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All Post-Match Interviews Courtesy of
The
Australian Open
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MARK
PHILIPPOUSSIS defeated GALO BLANCO 6-3 6-4 7-5
Q. Mark, how do you feel to be back in a Grand Slam after quite a long
time away?
A. It feels good actually. I really think about, you know, the absence
in Grand Slams. I was probably lucky, I just went out there, and you
know, obviously a little nervous before the match. But once I walk out
there and I see the crowd, I just, I just love it and, you know, I feel
like - I just feel very relaxed, feel at home.
Q. Do you get any soreness still with your knee after matches or
anything? I know you have to ice it and everything, but is there any
aftermath of the surgery?
A. No, no. Obviously you get a little sore after matches, a little bit.
But that's just normal, you know. I've had three surgeries, but a bit of
icing, stretching and I'm fine.
Q. Were you happy to wrap that one up, though, in three, rather than
having a first-up match?
A. Definitely. It's always great, you know, to finish a match in three,
especially at night. It's always a little tough sleeping after a night
match. But yeah, you know, I played some good tennis for the first match
and, you know, I'll just try to recover now and think about the next
one.
Q. What will your routine be then, now, till the next game, if it's a
bit tough sleeping, then you've got a day game?
A. Well, I mean, I'll go back, a bit of a massage, you know, ice my knee
and tomorrow a bit of a massage again, and hit, another little massage,
and just sleep and, you know, warm up for the next match, so - - -
Q. What are your thoughts on that match against Rusedski?
A. You know, obviously we both know how we are going to play. He's going
to be coming in at every opportunity. He's going to be serve and
volleying, first and second serve; he's going to be chipping, charging
whenever he can. You know, I'm just going to try and just get him to
stay back, or come in before him. So, you know, I feel good, you know.
I'm excited. I'm looking forward to the match and, you know, I'm just,
I'm just excited, just, you know, to be out there, you know, hungry for
the challenge.
Q. It's kind of ironic in that the last time you played a Grand Slam
match, before the knee problem, was really against Rusedski at
Wimbledon, before the problems really started?
A. Yeah. But, you know, like I said, I've been through a lot. I feel
good on the court, you know. I feel like I'm moving well. You know,
obviously, I'm just going to try and make him play, make him hit some
volleys, as many volleys as possible, and just, you know, try and be
solid on my part.
Q. How would you rate your serving performance tonight?
A. I was very happy with the way I served. I felt like I had good rhythm
out there. I wasn't really trying to serve big. I felt like I was
serving within myself. But, you know, I think when you do that you tend
to serve big. But obviously, getting those high percentage of first
serves in and those aces take a lot of, you know, takes some pressure
off the service game and, you know, put some pressure on him when he's
serving.
Q. And every time he had a break point, every time he threatened you,
you came out with something?
A. Yeah. I think I was down maybe three or four break points and, you
know, every single one was a first serve in, and obviously, again, that
takes the pressure off me and, you know, I was happy about that.
Q. Mark, how long exactly did you spend in LA with Pete and Brett
Stevens? How did that come about, and what was the main thing you have
taken away from that period?
A. Well, I've always wanted to work with Pete - sorry, I've always
wanted to work with Moose, with Brett Stevens, but he had a contract
with Pete and, you know, I approached him, and he was keen. You know,
Pete didn't mind as long as it didn't clash with his training and, you
know, actually, I wanted - I invited Moose to come down to Florida to my
house and train; but he said he's got to work with Pete, so Pete invited
me up there, to hit with them, and I was up there for like two and a
half weeks, you know, round 20 days, and it was great. You know, we
worked really hard. I worked, you know, off the court twice a day, and
plus two hours of hitting. You know, I was surfing like four times a
week out there and, you know, I was enjoying it but just training hard
and enjoying everything.
Q. So was there one thing that you saw, that you took away from working
being so closely with one of the great players?
A. Yeah. I mean, you know, just - I mean, the guy has won 13 Grand Slams
and, you know, he is still hungry, he is still working hard. You know, I
think, Brett has changed his eating habits, he's eating really well.
He's doing all the right things and it's great to see that. After
somebody has won 13 Grand Slams it's so easy to say "Why should I
still play?" You know, he can just sit back and relax the rest of
his life. But you see out there we were training hard, you know, we had
some great practice sessions, and it's just very positive, everything.
