I felt like I needed to (get more aggressive), ... I need to make these guys scared of my forehand, and that's what I tried to do today. I tried to serve with a little bit more authority and ended up hitting my second serves great.
I felt like I hit the ball pretty well, especially my forehand, which was the shot that essentially won me the match,
I felt like I hit the ball better than I normally do in the first round. I was in control.
I felt good because, you know, even the points I was losing, I felt like I was losing them on my terms. I thought I was hitting the ball big and attacking. It felt clean today.
I felt comfortable with every aspect of my game out there. I was hitting the ball pretty good and getting a lot of success with the slice.
I feel like I'm hitting the ball well. Now I just need to find my playing form.
I feel like I'm hitting the ball well, I feel like I'm moving well. I just want to keep getting through the rounds.
There were a lot times I hit the ball fine in the corners and he got back to return it. It was frustrating.
I was kind of playing catch-up there in the second set. But I actually feel I hit the ball better in the second set than the first.
Early on I felt he was hitting the ball a little cleaner than I was but I managed to sneak a break and once I got the break back in the second set I really started playing well.
To have him hit a running lob on match point, that's a good shot. It's disappointing and something you wish you could take back and try again.
With the exception of a bad four-game stretch, I competed really well. I felt I did a lot of things well. In the third set I decided to try to take it to him more and hit harder and deeper.
The was the slowest second serve I've hit since I was 12. I guess he wasn't expecting it.
He's pretty aggressive from the baseline. He's not super big but he can hit great shots,
You know, I still love the innocent parts of the game. I love hitting tennis balls. I love seeing the young guys do well. I'll still have a lot of friends to watch. I'll miss the relationships probably the most. As time passes, I'll probably miss the tennis more.
His serve is probably the biggest weapon in tennis, ... You can't teach being 6-foot-10. It's like he's serving out of a tree. Just the angles that he's able to create, he makes you hit his serves over your head where you're normally hitting them from around your hip.
It's just a little frustrating right now. I felt like tonight I actually hit the ball better than I have over the last two weeks. I came off the court not really thinking I did a whole lot wrong. The guy was pretty much ripping winners from all angles.
I knew it would be tough today, Tommy has been in great form early this year. I'm happy with the way I'm hitting the ball.
It wasn't a whole lot of fun out there, ... I tried to at least hit a volley, make him work a little bit. And that started to work a little. His percentage dropped later, so I was getting a look at his second serve.
I think I would have beaten most people today but credit where it's due, he played a very good match. The shots he was able to come up with were very good. I was surprised that he was able to lean in and hit some of the backhands. ... I haven't seen that before.
I don't know whether it was his movement or hitting the ball on the run. He's not afraid to be stretched out. If he plays like he played today he's got a shot (against Hewitt).
He served real well and that got him out of trouble a lot. He returned well. I hit a bomb and he'd block it back and I'd be back to neutral again.
There's always stuff to work on. Obviously, the whole goal is to play well at the Open, ... You kind of try to find your game and find your comfort level and really try to hit your stride. I've always played a pretty heavy schedule in the summer.
But that's not the reason I lost the match. He wanted it more than I did. He is hitting the ball better than I am right now. I didn't come here ready to play. I'll regroup and move on.
You're right on as far as that one. Backhands, I didn't hit it well. You're absolutely correct.
At the start of the third, I was able to hit the ball harder and deeper. That was key for me.