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Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Kooyong Classic Press Conference
By Kooyong Classic Official Site
Transcript of press conference
[Welcoming remarks and introduction of players]
HOST: Would you please welcome the field for this year's classic: Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Tim Henman, Andre Agassi, David Nalbandian, Gaston Gaudio and Nicolas Massu.
HOST: You will notice, unfortunately, that the seat nearest my left is vacant; Paradorn Srichaphan cannot be with us this morning, he is currently in transit from Chanai where he was a finalist losing to Carlos Moya in three sets.
Roger, I might start with you. You started 2005 with a bang again winning Dohar at the Qatar Open, which was your 14th final win in succession dating back since 2003 and you've also got a streak of 21 consecutive matches going.
TH: Do you think we need to be told that?
HOST: In fact, won 24 earlier in 2004. Do you follow these sort of statistics? Are you aware of them?
RF: I am aware of them because I get reminded all the time. It's nice to have them but it's not the most important.
HOST: Andre, you have been quoted as saying that Roger makes it look easy. Has he set the bar higher than ever before in the last 12 months?
AA: Yeah, how do you not? To finish number one and the way he did it is an incredible effort but it's also sort of now become the standard that everybody is trying to push for and I'm always thankful for those that make us better and Roger definitely does that.
HOST: Is that part of the reason you changed your routine heading into this year's event; you've come out here a little bit earlier?
AA: Yeah, I don't want to sort of change the formula I've had over the years but with that being said, getting down here a little earlier was something I was anxious to do, trained hard, but it's not until you get to the court that you start putting everything together and I was a little excited to do that. Plus with two kids, it's leave early and take your time and give yourself a few extra days.
HOST: Gaston, a wonderful 2004 for you, breaking into the top 10 for the first time, winning your first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros. What are you expecting of yourself in 2005?
GG: I hope to be top 10 and finish top 10 this year and I'm happy about that and if I can stay like this would be great.
HOST: Nicolas, like Gaston, your first time here at Kooyong. I believe you've had surgery recently; is that correct?
NM: Yeah, two months ago.
HOST: What did you have done?
NM: A hernia I have in my leg.
HOST: And we're hoping that hasn't affected your preparation at all.
NM: I tried to practice the last three weeks and this is my first tournament, I'm very happy to play with the best tennis players in the world.
HOST: You achieved a very unique double at the Athens Olympics in 2004: gold in both the singles and doubles. Where does Olympic gold fit into the picture in comparison to the grand slam events?
NM: I think it's different but it's also important to win the Olympic Games and I'm very happy for that.
HOST: David, a fantastic effort to maintain a top 10 ranking despite missing four months with injury in 2004. How is the body holding up?
DN: I hope better. It was a very tough year for me and I didn't play many tournaments so I practised very, very in December and I think I'm very fit now.
HOST: Of course, fond memories for you, a great win here last year before a quarter final appearance at the Australian Open so it's a great stepping stone for the top players, isn't it?
DN: Yes, it was incredible, the best players were playing here and I think I played very good and this year I think with more players - Tim, Gaston, Nicholas - I think it's going to be very interesting.
HOST: Tim, no titles for you in 2004 but still a very strong year, particularly at Grand Slam level. Semi finals at both the French and US Opens, quarter final at Wimbledon, Third Round at the Australian Open. How do you feel heading into this year's Open?
TH: I'm looking forward to it and I'm not getting any younger but it's an inspiration to watch the man on my left because he's fortunately a few years ahead of me but still playing some phenomenal tennis so I think last year was my most successful year and I'm looking forward to improving on that this year.
HOST: Andy, Lleyton Hewitt has been very critical of the Open organisers, claiming that the courts are too slow at the Australian Open, favouring international visitors. How do you feel about that?
AR: Yeah, I feel like I played well last year and pretty excited to be back. I've hit on them and I like them so I guess you have to ask Lleyton that question.
HOST: I was interested to hear him say that the United States tennis officials consult you guys leading up to the US Open; is that in fact correct, how much input do you have into the courts there?
AR: I've never been asked about the court surface at the US Open in my life. Maybe ... or something, I don't know.
HOST: I think that puts that to bed pretty quickly. Ladies and gentlemen, we will now take some questions from the floor.
Q: Roger, yesterday Hewitt said that one of your main obstacles at the Australian Open might be the ongoing expectation for you to succeed. I'm wondering if that's an issue for you?
RF: It might be, but I prefer to be playing well and coming into the Australian Open with a great season of 2004 and a good start to 2005 so I'm very happy with that, I feel good. I think it's going to need a good player to beat me at the Aussie Open but only time will tell if he is right or wrong.
