Andy vs Ljubicic Interview

AAMI Classic
9 January 2008
Andy Roddick

Q. Andy, you were looking pretty good out there today. You must be happy already with the way you’re hitting the ball. Can you take us through it, what you did since the Davis Cup win and how you prepared for this?

A. I didn’t have that much time off. You know, we kind of finished Davis Cup on Sunday, and then the next Tuesday I was playing in Marty’s event. I played a couple of charity events throughout the next week and a half or so, and so I wasn’t training per se, but I was still hitting balls. And then about a week before Christmas we started just doing a lot of physical training pretty much all day, and then after Christmas we were down in Hawaii for about 10 days just to get used to the heat, and Jimmy was down there and we had some other players down there, so it has been good, you know. We’ve been able to kind of focus on what we’ve had to.

Q. You didn’t have to spend too much time on court today, but
how did you assess what the court surface was like?

A. I mean, it’s pretty much, I think, what everybody has been
saying. It’s a little grittier, the ball is getting a little bigger as a result of that, but it is a normal slow hard court. I don’t see much difference between this and, you know, like a Washington or something like that. I know it is a new surface, but it kind of feels the same as anything else.

Q. Is the bounce as high as it used to be?

A. Yes, I think so.

Q. At Kooyong you have got a fairly good record here, but how
important is it for you to prepare for the Open?

A. It’s very important, because this is where I’m getting my matches, and I think traditionally a lot of the players who have played here have done well in the Aussie Open. I have
played pretty consistently throughout the year, so there’s
nothing wrong with playing three matches against guys in the top 20 before a big event. It’s ideal.

Q. You are going for a hat trick. A lot of people are preparing for the Open, but there is a bit at stake for you. You obviously want to win?

A. I think everybody wants to win, but if I’m sitting here
saying I’ve even thought about winning three times in a row, I haven’t really, you know. You kind of use the event for what it’s worth, and it’s a great event to help prepare, but, you know, I think we’re all here for the Australian Open.

To read the rest of the interview, click here:

http://www.aamiclassic.com.au/files/roddick9jan.doc