Media Conference
Transcript - Laura Robson, Andy Murray (Great Britain)
9/01/2010
Laura Robson and Andy Murray
Press Conference
It must be very disappointing to have lost when you came so close to winning?
(Robson) Um I think you try to stay positive here, I think it’s been really, really good. You know from my side I’m really, really happy with the way I played all week. I felt great on the court and I think it was perfect preparation for the Aussie Open. Obviously Laura can speak for herself but I think for her I’m sure it was a great experience. She was great today, you know beating a girl ranked 26 in the world at her age is amazing.
How did the match for you get away from you today?
(Robson) I felt like I played great. I dominated the start of the match. In the second set he had no chances at all except for right at the end and then I had maybe five or ten minute spell where I didn’t serve well. In terms of the way I struck the ball and hit the ball in the whole four matches it felt really good, so I’m happy with that. I’ll get ready for Australia now which is what I came here to win.
Laura you got better and better as the week went on.
(Robson) Ah – ish. I thought I played better against Lisicki than against Dementieva, but today was really good in the singles. I thought I played really good.
Were you surprised at how well you were able to play against Maria Jose?
(Robson) No I knew I could play that well, it’s just maintaining it throughout the whole match that was the problem.
It seemed like you went out there with a real attacking mode. Was that something that you set out to do? Was that a tactical thing?
(Robson) Well she plays quite a lot of spin on the ball so if you don’t take it early it bounces over my head, so I guess my only option was to attack it.
In terms of confidence though, what does a win like that do over the player ranking side of it? Are you more confident?
(Robson) I mean I was getting more confident through out the week anyway because I was playing good matches against these girls and now I’m going to go over to Melbourne full of energy.
Did you know Laura that you got a wildcard in qualifying for the Australian Open?
(Robson) Yeah I did.
Is that sort of a consolation for you today?
(Robson) Um no. It’s his fault anyway.
Do you feel you have a good chance of getting through that because of your form in this tournament?
(Robson) Yeah I guess I mean it depends on the draw and everything else. But even if I lose I’ll be there for juniors anyway.
Laura when did you hear about the wild card?
(Robson) Um I don’t know actually, it was my mum that told me, maybe this morning.
Before of after your singles match?
(Robson) Ah, before.
Andy you said this was the perfect preparation for the Australian open. Was this the loss that you might have needed to have? Things were going well, so well almost too well.
(Murray) I was just really happy with the way that I played the whole of the matches. You know I could have won today, won all three and still felt the same. Obviously I would have liked to have won but winning isn’t always the most important thing, especially when you’re going into a slam. I’m sure if you asked Federer how he was feeling this week going into Australia after losing to Davydenko I’m pretty sure its not going to put a whole lot of doubts in his mind. I feel like I’ve prepared well and I’m ready to play there. Whether I won or lost the match I’d still feel the same about it.
Andy what’s the rest of the preparation between now and the Australian Open? Do you plan to play in Melbourne beforehand?
(Murray) Well yeah I’ll speak to my coach and the guys I work with and decide. I’m sure I’ll play a match there just to get a match outdoors. We’re going to leave tomorrow morning and then just train hard for the first four or five days when I’m there, then relax over the weekend and get ready.
You said that this is great preparation for Melbourne does having to play inside make a difference?
(Murray) Yeah I mean ideally it would be outdoors but you can obviously practice on all of the off days and train hard this week on the off days as well outdoors to get acclimatised. You feel like you get into a rhythm quicker when you play indoors because obviously with out the wind and the sun outdoors. It’s good to get matches where you feel comfortable on the ball. You know ill practice a lot next week out doors and I’m sure I’ll be fine.
Andy you said yesterday you felt like you were in form that was good enough to win the Australian Open. Nothing has changed I guess even though you lost today?
(Murray) No I played great. You know it was up 6-1 and I didn’t for pretty much two sets give him any chance at all. He’s obviously played really well this whole week. I’m really, really happy with the way I was playing and I’m sure with another week of training and practising I’ll be playing better and if I can do that there’s a good chance I can win.
Just on Tommy, Andy. It wouldn’t have surprised you that he hung in there? He’s renowned as a player and he sort of did that against you today.
(Murray) Yeah he’s always been a tough player and he’s been around the top of the game a long time. I played him a few times and its always tough matches against him so I definitely expected him to come back and he did that well.
Compared to other years going into the Australian Open, do you feel that this is the best prepared you’ve ever been?
(Murray) Yeah I think so. Physically I feel good. It’s good to play back to back games as well. The back is a little bit stiff because obviously I haven’t played much in the last 6 or 7 weeks and to get the body used to playing spending a lot of time on the court, I feel really well prepared.
So your expectations for the Australian Open – do you feel this year it could be it? This could be the one?
(Murray) Yeah I feel good. I think I’m ready to win it. I just need to play well, if I do that then there’s no reason why I can’t. I feel like I’m serving well, moving well and playing the ball better than I have done for a long time in the back of the court and volleyed well this week. So there’s not a whole lot to complain about.
Laura you must have felt like you have one hand on one of those diamonds? How have you accepted the fact that you didn’t get one this year?
(Robson) It’s not a big deal.
It would be nice though wouldn’t it?
(Robson) Yeah those diamond balls are pretty. But I mean what do you do with that anyway?
(Murray) We were discussing that when we were sitting down before. I mean obviously they’re beautiful but I was saying we don’t really know what you do with them. They just sit there and you look at them. She was trying to explain to me ‘but its diamonds’. It doesn’t matter but I think she was a bit more disappointed about not getting one than me. I said she could buy one if she wants with her prize money.
(Robson) But that defeats the point.
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