THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 20, 1995

Mark Woodforde

JOE LYNCH: Fourth meeting with Courier tied 4-All for their career.

Q. Quite a rivalry you and Jim have had?

M. WOODFORDE: If I could play guys like that every week, I think it would definitely improve my game and I just-- I guess we are getting a bit sick of each other seeing each other this year already, but I don't mind if I keep on, you know, playing and winning against the guy. You don't get sick of seeing guys like that, but yeah, it is nice to at least be even with the guy of his caliber, definitely in a head-to-head in your career.

Q. What are the differences when you assess against him, what is the difference in your game? Do you think that either works for you or doesn't?

M. WOODFORDE: I said out there I wouldn't really say about him what I changed from the last three times. I think today, probably, his level was not as high. I know the times that he has been beaten me this year, he definitely played something that -- another level that he hadn't really played against me and I think he, you know, that is tough to keep playing that level. I mean, I was very impressed and so was my coach, my trainer, Davis Cup coach, they have seen the last three matches he played against me and he has played awfully well. It hasn't been a whole lot between us. I think the scores were like 3 and 3, 3 and 4. But I have had my chances. I hadn't really taken it up to him. I didn't take any chances against him. I just made a few subtle changes to my ground play and to my thinking, and definitely today the wind helped me. It went against Jim. I think it he was very unsettled out there. I just went out there with a bit more confidence knowing what to do instead of -- I think, the last times he was in control; today I was in control. And that is how I have beaten him the last, you know, three other times that I have been in control and there was one time that I should have won and that was the first time we played, and I let him -- I had him in the position to beat him and let him out before his head was sliced off. He got out of that little trap that I set for him. I feel like I can play good tennis against the guy.

Q. Do you think that you were in control today because the wind made it difficult for him to pass and you were going to come to the net --

M. WOODFORDE: I didn't come to the net an awful lot. As I said, I just made a few subtle changes to the way that I wanted to play and to where I was going to set the points up and, you know, I remember a few years ago when we played here it was windy, as well, and I think back then I probably did attack more-- today, I mean. I didn't want to, you know, give him a chance. I didn't want to set it up too much for him because the last three times I have been coming in and he has been passing me very well. I just -- I don't know, he was riding high on confidence the last three times. Today, he was not as confident, I don't think. I think he had a bit of a setback losing early in Indian Wells, and, you know, I just was going to make him play. Other times I made a lot of errors against him; gave him a good start and, you know, against a guy like that, you can't give him starts. So today I got the start and was in control from the first point. That is what I wanted to do and set out to do and it worked today. So I think that the wind -- he just was very unsettled by everything, the way the ball was bouncing, coming off of my racket, playing a little bit different.

Q. Can you sense his frustration level rising you getting out on top of him?

M. WOODFORDE: Yeah, I think that is what probably Mark Woodforde is all about. I go out there and I frustrate a lot of people and I play a variety -- I have a lot of variation in my game and I am not out there like Jim trying to get out and hit forehands and hit the hell out of the ball and overpower everyone. I can maybe do that. I can come into the net. I can stay back and work my way in. Basically, I am an attacking type player at net. I am going to try everything I can to frustrate the opponent on the other end. Because I feel like I can open up his weakness and make them a little bit more obvious, that is the way I look at it. And it has worked well in the past against him.

Q. Weakness such as what?

MARK WOODFORDE: As I said, when I beat him in Paris last year I came out and sort of was asked a couple of questions about what he should do and how I played against him and, you know, he beat me three times, so I am not going to start to saying anything to you guys how I play, specifically against him and what is good and what is not. I think it should be fairly obvious. I am not the only player that plays that way against him, so he has some weakness, but his strengths really can cover up those weakness as well. So you have got to be out and execute properly against him.

Q. It's been a very encouraging few days for Australia all-around; hasn't it, Mark?

M. WOODFORDE: Beautiful. Great to see.

Q. Is there any reason you think it has happened or --

M. WOODFORDE: I think probably having lost in Davis Cup was a good -- not only personally for myself, but for the guys on the team and for the guys that hopeful would be a part of the Davis Cup team. I think to see us lose with Newk and Roche as leaders, it was a horrible kick; not a good kick for us, but it was a horrible kick in the pants in the guts for myself, and we have a proud history in Davis Cup, so it is not only that. We have been working very hard. Tony and Newk have been trying to develop more camaraderie between all the Australia players and we had a couple of evenings together in Indian Wells and where we all got together and spoke about what we wanted to do to achieve and what they hoped to see us do and, you know, I just think some of the younger guys are now developing into better players. Kilderry and Tebbutt have had great weeks and Philippoussis. I think they are the next generation of players that Australia has. It is time that they needed to stand up and I think when they see myself and Pat Rafter, Todd Woodbridge, Stolts and Frommy, being seeded in an event like this, it encourages them all. I hope that it does. It is great to see them beat some of the higher ranked players like Forget and Krajicek - that is progression, and working hard and getting results, getting the most out of your game.

Q. This chat that they had, Newcombe and Roche were with all the Australians?

M. WOODFORDE: Yes.

Q. Not just for Davis Cup?

MARK WOODFORDE: It was both. So I mean, those younger guys, their turn will come, I am sure some of them have very bright futures, but they have got to be able to come out to current players like myself not only myself, but the other guys and, you know, you want to hit some balls together; you want to practice; you want to train; you want to have dinner and I think now that they have the courage, the confidence that from winning, you know, against top players and seeing us more often at these tournaments, that they are doing that and I think they are just adjusting -- going through an adjustment period. So it is fantastic. I mean, we need a good depth of players, and it is a great feeling to turn up at an event like this and see a half a dozen of more players there.

Q. In a way, it is the old Australian way, camaraderie and, of course, the Swedish way again, all the player's key rivals on the court, but always --

M. WOODFORDE: Heck, I wouldn't want to lose to one of those little shis - no way. But, you know, I will be there supporting them while I can, but as long as they are not in my quarter of the draw, that is fine.

Q. Which of those three guys that you mentioned, is there one that you think will have more success than the others?

MARK WOODFORDE: I probably don't know quite as much about Kilderry because he is sort of new to the scene and he has been going through the challenger satellite level coming up and Philippoussis, I have seen at Davis Cup Tie. I have never seen an Australian hit the ball or be as tall; hit the ball as hard in any moment, doesn't matter what the score is, in a practice match or training session or even in a proper match, he just hits -- he just wants to wallop that and he has great success with that at the moment. With a game like that, I think he has got a very bright future. I think he has some outside influences that need to be taken control of. He is the one out there playing; he needs to grasp that conception of it and just go out there and play the best that he can week in and week out. Tebbutt, I think he is a great player, with a serve like that and the ability to play two hands and hold off the ball and I think he is really lacks a lot -- doesn't have self confidence and so it is great to see him have a tournament like this. Hopefully that will boost him up big time. But I think Philippoussis has the big power game and "little killer" probably needs to get a little bit taller and a little bit stronger, but he has beaten Rafter and the players he has beaten this week, you just beat one of those type of players, so I think all of them have great futures as long as they believe in themselves.

End of FastScripts.....