The whole thing was just very positive.
Q. Just one last one from me: Scotty Draper said today, meaning no
disrespect to you, but he thinks that you are one of the great
under-achievers in tennis history, with the ability that you have and
what you have done so far. Is that a harsh comment?
A. No, it's not harsh. You know, everyone has got the right to say what
they feel, and I totally agree with him. You know, my tennis career
isn't over yet. I feel like it's just starting now. I'm 25. I feel like
a young kid and I've still got another five to seven years in me. So,
you know, hopefully I can achieve those things that I'm capable of
achieving and, you know, I'm working hard, I'm trying to give myself all
the opportunity to do that, and we will just have to wait and see.
Q. Mark, would you say this is the most you have enjoyed your tennis,
like ever?
A. Yeah, I mean, obviously, when you are 17, 18, 19, all the travelling
was great. I was enjoying myself, loving it out there and, you know, I
think, as well as everyone, no matter what they do in their career,
whether they are playing sport or they're doing their job, they can get
lost, or just sick of it, or just lose the love, the feeling of what
made them do it in the first place. I'm enjoying myself out there. I'm
enjoying the challenge. I'm enjoying the atmosphere. You know, my
friends are watching. I'm enjoying playing those long rallies and
hearing that crowd. It's just - I really missed it, you know, and it's
just, it makes me realise that this is what I do in life, what I love
doing.
Q. Well, when I asked a similar question to Patty Rafter, he said he was
a bit of a mongrel as a kid, growing up. Would you describe yourself
like that?
A. A mongrel?
Q. Yes?
A. No, I think I was a very nice kid growing up.
Q. Mark, it continues to have drama on Day 1. Andre obviously out,
Gustavo Kuerten out. What are your thoughts on that?
A. Yeah, I mean, it's tennis. You can never predict anything. There's
such great depth and, I mean, with Andre, it's just some crazy things
happen in life. It's just very unfortunate. Obviously he loves playing
here, was looking forward to coming here. But I'm sure he will be back.
Q. Does it give you a bit of renewed spark, to sort of thing, well hang
on - - -
A. No. I mean, you know, I don't need something like that to pump me up.
Obviously, I've been out for all those months, and I don't need anything
to pump me up at the moment. I'm ready to go out there and give it my
all.
Q. What do you make of Lleyton's success? He has come from - well you
have been away, obviously. He's come up so fast. Did you expect it to be
so quick and how do you rate him? Is he among - does he deserve to be
No. 1?
A. Of course he deserves to be No. 1. He is No. 1. Obviously he's put in
the hours off and on the court to be No. 1, and, you know, you can't
take anything away from anyone, whatever they - whatever happens, they
deserve it, and it shows. Obviously he is playing great. Obviously, he
is a tough player to beat. He had a great season last year. He is just
so consistent out there. You know, you're going to have to beat him. He
always plays the same way. You're going to have to play some great
tennis, and if you're not on top of your game then, you know, he'll get
on top of you. But, you know, he's a fighter, so that's why I think it
will be tough for him to do it again. But it was a great effort.
GREG
RUSEDSKI defeated MARK PHILIPPOUSSIS 7-6 6-3 6-4
Q. Mark, how were you physically out there today?
A. I was fine. I think it just proved that I don't think I was ready for
the first Grand Slam. You know, my quad muscle just gave way. You know,
just - I was a little stiff for everything after that. But not taking
anything away from Greg; he played a great much. It was very tough out
there.
Q. Do you think unmatch fit as well? Do you think you didn't have enough
practice games leading in?
A. No, no, plenty of that. No, I got to the Final in Adelaide. It's just
that - it proves, you know, it has been a while since I played a Grand
Slam. You've got to do a lot of work going in to a Grand Slam and my
legs weren't strong enough. I mean, I felt great, I'm moving great. But
once your muscles aren't - you have just got to be ready for the tension
of the best of five, and it just showed that I wasn't pretty much.
Q. Mark, was there any knee twinge or anything like that?
A. No. Thank goodness, there wasn't. There was nothing to do with the
knee, which I was very pleased about. Like I said, my muscle gave way,
and I've got some, a lot of strengthening to do, and I've got some time
to do it now.
