US OPEN

September 9, 2004

Joachim Johansson

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, I lost first round last year on the same court. I mean, beating Roddick on the same court this year in the quarterfinal is huge for me.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Good question. I've been in Australia since '99. I've been there every year.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, the last two years I've spent Christmas in Adelaide.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Good question. We practice that was one and a half year ago, we practiced for two, three weeks. And the same last year. Then we've been hitting at few other tournaments. I can't say how many times, but a few months total.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We do everything you normally do when you practice. You hit sometimes, you play games sometimes.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We'll see tomorrow (laughter).

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I don't think that's going to happen, though (smiling).

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, I learned a lot of things. I mean, he's a great player. He gives 100 percent every point. For me, I developed my game when I practice with him because I get so many balls back. So I have to work the ball a little more. It's been good for me.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We'll see tomorrow when I speak to them.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yes, just a little bit. Briefly on the phone.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I didn't ask her about that, actually (laughter).

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I don't know. She said before if that would happen, she would sit in the Octagon box. But I don't think she's going to sit in any of our boxes. In the Octagon box, they have a suite up there.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Actually, I don't know. But I think I got a very bad start in both third and fourth set. I think that held me off a little bit. I was maybe concentrating little bit more on the next set. It was tough to break him. I think I started to play a bit better in the fifth. So it was good.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I played well on these points and then I think I played well on the 50 break points he had. I think someone told me he won like 150 points and I won like 120 points. That means I won the right points. I don't know how, but it was very good for me.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I think I played very well in San Jose from the baseline. I think I was dictating points even a little bit more than I did today. Unfortunately, he did 27 aces. It was tough. I had one set point and I wasn't even close to break him. But today I think I stepped back a little bit and I got a few more returns back. But, I mean, it's so tough every time we played him. We both have big serves, it's going to be tough matches.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, you can't say you got confidence if you have 4-Love down, but it's been close matches and that gives me confidence. I know I can beat him, and that's what happened today.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, first quarterfinal. I mean, I won Memphis this year. That was very big for me. I think this could even be bigger for me.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: My girlfriend.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, my dad is in Scotland playing golf. I was actually supposed to be with him maybe from today. I bought him a birthday present for him and my uncle. We were supposed to play golf this week, but I have to change my plans.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No. With the rest of the family.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Not Lleyton, no.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No. After his match.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We spoke like we normally do. We're good friends and hopefully we're going to be good friends after Saturday.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, it's little bit strange. But, I mean, for me, I guess it feels good for me because it's my first semifinal and I know the guy I'm playing on Saturday. I mean, I think that makes it a little bit easier for me but little bit awkward for him. I feel I can take advantage of that.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, because I thought I would lose before that.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, it wasn't lack of confidence it was just the only time I could go on a golf vacation with my family. Then I said if I can't go, it would be good anyway, so...

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: The ones I remember is actually Edberg, because in Sweden they don't show that much tennis. They showed Wimbledon a lot, so that's what I been watching. And, I mean, Bjorn Borg is from the same city as me, so I watched some tapes from him, but I didn't actually see him live.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah. My dad used to play Davis Cup with him, so I've been practicing with him when I was 13, 14, 15 years old.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: If I would practice a little bit, maybe. But I can't putt, so that's tough.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: At the Memorial Drive. (Inaudible). They got a court over there. But I have been practicing on center court on Memorial Drive.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, on the hard court.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, I guess it's gonna be both actually because we know each other's game a lot, so it's tough to say, actually.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I'm sure I will have, but I haven't been thinking about that yet.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, I knew it was possible but, I mean, a tough task. I had Ferrero in my half, and then I had Andy Roddick. But everything's possible. It's very close when you play matches, and it's just a few points here and there.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I think I do everything a little bit better. I think I move better on the court. I serve more consistent, even though I haven't served that good this tournament. I think even though I'm not serving that good, I still have a pretty high level. I start to return better, I get more balls back. I think I'm just more consistent than I used to be.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah, I mean, it helps if you get a lot of free points.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Well, I'm not sure if he's the best return of my serve, but he's one of the best returners around, so probably. We'll see.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, it was a few guys cheering for me, actually. Wasn't that many, but I think it's good when it's a good atmosphere out there. Obviously, they got to cheer for someone, and in this case it was Andy Roddick. I think it's just great fun. After the match has been -- I haven't been thinking too much, actually. There's been so much going on since I won, so we'll see after.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: There's been messaging coming.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I'm normally called "Pim Pim." That's my nickname.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: "Pim Pim."

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, he's more consistent than me.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I'm not sure. I stopped counting after a few holes.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Which matches, sorry?

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I mean, he's helping him. But if I ask him to feed me some balls, he will do that. I mean, especially if I come before Christmas, my coach is not there. But, I mean, after Christmas this year the ex-coach I had, he was there. So, I mean, it works out fine.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: I mean, it depends also how the weather is. Hopefully it's not going to be that windy. I mean, obviously, if it was like when he was playing today, it's going to be very tough to beat him. I mean, I got to serve well and, I mean, I've got to keep the ball on the court and try to dictate points against him.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: It's going to be tough. You had a few chances today, but not many (laughter).

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Hopefully I'm going to play better in the semifinal.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah. I had doubles in Davis Cup, actually. I guess you don't count that.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: Yeah. We lost final in the French Open doubles, Junior.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, we lost.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: We know each other pretty well in Junior. But then he took the step much earlier than I did, so we didn't see each other for a few years. We speak to each other when we see each other.

JOACHIM JOHANSSON: No, I mean, I was injured 2001 for 11 months in my wrist. I still wanted to play. So since then I haven't had any doubts and I didn't even then.