Q. You stepped up a lot from the last match?
A. I did. I was extremely pleased with the way I played today. I felt like it was a bit up and down returning serve, but I tell you what, you know, some of the volleys he picked up were unbelievable. I hung in there and got the serve game at the start of the fourth and held onto my serve.

Q. Did the match in 1996 in the Open come into your mind in terms of preparations?
A. No. I played him twice after that and beat him both times. Every week is a different week. I was 18 then, and I just beat the No. 1 player in the world, and I was not thinking about it that much, so I have matured a lot since then and a lot has happened.

Q. How much better a player are you since then?
A. I would like to think, you know, my game has improved a lot more. I have become a complete player, a lot more consistent than I have been. Just, yes, matured, a lot more solid.

Q. Do you think you can hang in a match like that mentally better just from your experience than a few years ago?
A. Definitely. I hung tough the whole match. He played a good tie-breaker in the first. All it was one service point when he hit a winner off the first serve and nothing wrong after that, one point in it, and I was just happy to get out of it.

Q. Is that an example of what you were talking about earlier this year, that some players mature later than others, that you were one of the later to  mature? Is it all coming together for you now, do you feel?
A. I think so, and I honestly think that you guys have not seen the best  tennis from me. It is two years down the track, or maybe three, and I honestly believe that. Obviously, I want to win now. I'm not saying that I'm happy with doing well in the quarters or semis, and I like to think there is no reason why I can't win, but the guys are playing well, Pete and Tim, and,
you know, I think they are the big weapons for this tournament. So I'm just going to cruise along and --

Q. You say two or three years down the track. Are you still setting a limited timetable for yourself, or are you still thinking in terms of retirement after five years or so?
A. I really want to, because I want to do other things, and my life is not just tennis.

Q. Do you think you might be shortchanging yourself in terms of tennis
achievements if you take that route?
A. Well --

Q. Would you be happy if you didn't have a Grand Slam championship after five
years?
A. No, I won't be happy.

Q. Would you be content enough to retire?
A. I don't know. That is a tough question to look at it that way, but I'm not saying I'm going to retire in five years and that is it. I would like to -- I just, you know, I'm sure a lot of players, they don't want to keep playing when they are 30 but they are still playing. I definitely don't want to do that, and I would, you know, like to hopefully, you know, grow up and do the  best I can, and there is no reason why I can't win hopefully a couple of Grand Slams and, you know, I want to end up going out of the game like Edberg did. He was Top 10 and won the Davis Cup, and he ended up getting out of tennis like a true champion.

Q. Speaking of Davis Cup, what persuaded you to return this year, and what is your relationship with Newc and Roach now?
A. I just put some troubles behind me. Davis Cup is playing for your country. I've always loved playing for my country, and I just went there and played for my country, and that is what I'm doing, nothing else.

Q. Can you elaborate on the troubles?
A. I don't want to talk about that. It is things behind me but, like I said, everyone loves playing for their country, every sportsman, so that is what I like doing.

Q. What about the relationship with Mark? Do you guys get on?
A. We don't go to movies or dinner, but, you know, we see each other and say hello, but, with all fairness, there is no real friends on the tour, even if you are Australian, fine whatever, if they go out to dinner, that is their business, but I'm sure Australians are a lot closer, you know, than other countries, or whatever, other players. But, for me, I've got my friends and
my life, and that is all I'm worried about.

Q. Someone asked Pat Rafter would he rather be world No. 1 or win Wimbledon. What do you say?
A. Why not both? That would be nice.

Q. You play with Jelena for your country in January. Were you kind of amazed when you saw the score yesterday?
A. I was sitting back flicking through and it was, you know, like 6-2 and I was like, damn, and, with all fairness, you know Martina wants to come back and she has had matches like that and you are expecting her to get the break back and then she's up at the break and if it means that much in women's tennis and then it was 6, 2, 6-0 and unbelievable win and you don't see her losing 2-0 to anyone, especially in the first round at Wimbledon.

Q. Have you guys become friends?
A. I got to know her a bit. We didn't go to dinner again, but she seemed like a very nice girl, very nice, young. You know, these young girls are full of life and full of confidence and it was an interesting week, I'll have to say.

Q. Would you care to elaborate on that?
A. "Interesting" is the word I'll use.

Q. Did it change your mind about mixed doubles?
A. No. It was fun playing for your country, and it was great to win that. It was fun, but its not fun playing mixed doubles, I'm sorry, no. I don't know how to play mixed doubles they say hit to the girl and hit hard and scare them, but I feel a bit bad and when I do hit hard and all the crowd go "Ouch" and I feel like a bad guy, so its best to stay away from it.

Q. Are you available for the second round for the Davis Cup?
A. I'm worried and thinking about Playing Wimbledon.

Q. Are you happy Sampras is going to play? Do you feel it is a better tie because of that?
A. It didn't surprise me for him to be playing, to be honest. I think I knew he was going to do that.

Q. So many of the Aussies have played tennis with great passion, a real love of the game, over the years. Do you think it's fair to say you don't have that same passion that the players like Laver and Rosewall and the Woodies and Rafter?
A. Why?

Q. Because you don't want to play past a certain age in your life?
A. That is nothing to do with it. Tennis is something I'm good at. If I don't enjoy the tennis then I'll quit and I don't like playing tennis and not enjoying myself because that is what happened during last year and that's a terrible feeling not enjoying what you are doing through a match because it's your job and your passion so I'm enjoying myself out there and enjoying the challenge and I will enjoy tennis as long as I can, and when I start not enjoying tennis then it's a sign for me to stop.

Q. What about the challenge out there against Woodforde, did it seem it was going to last for ever with three tie-breaks?
A. I was ready, to be honest, and I was keen if I was down two sets I was still going to fight and take it point by point and that's what I'm very pleased with myself that came out today. It was just you know I hung in there and even though I was down a set I thought there was some good tennis and tough tennis and I'm just happy to pull it off.

Q. Have you looked at the draw passed today?
A. I just asked who I have to play after the match and I think it is Johansson or Clavet.