TMS - STUTTGART

November 4, 2000

Lleyton Hewitt

MODERATOR: Lleyton goes to his first Tennis Masters Series final. Questions, please.

LLEYTON HEWITT: At the start I felt that way, for sure. Towards the end, I just tried to play my game. That's what really got me back in the second set. I felt like I really took it up to him. You know, I was a bit stiff in the tiebreaker in the second set. I felt like I played a pretty good set to get back in the match. I was feeling quite confident going into the third set, if I continued playing the way it had been going. He had longer matches I think this week, doubles and everything, than I had. I was feeling pretty good.

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's been very tough. When Darren and I saw the draw first off, saw Krajicek playing a qualifier, we didn't know who the qualifier was at that stage. We all knew how important it was for the points; the Masters cup in Lisbon, as well. I think Darren and I were a little bit worried as soon as we saw the draw. It just got better and better. I'm full of confidence at the moment. I believe I can match it with anyone out there.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I've really been taking it one match at a time. I wasn't worrying about it. Obviously, I would have thought that Safin would have got through to the quarters. I really wasn't worrying about those matches. I was just taking it one match at a time. I think that's been the big bonus this week. Everyone that I've played has been really tough, and I've had to worry about getting through that match. It's turned out so far, so good.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I think my kind of game is suited pretty much to all surfaces if I'm playing well. You know, I feel confident in my return of serves on a grass court. I don't think it makes that big a difference. Obviously, I think I've had to learn how to play a more grass court game and a more clay court game sort of the last couple years. That's what Darren has been a big help, in that factor. Just coming up through the juniors, I didn't have a lot of grass and clay court preparation, it was all hard court. I never played indoors in my life. I don't find it that different really to playing on a hard court.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. I think I've always believed that I've been mentally tough, you know, even when I was in juniors. It's nice to know that your opponents think like that, though, as well. When you're going out there, you get in a tough situation, they know you're not going to give them too many cheap points. I think that's a big thing to have in my favor.

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, it's a totally different kind of stickiness or gritty court. It's strange. You can't -- I normally slide a little bit on my passing shots. You know, you go out there to slide - you probably saw today where I went to slide for a forehand with an open stance, my foot just stuck. You're sort of pulling back. That's when you're off balance. On a Rebound Ace court, it is sticky and hot, but it does give you a bit of give when you go to slide a little bit. That's why it is actually a strange surface, this one.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really. You know, it is a lot of tennis. The way that I've set my schedule is that I was going to make the finals in Lisbon. I knew that Davis Cup was going to be on clay, since Spain beat the US. I knew it was going to be the following week. There's nothing I can do about it. I feel like, you know, I'm probably a little bit different to a lot of the other guys. I don't need a hell of a lot of play on a particular surface, because I've done so well on all surfaces this year. I'll pop back on clay, after a few days, I'll hope that I'll be ready to go, come Friday. You look at Rafter, I think he's a different kettle of fish. I think he really needs to be sort of out there grinding and hitting a lot of balls. I'm sure he'd say the same thing.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah.

LLEYTON HEWITT: Not bad (laughter). Hopefully it's as good tomorrow.

LLEYTON HEWITT: No, not after her match. I spoke to her before the match, not after.

LLEYTON HEWITT: It's hard to say. A lot of guys don't play the first couple of weeks in Australia. Obviously, Agassi has been consistent here and there. He doesn't play the first couple of tournaments in Adelaide or Sydney. That's why you saw, I think -- I think the public was amazed because Santoro, myself, these guys are No. 1 in the world in the race. It also seems to pan out, I think, probably after Wimbledon a lot more. It's been working pretty well, I think, since then. I feel like I've had a very consistent year without doing something spectacular, I suppose, like winning a Grand Slam, which would be nice.

LLEYTON HEWITT: I can go for another one (laughter).

LLEYTON HEWITT: Me personally or feel that he was?

LLEYTON HEWITT: A little bit, but not too bad. I think he's played a lot more tennis this week than I have, just with the doubles, late nights, stuff like that. I felt that he was a little bit tired after he won that second set. He just didn't put as much pressure on me early in the third set as he had done throughout the whole second set.