AustralianOpen.com: Roddick Interview 16.01.08

Q. Deeply entertaining match for the public. A lot of good shot making and, did you enjoy it at all or were you totally focused on it?

ANDY RODDICK: Both. I had fun out there tonight, and I kind of played a little bit differently out there. And, yeah, I enjoyed myself.

Q. What do you think about him? I mean, you were not sure what’s coming your way most of the time, right?

ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, he kind of established early he was getting in on pretty much anything he could. If he was getting one step into the court, even if he was behind the baseline, it seemed like he was charging.

So I feel — it was pretty cold, the ball wasn’t going anywhere, so I figured maybe I would let him take his chances a little bit from back there. Over the long haul I felt like I might get head.

Q. Do you enjoy those scramble points?

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, when I win them.

Q. You seem to be willing to play a number of them.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah, you know, I like having the option, and, you know, I worked pretty hard on fitness during the offseason so I feel like my legs are there right now. And so, you know, a night like tonight where, like I said, the ball wasn’t moving, it was good for me to have options.

Q. How much slower is it at night compared to a day match?

ANDY RODDICK: Well, it’s not — let’s not make this just about the surface. Even the Rebound Ace was very, very weather dependent down here, because it’s a little bit of a drier heat. So it’s a good bit slower. I played last week when it was 42 and the ball was jumping all over the place, so the score is pretty weather dependent.

Q. Mardy was saying he didn’t feel it was necessarily the surface that slows it down, and it slowed the balls more than anything.

ANDY RODDICK: Well, I mean, I guess the simplest analogy is if you have a piece of sandpaper and it’s grittier and you rub a ball on it it’s going to get this way a lot faster than if I rub it on this table and it’s smooth. I think that’s kind of the effect the court is having on the ball.

Q. So how many games do you think it takes, generally or points?

ANDY RODDICK: Well, I think — I’d love to generalize, but I think if, you know, if Nadal is playing, you know, Ferrer, the ball’s going to get a lot bigger than - I think a lot of it depends on how the points go.

But it’s normally a welcome change when they say new balls.

Q. You’ve got a little bit of a German week this week. Kohlschreiber is next. Have you followed his development throughout the years after you played him her last three years ago?

ANDY RODDICK: I’ve played him a couple of times. I mean, I don’t know if I’m sitting at home looking up close Kohlschreiber matches, but I think I’m definitely aware of the fact that he’s been steadily rising in the rankings. Each year, you know, his year-end ranking is higher.

And I’m definitely aware of his form so far this year, winning in Auckland and winning his first two matches here. So, you know, I think I’m more concerned with his recent form than the tales of Kohlschreiber since ‘05.

Click here to read the full interview at AustralianOpen.com.