I felt a step slow, a little bit sluggish, ... It was just a matter of trying to stay tough mentally and put myself on level terms. |
I felt I was the better player in the first set and should have won it, ... But he obviously became the better player once he had won that first set. |
I felt it was a matter of trying to regroup, put my head down, work hard and not to give too many points away in the second set. I wanted to put more pressure on him early in the second set, and I was able to do that. The momentum really swung in my favor and I was able to continue to do that in the third set as well. |
I felt like I played pretty solid. I put pressure on nearly all of his service games. I was trying to dictate as much as possible and get him on the defensive. |
I felt my game had gone up a notch today even though it was only seven games. |
I gave everything I had, |
I get along well with Mark and I think it's great he won today. It's great for him and it's great for Australian tennis as well. |
I got out of the blocks well today, ... I went out there with a game plan and just executed it. I did what I needed to do and didn't feel that under pressure. |
I got through today's match, but it wasn't the prettiest tennis. I get through to have another crack and try to improve tomorrow. Hopefully, I can pick it up. I'll need to. |
I had a tough match in the first round and sometimes that puts you in good stead for the tournament. |
I have been looking forward to this since I came off court against Federer in the last tie and nothing has changed, |
I haven't been able to eat anything the last three or four days, which just really hit me up because I've got no energy whatsoever right at the moment. |
I just couldn't lose to a bloke wearing a shirt like that. |
I just hung in there and made him play, ... I tried to play percentages on the match points and pulled the trigger when I needed to...I was up a set and a twice a break up, and I just didn't serve great out there tonight. |
I just tried hanging in there and waited for my opportunities. It was awfully close. |