THE STELLA ARTOIS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Date: 2006-06-15

THE STELLA ARTOIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 15, 2006

Andy Roddick
LONDON, ENGLAND

The Moderator Questions for Andy, please.

Question Long day for you. Were you getting frustrated waiting?
Answer Yeah, I mean, it was a little frustrating, you know. Rafa found a way to play three hours even on grass, you know.
So, uhm, there's not much that can be done. I mean, I went to them and said, I don't care where I play, but I'd rather play one today than two tomorrow.
So, you know, I don't know if one of them had to play doubles, but I guess the only thing that was a little surprising is playing someone third when you're trying to get four matches in that has a reputation for playing pretty long matches, you know, as opposed to someone who has a reputation of playing pretty quick ones.
So that was it, but I'm just glad I got through.

Question How pleased were you with the way you served at crucial moments tonight, first set especially?
Answer Yeah, I served pretty well. I thought at least on the big points I forced him into hitting a shot, you know, whether it be a tough pass or, you know, a rally. I wasn't just giving points away, which has kind of been, you know, a little bit of my downfall so far this year, is just giving points away.
I felt like I tightened it up a little bit today. That's the difference between being up 6-3 and being down 6-3.

Question There's a pretty good group of players after your title now.
Answer Sorry?

Question Pretty good group of players after your title.
Answer There always is.

Question The field.
Answer Yeah, absolutely, you know. There's been a lot made of the field this year, but it's pretty -- Queen's is pretty consistently -- it has probably the strongest field as far as grass court players go, you know. I played Sébastien a couple times in the final, he's gone on to make semis at Wimbledon. Thomas Johansson made semis here last year. I mean, it's traditionally pretty strong.
Ranking-wise, it's better, but as far as just grass court players, I don't think there's ever been a shortage here.

Question Couple of good volleys there in the last game, the backhand?
Answer Yeah, I've been working on like if I feel like I'm not taking any swing at all, it means I'm swinging about that much. So I've really been trying to concentrate on that, just cutting out a lot of the I guess extra motion in volleys, and it's been -- I've been hitting them pretty well in practice and stuff.

Question Is that something you've specifically -- you have been putting your mind to that as well?
Answer Yeah, yeah. I've been focusing just on -- I can get enough pop with very little moment. The best volleyers kind of have a still racquet. I've been trying to work on that a little bit. It's nice when you feel like you're making good contact after -- especially after putting in some work out there.

Question You play González tomorrow. It's going to be a pretty explosive encounter.
Answer Yeah, it normally is when we play. We actually just played on grass in Davis Cup. He's a very capable grass court player. You know, I think once he found his comfort level last year, I think he made quarters, and he definitely had me on the ropes at Davis Cup before I was able to pull through in four sets.
But, you know, I've told people, I was telling people last week before I came that, you know, watch out for him, because he hits the ball big enough and he serves pretty well and he has a nice little chipper. So he's going to be dangerous.

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