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Andy Interview 2001 (translated version of the scans) second part added

1165 Views 7 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  tangytennis
So, while most of us are missing the old energetic and excited Andy, I thought it would be nice to read an old interview with him. I was able to translate the first side of the interview today and I´m gonna add the second part of it soon.


It´s fun to tease the old guys.

Andy Roddick is considered as the big american hope in tennis. He talks about his goals, his idols and he explains why participating in DC is the "ultimate commendation" in this edition of "tennis magazin".

Question: Mister Roddick, how does it feel to be considered as the successor of the great Pete Sampras and the great Andre Agassi?

Answer: It looks as if everyone´s interested in this question. But I have to say, that I´m not bothered by the pressure of the media and of the fans. I´ve already been the number 1 as a junior and I had to compete with everybody. It doesn´t matter what the people are thinking, I still have a long way to go.

Question: Sampras and Agassi, where those 2 the idols of your childhood?

Answer: Not only those 2, all americans of the golden generation, f.e. Michael Chang or Jim Courier. I always played against them when I hit balls against the walls of our garage. But sometimes, I played against Boris Becker. My parents were always surprised because I won all the time.

Question: Are your parents surprised about your emotional behaviour on the court?

Answer: Probably not. They know me. I need the emotions to pump myself and the fans up. I always looked up to Becker and his ability to get the crowd going and how he was able to take advantage of that. Connors was the same. I watched his last US Open on tv. He was 39 years old.

Question: You played a dramatic match at the FO against Michael Chang which you won in 5 sets. The next day, you had to quit drowned in tears against Lleyton Hewitt. Don´t you think, that those kind of emotional roller coaster rides are mentally and physically tiring?

Those were disturbing days, no question. But you have to go through these ups and downs to be ready for the next challenge. It´s easier to cope with it when you´re young. It´s harder when you´re older and you´re only participating in the next 2 slams before you´ll retire. I´ll have many opportunities in the next few years. I am not thinking about missed chances.

Question: After your first year as a professional: Do you think that you´re able to win a Grand Slam tournament? Or do you still have lots to learn?

It´s not impossible. Nowadays, you aren´t able to mark time because the others would fly right by you. You have to be ready to learn something new all the time. Then you´re able to win a big title. For example Lleyton Hewitt. He was able to advance his game and now he´s one of the best allround-players on the tour. Next to the Sampras-Agassi match, was my match versus Lleyton one of the highlights of this years US Open. I was sooo close, but maybe I wasn´t as hard-bitten and clever as Lleyton.
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Re: Andy Interview 2001 (translated version of the scans) part 1

Thanks for the effort in translating the article.
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Re: Andy Interview 2001 (translated version of the scans) part 1

WOW Thank you so much for taking the time and energy to translate and type that! :hug:
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Re: Andy Interview 2001 (translated version of the scans) part 1

Thank you!! :hug:
Re: Andy Interview 2001 (translated version of the scans) part 1

Thank you so much!!:] :hug:
Re: Andy Interview 2001 (translated version of the scans) part 1

Thanks so much"!
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Re: Andy Interview 2001 (translated version of the scans) part 1

So here´s the second part of the interview. I´m gonna add the third and last part of the interview in the next few days.



Question: Many cognoscenti are seeing a great rivalry between you and Lleyton in the future. You too?

I wish for that. We offer a great contrast-programme for the fans, because he´s a great returner while I´m a big server. Besides, we deliver a great show with lots of emotions and action. I think the people will like it.

Question: With Marat Safin and Lleyton Hewitt, there were two 20 year old players in the last 2 years who won the US Open. Is it over for the old guys?

It´s a very exciting time for men´s tennis. There are many young players who are climbing up the rankings, besides Hewitt and Safin there are Juan Carlos Ferrero, Roger Federer or my friend Taylor Dent. It´s fun to tease the old guys, but it isn´t over for them. It´s the battle of the generations and the whole circuit benefits from it.

Question: Marat Safin is a good example and shows, that it´s difficult to play two years in a row on a constantly good level.

It´s only a question of experience. At the beginning, you are trying to play well everywhere and you want to win every tournament. But as the time progresses, you start to realize that you´re destroying your body with this attitude. It´s important to schedule the tourneys strategical and to learn how
to divide you´re power and strenght. Safin didn´t do it. I think he wasn´t able to cope with all the hype around him after his US Open win in 2000.

Question: In March, you beat Pete Sampras in Key Biscayne. Did the behaviour of the other players towards you change?

A little bit. Suddenly, you´re a household name, suddenly there are big headlines in the papers when you lose. You have to get used to it. But it´s a nice challenge.

Question: Sampras was the number 1 for six years. Do you realize what that means after your first year as a professional?

It´s unbelievable, but I think it´s gonna be more complex in the next few years. There will be more changes at the top of the ranking. Everyone has realized it during the tournaments. You can´t win a match without giving your all anymore. If you aren´t fully concentrated in the first round, you lose.
It isn´t a shame to lose against the number 120 or 150 in the world. The best example was my compatriot Michael Russell, who almost beat Gustavo Kuerten at the French Open. Who knew him before the match?
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Thanks, bavaria, for translating that article for us. :D :hug:
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