Q. So your plans now are just to get treatment and have a rest?
A. Yes, just give it a couple of days off, and just work on the quads,
get them strong, get them as strong as possible.
Q. Is there any actual injury to it, Mark, or is it just - - -?
A. No, I pretty much know by body by now, and I can tell it's just
muscle fatigue. Like I said, there's nothing you can do, just rest it
and get it strong. It obviously showed I wasn't ready for the best of
five; and it's going to be a while for the next Grand Slam so this is,
you know, a good chance for me to, you know, do my work.
Q. Even though you have been out with injuries - there has been a lot of
injuries this tournament - do you think that's a sign that people have
to start doing more or - - -
A. You know what, I think it's also, this surface is tough on your body.
You know, it's not easy. The Rebound Ace, it's very tough, you know.
It's sticky. You are running from side to side. Your feet - I think your
shoes just, actually just stick into the court that little bit longer.
You know, a couple of hundredths of a second longer, and you feel that
in your joints, your lower back and your legs, and it's a tough court to
play on.
Q. What can you take out of the tournament, do you think?
A. I'm feeling great. I'm hitting the ball well. There's a lot of
positive things I can take away from it. Like I said, all I've got to do
- I know what I have to do. I've got to work hard, I've got to get my
leg stronger and just keep on continuing to, you know, work on my
fitness.
Q. Mark, Greg now goes on to play Tim, who you also know very well, and
played very recently in Adelaide. What's your take on that one?
A. Obviously, yeah, Tim won the last time they played in Adelaide.
Obviously they know each other's game extremely well. I think I would
give a slight advantage to Tim. It always seems to be that psychological
edge between two guys from the same country sometimes and, I don't know,
I feel like maybe Tim has got his number a little bit. Then again, you
never, know. Obviously he is looking for revenge, but I'm sure it will
be a great match for him.
Q. Mark, other than you leg today, was there something in your game that
you felt down? Did you go for a little much at times, or something else
you were disappointed with?
A. No. I mean, obviously, you know, five three, you know, I'm serving
for the first set, I've got to put it away. Yeah, I've got to put it
away. You can't give him a chance to get back into a match like that,
especially with a guy with a serve like Greg. And 6-5, I think it was,
in the tiebreaker, I had that backhand and I went cross court instead of
down the line, and that's set point, I think, and obviously, it cost me
the tiebreaker as well.
Q. Mark, what is your program now, for the next four to eight weeks?
A. The next four to eight weeks - well, like I said, I'm going to have a
couple of days off and just work on my strengthening and my fitness with
Moose while I'm here; just keep on doing that, you know. I'm playing the
indoor season and I've got Memphis, San Jose, Indian Wells Lipton and
just try to get strong for that.
Q. Davis Cup obviously not on the program you just mentioned. Is there
any chance that you may play in Argentina?
A. No. It just shows that I'm just not ready for the best of five sets.
It's very obviously right there that I've still got a lot of work to do
for myself to play the best of five.
Q. What about commitment down the track: are you happy to play Davis Cup
later in the year the if - - -
A. I've always said if I'm healthy, I will play. But No. 1 priority for
me is my health. Nothing else comes before that.
Q. Mark, that injury you had today, did it sort of impact on your serve,
because it wasn't one of your great serving days today?
A. You know, again, obviously, you need that, you need to jump into the
serve to get the power, and I wasn't quite jumping in as well as I
wanted to. But again, I'm not taking anything away from Greg. He played
a hell of a match and he deserved, you know, to with win that match.
He's too steady on the day.
Q. Did you expect Greg to be playing that well?
A. Yeah. He plays one way. You know he's going to come in the net
whenever he can. He's going to serve and volley, pretty much first and
second serve. He'll mix it up a little bit; he'll chip and charge, and
that's his game, you know. He's not going to hang on the baseline.
Q. Mark, you know well the pressure, if you like, of being the last
Australian to be left in a Grand Slam. Do you feel a bit sad that
there's no Aussies in the third round? It's, I suppose, a disappointing
week for the game here?
A. What can you do? It's a Grand Slam. There's a lot of upsets every
day. You know, everyone is trying their best out there. Nothing you can
do about that. All you've got to do is just work hard and try and come
back next year.
*****
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