know, "How is he doing in majors?" Now you guys have totally turned 180. I think he deserves props for that.

ANDY RODDICK: I served 70 percent, so that's...

ANDY RODDICK: Did I not have a double-fault?

ANDY RODDICK: All right (smiling). I didn't have a double-fault (laughter).

ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean, I think it just happens when a grass court's been played on. It gets a little brown. You know, it becomes a little bit more slippery. That's just part of it. You know, you can -- it's not solid footing like a hard court or something like that. That's part of the deal.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I don't even remember when we first met. Had to be 14, 15 years old. Just playing the junior circuit.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't understand.

ANDY RODDICK: It's a lot more fun. I'm winning (smiling). No, it's -- it hasn't changed, you know. I still -- you know, the first walk through Wimbledon every year is always pretty cool. That hasn't changed. And I don't see it changing. It would be a very sad day for me if it ever did. I don't foresee that happening.

ANDY RODDICK: Win.

ANDY RODDICK: It's great that he did well at Queen's and stuff, but, you know, I've told Ian he's got to go back to the real world now. The real world is he's, what, 5, 600 in the world. So he's had his fun on the cloud now. But as a friend, he needs to go out in futures, win consistently there and work his way up. You know, it's not going to happen easy, like picking up 40, 50 points at Queen's. This should inspire him to work harder, not just kind of sit pretty.

ANDY RODDICK: It's up there. He's just so good at -- he knows what he does well and he just sticks to it. He's very good at staying in points. He doesn't make stupid errors. He moves deceivingly well for his size. Like you said, he can do a lot with his backhand, down the line, he can angle it. It's definitely up there.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, I don't think so. I think it was pretty rowdy there in the third set - at least I felt it. If you're comparing Court 1 to Centre Court, there's no comparison. That's the cathedral in there. Obviously, I don't know if many courts compare to Centre Court, but it's a good court. You know, I don't mind playing out there at all.

ANDY RODDICK: About England? That's kind of a vague question, isn't it (laughter)? That's like... I don't know. Give me something specific. I mean, that's a pretty big -- it's a big place. I can't... Nothing's really popping to my mind first.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't know. I don't know. It's -- it's impossible to say, you know. You can't predict a feeling that's three matches away. It's tough. Ask me afterwards or if it does happen. I mean, it's...

ANDY RODDICK: The US Open was probably the most close to my heart. Obviously, it's our home Slam. It's the one I used to visit as a kid. But I'll take anything (smiling).

ANDY RODDICK: No, I did it at Queen's. Then I shaved. I don't know. It's my laziness kicking in. I don't know.

ANDY RODDICK: I don't think so. But I'm not shaving it, so I don't know.

ANDY RODDICK: No, I still have never met him.

ANDY RODDICK: Never. I mean, the only time I've ever been like really close, like in the same vicinity was as I was walking out to the court for the US Open final. I didn't think that was a good time to stop and chat.

ANDY RODDICK: I'd love to meet him, yeah, absolutely. He's the only one, you know, of the great Americans, obviously with the exception of Arthur Ashe, that I haven't met. So obviously I'd love to do that.