Q: Andre, a question about the Open. Whenever you win, you always talk about the crowds and the atmosphere. Is there something distinctive about the Australian Open that is different to the other tournaments?
AA: Well, I would talk about it when I lose but I don't get a chance to afterwards but I think every tournament has its environment that is very unique and special to itself and the sporting fans here in Melbourne are some of the greatest sports fans in the world, they're not just an educated group of tennis fans, they're also very passionate and brings out the best in so many players and I've had the benefit of being able to compete here for the last 10 years and regret that I didn't get a chance to understand that the first 10 years.
Q: Does it actually lift you when you are actually playing in the final?
AA: I think it does, yeah, it helps all the players. This is what we do and when people care about what you do it even makes it even more special so it's a great environment to play.
Q: Roger, how will Tony Roach be involved with you for this Australian summer?
RF: Well, he's going to be here playing the senior mixed doubles, the second week, so hopefully I get to see him. He is coming this Saturday so we will be talking to each other and I don't really have a plan, how we are going to start this whole thing but he's only going to be around me just a few weeks this year and I was very happy to hear that. I don't know how it's going to be really.
Q: What was your reasoning behind that, talk a little bit about the reasons you specifically wanted Tony and what is it that you hope he can provide on a limited basis?
RF: I thought about having a coach for a long time but I really wanted to take my time and I knew that Tony is not going to do 30 or 40 weeks with me, he gave me just a few here and that's fine for me so we will spend time on the practice courts and maybe preparation weeks but it's not going to do many of the tournament weeks, which is fine for me, and I hope it can just improve my game just a little bit, would help already. I had a good time with him in Sydney for two weeks and maybe I have improved already, I have no idea, but I'm fine the way I'm playing right now and if he can just improve a few things in my game, that's good.
Q: Tim, your performance in Paris and the US Open were the best of your career last year and you would obviously be hoping to do your best so far over here. Where would be a satisfactory finish, where would you be happy with?
TH: I think upon reflection of my performances at this tournament over the years I've never really played particularly well and I've played well on this surface, having won one tournament but it's definitely a goal of mine to get into the second week as I did in Paris and in New York and I think when you get involved there that's when anything can happen so being in the fourth round I think three or four times there is an element of disappointment but also a lot of motivation to improve on that.
Q: How does your preparations for this tournament compare to preparations for, say, Wimbledon later in the English summer? How do your preparation differ?
TH: I think it is different. I think with the way the season evolves, this is different because we have such long seasons and then you come into a major tournament and it's going to be my first event and that's sometimes not always easy. My preparation changed a little bit this year having had another child so it's been pretty eventful off season but I'm looking forward to getting started.
Q: Have you had many sleepless nights changing nappies?
TH: Not for me now, I'm sleeping well, thanks, but it's always pretty eventful; it certainly puts things in perspective but it's great that we've got another happy and healthy one.
Q: Andre, after the Stockholm Open you pulled out from the last tournaments of the year. Can you explain a little bit what happened and how was your year end?
AA: Last year during the middle of the year I struggled with a hip concern that was leaving my movement rather dodgy at best and I needed some time off, unfortunately during one of the biggest tournaments of the year, Wimbledon, but the result of that time off I felt got my body healthy and strong for what I consider to be a good summer and then playing a couple of weeks in a row in the Fall I sort of had the same concern that was starting to develop and I'm a bit more familiar with what my body is feeling, going through it just a few months earlier, and I didn't really want to take the chance of pushing it through anything when I could really use that time to sort of recover and prepare for what always turns out to be a pretty long year. I was happy with the way the year ended, meaning I felt good about my game and had a couple of disappointing losses but was healthy and over this training time and feel good now and pretty eager to go.
Q: Andre, you turned 35 in April, you've had these injuries last year, how long will you keep going? Is this one of the last times we will see you in Australia?
AA: End of April, so don't cheat me out of those days. I don't know is the simple answer. I don't really know now to answer that, I don't feel like it's my place to sort of choreograph an ending, the sport has been great to me and I will give it everything I've got. As long as I'm out there feeling like somebody has to play a great match to beat me or expecting myself to win if I play a great match, I will find reason to keep going but last year was a question for me to be back here one year later because a lot can happen in a year so I definitely hope to be back and as of right now that is my plan.
Q: Andre, I think your dad was quoted in the States saying about a month ago that you could play for another three or four years. What did you make of his comments?
