澳網第一場比賽後訪談 - 網球

Q. You've had some great successes here in Australia. What do you
think of the proposals to move it later in the calendar?

ANDRE AGASSI: I think a big help to the sport would be having
the hard court season lead up to the Grand Slam on this surface. It would make
sense to me if we could somehow have a buildup to each Slam. Like the clay
leads to Roland Garros, the grass leads to Wimbledon, and the hard court in
the summer leads to the US Open. It certainly would make sense to the sports
fan.

Q. So what time would you be looking for, around March time?

ANDRE AGASSI: I would have to put some thought behind that, sort
of look at the schedule. You know, I've just been getting ready for this date.
They tell me what the date is (smiling).

Q. Must have been about the best that you could hope for tonight. He
put up a fairly good struggle but you still got off the court pretty
quick.

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, well, in your first match it's always a bit
awkward because you're sort of getting the feel of the new year, the new
conditions. And playing somebody you never played before presents a certain
amount of working out to be done out there.

We're both feeling each other out. Got off to a good start and I had to play
well to close him out. That's what you have to do to win.

So it felt good to get through it that way.

Q. Anything that you want to work on heading into the next match?

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I always hope for it all to get better with
each match. But I think it will be nice to get out there and, hopefully in the
heat, and just hit the ball even cleaner and go to work.

Q. So even though some of the people coming from the northern
hemisphere have had some problems adjusting, you like the heat?

ANDRE AGASSI: Well, I don't like it; I just try to like
it more than my opponent. You know, there's two people out there that have to
deal with the elements. Whether you're from the heat or not, it's about preparation and
pushing yourself through it mentally. So for me it's always a challenge.

Q. This year's field is one of the most open in years. Last year you
sort of rolled through the tournament. But last season, with the likes of
Federer, Roddick winning Grand Slams, do you see this as an open
tournament?

ANDRE AGASSI: Yeah, I see most of them that way. It's very rare
that I approach a tournament not feeling like a lot of people can win it. You
know, it's just my experience that tells me that.

Certainly, top four in the world at the end of the year were the four that won
the Grand Slams. Three of them, it was their first time. So that's a pretty
amazing start of a generation; there's no question about it.

And all these guys are capable of winning.



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