2004 Australian Open
Date: 2004-01-26
Arazi def. Philippoussis

Question What was the difference with the way you felt in that match compared with your previous ones, and what feelings did you take into the match?
Answer I felt pretty confident going into the match, felt pretty relaxed, been practicing pretty good. Just, you know, the guy was pretty much too good today. He played, I thought, a flawless match, really didn't make any unforced errors, took advantage of any chances he had, breakpoints. I was zero for, I don't know, eight, seven in the breakpoints. Way too good on the day.

Question Was there a time in the match when you tried to change your plan?
Answer I tried coming in, serve and volley, chipping and charging, but he was just on today. You know, nothing much I could do. Just have to take my hat off to him, say, "Too good."

Question Do you feel like you lost a bit of an opportunity the way the draw was?
Answer I never looked -- I didn't know, you know, who was ahead, who I played next. I always looked who I had to play on the day. Sure, you know, when you look at it, he wasn't a seeded player. You know, people looked at it as a good draw. But every match is a tough match, and there's no easy matches out there. You know, like I said, it's tough to look at it now and say I let it go because he, you know, played a great match today. Like I said, he was too good. It's not like I had some chances and should have taken advantage of it.

Question What is it about him? Is it deception? You can't figure out what he's doing?
Answer I've played him before. Today, just I wish I could tell you. He was just on. You know, he felt very comfortable on both wings. He was ready, you know, whether I chipped and charged, served and volleyed, he was on it. He was hitting the ball very cleanly. And he's very talented. You know, he was just hitting the ball really clean today.

Question How far from where your best do you think you were today, taking his contribution out of it?
Answer Well, obviously, I didn't have a great day out there. You know, I tried changing things, tried to get back. But, you know, I was trying to do a lot of things out there. But just -- just have to say I guess it's just one of those days where, you know, the combination of me not playing great and someone just playing too good, it's just not a great combination.

Question How much is the weight of expectation from being in Melbourne, being sort of the pressure that that places on you?
Answer Oh, to be quite honest, I didn't feel any pressure. It's just great support. You know, the only thing that felt bad is just I felt like, you know, I tried to do everything out there, and I just -- you know, I sort of let 'em down. Obviously, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4, I want -- they would have loved to see me come back, and I was trying like anything to come back and trying to give them a match. I just want to thank them for their support. Unfortunately, I couldn't give them one today.

Question Were there times when you tried to play within yourself, which you've done successfully in matches here, but you'd find that he would produce something that was beyond that?
Answer Yeah, you know, he was just hitting the ball cleanly, just moving the ball around really nicely. I felt like every time he wanted to go for it, he went for it and made it. He looked very comfortable out there. I'm sure he felt very comfortable. Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything to try to put him off or do something to get myself going, you know. And early in the third set there with 2-Love and Love-40, you know, didn't take that opportunity. He was always on top, you know, never really put any pressure on. He was leading from the start at the second break of serve, first break of serve in the second set, then 2-All he broke me. He was always ahead, you know, playing with some confidence. Always felt like I was catching up.

Question What about your serves today? We expected much more aces from you.
Answer Yeah, I expected much more aces from me, too. I don't know.

Question Apart from the fact that he was on, as you said, was there anything, any elements to his game that took you by surprise, that made you stop and think?
Answer In the past he's been a little -- he's very talented, and he's been a little wild with some of his shots in the past. As I said, he seemed very controlled today, very patient. And when he did go for them, he looked in control. So it will be interesting to see how he plays his next match.

Question What's next? When do you plan to head to Adelaide?
Answer I'm sure I'll go to Adelaide with the team, going over with them. Take a couple days off and just start getting into it again.

Question Is it very difficult to have the Cup so quickly?
Answer The Davis Cup?

Question Yes.
Answer It is, definitely a good point. Grand Slam is an event where it takes a lot out of you. And you do like to have a bit of time to relax and get ready for the next event. To have that following weekend Davis Cup is I think a little too soon, especially for the people who end up doing extremely well, you know, in the Australian Open, and who have to travel to Europe or whether back to America. So it is very early.