AA: My mom thinks I can play for 10 more, so it's good. We will see. The body has to hold up, you have to train sort of harder and smarter and you have to find ways to keep getting better because everybody around you always is so I don't know how long I can do that or how long I'm going to want to do it for but as of right now this is what I do and I'm not thinking past that.
Q: Looks like you might have lost a little weight. How are you feeling physically and tennis-wise at the moment?
AA: I feel good. I can really only base it on the way practice has been going, I feel real good on the court. I think this week will be an important week, all of us are here for the same reason and having each other to sort of help prepare ourselves is what we are all looking forward to and I think this week will be a great step in that direction.
Q: Andre, you had some great battles with Pete Sampras at his top. With Roger at his top (indistinct)?
AA: That's a bit hard to do. I've played all these guys on days when I'm convinced they're the best in the world. I know Roger's game has been compared to Pete on many different occasions and I find that both of them bring a phenomenal amount of weaponry to the tennis court and it's a pleasure to watch. Sometimes playing against them I feel like I have the best seat in the house, where both of them have an ability to make you feel like a spectator so you have to make sure you're at your best and I have had that feeling with a lot of guys and Roger took a step last year towards accomplishing things that most of us only dream about. Pete had a long career and a great one so I'm sure Roger is a lot more to look forward to.
Q: Roger, is there an emotional or a sentimental element for you coming back the second time, going for it a second time around?
RF: Yes, it's something very interesting for me because Wimbledon last year was the first time I came back as a defending champion, I did well so hopefully of course I can repeat it but it's going to be very hard but I really like coming to Australia every year, it's a fantastic country and, like Andre also said, the crowds here are fantastic, they already know a lot about the sport and they love sports, so for this reason I hope I can play well and enjoy it for a long time.
Q: Is there something different about this as a Grand Slam event to the others? Does it set the pace for you for the year?
RF The last three years or so I've always had a good start into the season and I always thought I played pretty well at the Australian Open, I think the surface suits my game and, of course, if you can play here well here usually you can carry all the way through maybe until Miami or so and then the clay court season starts and I start there again but that's what happened for me last year.
Q: What was it like to actually win?
RF: It was fantastic because I had the feeling I kind of proved myself a little bit, or I beat many difficult opponents in Houston 2003 and then to right away start with the win at the Australian Open to win my second Grand Slam felt great and I got even more hungry of winning more Gland Slams so that's what happened.
Q: Andy, can you talk about your change of coaches and what you expect this new year?
AR: What exactly do you want you know?
Q: The reason why you changed coaches, the reason why you split with Brad?
AR: I just felt like it had run its course. I've had a great little training period with Dean, we've been working harder than I have in a long time, and I am very optimistic for 2005, I'm happy with the team I have around me right now and I'm excited.
Q: The end of last year didn't go as well as you wanted, obviously your main goal was Davis Cup final, how big was the disappointment? Can you talk a little bit about how you prepared for this game?
A: Yeah, it was huge. Obviously we were very disappointed at the end but we went over there and we gave it our best shot. It's pretty tough conditions but you take your lessons, you learn a lot more from losses I think than wins. But, you know, I think disappointment also makes you hungry to get back out there and try to train even harder so that's what we are trying to do this off season.
Q: Andre, just a bit of a different question. Yesterday the cricketers got together and raised millions of dollars for victims of Tsunami, do you think tennis players should put on - do you feel that there could be an opening for something like that in tennis?
AA: I think this will be the best opportunity in the world for all of us to come together. It's a terrible tragedy was happened and it affects us all so absolutely, I think you would find the players in support of that. Being an individual sport you would need sort of an organising body to take the lead there but we all want to help those who have been directly affected by that tragedy.
Q: So you think a good way to go about it is a charity match, a charity tennis match or something?
AA: Certainly think that would be one way to go about it.
Q: Maybe if I could ask Roger the same thing?
RF: I thought right away about different options to help because it's a terrible thing that happened and if we can help just a bit because we can't be over there working so I would definitely play in a match, as many matches as they like, so if something already would happen here in Australia I would be doing that, or otherwise down the road this year all the time, as long as we can help.
Q: Tim, are you on the ATP executive?
TH: No, not that I know of.
Q: Any gentlemen at the table involved in the executive side of things with at ATP?
TH: Don't think so.
HOST: Last few questions.
Q: David, how far from your form you were in last year when you were playing brilliantly, given the injury concerns you have is it hard to assess?
DN: I think last year I started very, very good the year, I win here and then I do quarters, I lost with Roger in a great match, and after I start my injuries but I believe that I do a very good job in the last weeks so I want to try to do the best of course try to improve all the time and try to keep going in the goals.
[Announcement of Draw]
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