WESTERN AND SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP MASTERS

August 20, 2005

Robby Ginepri

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, Robby Ginepri. Questions, please.

ROBBY GINEPRI: I never really felt that it went back to his favor. I felt the match was pretty neutral after the first set. The second set we were on serve. He had some chances to break and got through some tough games. Just, yeah...

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, unfortunately I was up 40-15 in the 5-6 game, so I could have easily put it into a tiebreaker and who knows what could have happened in the breaker.

ROBBY GINEPRI: A little bit. I thought I had more momentum than he did after the rain -- I mean before the rain. After the rain came I was a little flat. But luckily he was serving that game, so I could at least get back into the match without getting my serve broke if that was the case. Happened anyways.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Really haven't thought about that. I'm just a little upset right now because it got so close. I mean, of course it's encouraging that I got so close to the No. 1 player in the world, but at the same time I hate to lose - and against anybody, it's no fun.

ROBBY GINEPRI: It was difficult. I knew that's kind of what he was going to do to me, try to bring me to the net and slice to my forehand. But I was prepared for it. It's a tough shot to handle either way.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Yeah, I usually serve out wide on the deuce court side and try to hit the backhand crosscourt, come in, look for that. If the right shot's there, I'm taking it and going for it. So it was pretty much sticking to how I usually play.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Not really. It's hard to look across the net and see any reactions from him. But he's been in so many tight matches before, and it was just a matter of holding serve. And didn't come down to me doing that in the last set.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Yeah. I haven't played him in a while, so I was ready for this match. Didn't know what to expect but I was just sticking with my game plan, playing how I usually play, and that was good enough to go three sets so... I might have to change something next time.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Yeah, the forehand approach I hit and then he hit the lob over my head was a really big point. It's a lot easier to hold at 30-Love than 15-All. He hit a good forehand inside-out, I should have done more with the shot after I hit when I ran back. And he brought me into the net on matchpoint - really not my favorite place to be. But, you know, passed me and couldn't make the volley.

ROGER FEDERER: I think he was a little uptight the first few games first set, you know. I know that he thinks I've been playing pretty well so he didn't know what to expect as well. But it was a little gusty out there, so that could have been a factor as well.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Yeah, I mean, if you lose your emotions and just get down on yourself, you're not gonna go anywhere in this game. So you got to just stay focused one point at a time and concentrate on the present and not what just happened.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Wasn't too bad. A few serves, you know, the toss would get a little drifty back and forth. But overall it was pretty average.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Not really. I was just pretty composed all day today. Nothing seemed to bother me. You know, it's a good sign for me. I've been working on that a lot lately, and I've been really pleased with my demeanor on the court and the way I've been focusing.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Just, you know, I've talked to my coach a bunch about it. And I've let too many matches slip by me with me getting upset out there and throwing my racquet and yelling on the court. It's just not worth it. You got to look at that and either fix it; or if you're going to keep doing that, you're not going anywhere, like I said.

ROBBY GINEPRI: I mean, it's anybody's match out there when you're that close. I'm not saying I should have, but I felt I needed to get into the tiebreak in the third set. I didn't feel I was going to break him because I wasn't winning too many first points on his serve or any points in the game. But, you know, I thought I was playing good enough to win the match; I don't know if I should have.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Made that backhand volley.

ROBBY GINEPRI: I'm going to go home for a few days, relax, and get up to New York next week.

ROBBY GINEPRI: No, I'll look at this tournament and be extremely pleased. You know, for me, it's upsetting a couple hours after the match. I'll get over it and realize what a great week I've had. So I'm not going to beat myself up.

ROBBY GINEPRI: It is. He's got so much variety and it's so tough to read it. He spins it, kicks it, hits it flat, he mixes it up. He throws you off all the time. You've got to be ready for anything.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Just that I compete -- you know, if I compete 100%, good things are going to happen.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Yeah, leading up to the summer, with Indianapolis, I thought I played pretty well there. This tournament I've been playing really consistent, and that's been the big difference. I know I still have some things to work on in my game and I know I can play better as well, but at the same time I'm really happy with the way I played.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Definitely I need to work on the volleys. I've been struggling with that since I've -- pretty much all my life. I've been more of a ground stroke guy. But I've been working on coming into the net. And serve can always get better.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Not really. I just want to take one match at a time, day at a time, and keep getting better. That's the main goal.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Yeah, I'd like to get Top 20 at the end of the year, but setting no expectations for it. If I'm working hard and playing hard, I think good things will happen and I'll be where I want to be at the end of the year.

ROBBY GINEPRI: Not really. The forehand I sprayed wide, and the 5-6 game was a little nervous. But besides that I wasn't too bad.

ROBBY GINEPRI: It is. I've been playing within myself, is what my coach has been saying. The whole time I've had this in me, but I just couldn't find it. Now I'm letting myself make more shots and waiting for the right ball to go for if it's there.