THE STELLA ARTOIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Date: 2006-06-16

THE STELLA ARTOIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 16, 2006

Andy Roddick
LONDON, ENGLAND

The Moderator Questions for Andy, please.

Question Happy with the performance?
Answer I am happy with the performance. You know, I can't really think of -- if I started picking apart the negatives, I feel like I'd be nitpicking a little bit.
That felt normal again. It felt like I was, you know, hitting my serves well. I don't remember missing a forehand. I was hitting them with authority. I was being aggressive when I got a short ball. So, you know, that felt real good.

Question At Roland Garros, you looked as low as I think I've ever seen you. Is it just being back on a familiar footing that recharges you?
Answer I think so. You know, I just feel like I've been right around the corner from playing well for a little bit, you know. I just kind of haven't gotten there, you know.
Obviously, coming to your favorite surface and coming to one of your favorite tournaments, you know, the recipe was there for something good to happen. And, you know, I feel good about the week and, you know, I definitely want it to keep going.

Question What did you do after Roland Garros? I'm sorry if you've been asked this already this week.
Answer I came straight here. Came here.

Question Racquet in your hand the first day?
Answer No, no, my ankle was still bummed. I probably didn't hit for four days after that.
But, you know, I came here. I enjoy London a lot. I didn't want to go home. I wanted to come here, and I don't know, maybe just get the feel for everything, you know, feel like I was getting out in front of -- getting used to the grass. You know, I think it was the right move.

Question James on grass.
Answer Well, James hits the ball well enough to play well on any surface. I think that's been apparent this year. You know, he hasn't had the most success on grass in the past, but everything's there for him to be a real force on it, you know. He's a quick twitch player. He hits a big ball. He's fast enough. He volleys well. He takes a crack at his returns. So it should be tough, that's for sure.

Question Have you and he, Davis Cup and everything together, do you talk about surfaces, the differences between surfaces much? Or do you view each other as rivals and you're not going to let each other in on your own personal secrets?
Answer No, I think if any -- I mean, if you share stuff with anybody, it's probably with each other. You know, we are rivals, but if I don't win a tournament, he'd probably be the next guy I'd want to, him and Mardy and those guys.
So I'm thrilled that he's doing well. I'd love to beat him tomorrow, that being said (smiling).

Question Have you hung out much in London together?
Answer Well, he's staying out in the village and I'm not staying there. I haven't seen -- I see him at the courts a bunch, but I haven't seen that much of him this week. Just logistically, it would be a little bit of a nightmare, especially with the traffic.
But I'm sure we'll -- once I get to the village next week, I'm sure we'll get together for some card games, hang out, have dinners, or whatever. That's pretty much par for the course if it's feasible.

Question From the outside it looks like you're hitting the ball extremely well and feeling very good about yourself. Your reaction at the end was, "I really want this."
Answer Yeah, I felt good. You know, we discussed it. That felt normal. That felt normal again. My serve was clicking.

Question First time for a while or not?
Answer Yeah, probably. You know, even good matches, you know, I just felt like it was normal. I was hitting good shots. I was aggressive with my forehand. I was making the guys come up with shots. I think more than anything this week, I haven't been focused so much on how to play, but just competing, like you said. I have kind of been showing a little bit more and I feel hungry this week. So, you know, it feels good, and I definitely want it to keep going.

Question Is it just the atmosphere or you or the place or grass?
Answer Probably --

Question A combination?
Answer Yeah, probably a combination. I don't know if it's one thing. We were just talking, I said, you know, favorite surface, one of your favorite tournaments, good conditions, you know. The recipe was there for something good to happen. You know, so hopefully I can continue to take advantage of it.

Question How does this championship compare to others as the place?
Answer Well, this place is very special to me, obviously, having won three times here. They let me have the honor of becoming a member here, which is pretty cool, because I think there are only two other guys that they let that happen to.
You know, so it's definitely good. I feel like this is the place where my career really turned around in '03 and last couple years, it's always been the place where I've gotten back on track. So, you know, it's definitely one of my favorite places.

Question Can you see anyone else beating you here?
Answer I don't want to, but it's definitely possible. I mean, especially when you're looking at the guys left. I mean, James has been one of the hottest players on tour this year. And Lleyton and Tim for the last, you know...
Tim for the better part of a decade, and Lleyton probably since six or seven years have been probably two of the top five grass court players in the world, including myself and Roger. So, you know, the field's still stacked, and I have a long way to go.

Question I don't know if you are a man of statistics. You are a three-time winner; Lleyton is a three-time winner. Would you like that final?
Answer Yeah, I mean, it would be good. I think that's coincidental and I don't know if, you know, that would affect the match much, but it would be something fun to talk about, I guess.

Question Do you get a vote on the future of the club as a member? You know there's a big debate going on at the moment about the sale of the club to the -- the LTA selling the club and what should happen, etc., etc.?
Answer (Smiling). Yeah, a little birdie told me something like that. But I'd be misinforming you if I claimed anything but complete ignorance as far as that stuff goes.

Question You could buy it, you know.
Answer (Smiling). You're seriously -- I got to win more matches this year first.

Question How does Stella Artois compare to American beers?
Answer Let's see. I got to... Yeah, I got to be kind of careful here. It's more expensive? I don't know (laughing).
Unfortunately, I don't get to compare and contrast often enough. Ask me the week after Wimbledon when I'm out on my boat and I'll probably be able to give you a more informed answer.

Question You're a member here. Do you feel a little bit English?
Answer Do I feel a little bit English? Except the fact that I use "dude," and "man," and "what's up, homies," and "dawg" and stuff like that a little too often, I don't know if they'd ever let that into everyday society over here. But I definitely --

Question You must do a rap record.
Answer Yeah, right. That's something that will never happen.
Uhm, but I'm, you know, through and through American, but I definitely enjoy my time here.

Question Second language, isn't it, really.
Answer (Laughing). Who knew you had it in you? Jeez.
Yeah, I basically took the English language and ruined it with the way I speak, so...

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