U.S. OPEN

September 2, 1994

Todd Woodbridge

TODD WOODBRIDGE: Well, I won it straight, three, two and four. You know, I haven't played very well in singles for quite a while now, so for me, I got through qualies, I've had a reasonable draw and made the most of it, and won two matches in straight sets comfortably. And I'm very happy with the way I'm playing.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: No, I feel like I've worked hard. I played -- I've worked hard during the summer to try to play well here, and I've had pretty easy matches. Plenty of rest so far, even though I've played doubles, so far, I've still managed to get home early each day and I've been hanging around here and I feel comfortable with everything.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: Uh-hum.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I think I'm very happy that we've had someone else come a long in some ways. Pat has come up and played terrific tennis and in some ways taken a little pressure off everyone because he's risen and had good results and all that sort of stuff and that's given tennis in Australia a bit of a boost that we've needed. We have got a lot of real good solid players in the top 50 with Stoltenberg-- Fromberg, we had Wally who's slipped a bit, but Pat has really sort of come up and boosted the profile of tennis. And in Australia we really really needed it.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: No, I don't think I have the power or the height and sort of the body strength to be able to do that all the time. I have to try to mix it and keep the guy guessing and keep him thinking what I do on the court.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: If I were some of these guys that serve 110, 120 all the time, I wouldn't be hanging back, I'd be making the guy hit winners all the time if he was good enough. Unfortunately, I don't have that serve and I'm not six foot three, so, I don't think those guys play too smart at times. I think they really should work on there-- on there tactic, really.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I think for example, we have Patrick Rafter who we were just talking about. He's the prime example of that. He's got a great serve and guy's hate playing him because they know that he's going to have pressure on them all the time.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: Well, for me Ken Rosewell was my idol growing up and he still is. I've gotten to know him and he's so down to earth it's incredible, to someone who's done so much, but they're all very helpful and supportive of us as players, but they come out, I played in Cincinnati and Laver was out in all my matches. He even watched my quali match there and I find that impressive amongst those players. They're champions and they still have the love of the game and the desire to see us do well in Australia and come out and watch us and that's very important.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I think so, because I think they're honest and they realize that tennis has grown since they were at the top. You think, it is a worldwide sport, and in those days it wasn't so much. There was a lot of countries that played winter sport, summer sport and now it's a twelve month a year thing.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I think Edberg still is.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I think it's because of his movement. He does have exceptional vollies, but he vollies that well because of the way he prepares for them.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I think so. There's definitely more risk, but at the same time, you're taking it up to the guy and saying, well, if you're good enough and you can come up with pinpoint accuracy and pass me all the time, well, then you're too good, and that's what happens with Stefan and I think -- I don't know how many years has he been in the top five. Doesn't seem to worry his game that much.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: No, but he has a great all-court game. He can do it if he wants to.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I'd try. Especially on this court it's so quick.

TODD WOODBRIDGE: I think he feels he does and he's had a reasonable summer. He played well in Cincinnati, won Washington got matches behind him and it wouldn't surprise me if he sneaks in the semis and finals and if the draw works his way he has the experience to win the tournament. He's definitely fit enough and healthy enough and he's had good enough preparation.

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