Q. How was that, mate?
A. It's good to get through. I mean, the first one's always a little bit tough. You're not quite sure what you're going to expect out there. It's a different court to last week. I really haven't had a lot since I've been here. I got in late Sunday night, and I'm very happy to get through that, anyway.
Q. You've Jonas next match.
A. We know each other's game very well and I think it's just a matter of who's playing better on the day, because, you know, I know his style of game, he knows my style, and we've just got to try and sort each other out when we get out there, and we've got probably doubles tomorrow as well. So we're trying to hit each other in the back of the head, I think, as many times as we can.
Q. Pat, Jana Novotna said the courts were playing like hard courts, they're really hard at the moment, it's been sunny. Is that how you see it?
A. Yes, a little bit. The court is quite hard and quite bouncy, but you still don't have the kick and the bounce is a little bit different still from the hard court, and also the movement is a little bit different from the hard court as well. But other than that, it is pretty firm. The English weather's been good to us.
Q. That suits you, obviously?
A. Yes, yes, it's not too bad. As I said, still the movement is not great. If it stays hot like this, I think the second week will just only get better and better.
Q. I suppose you've heard about Jelena Dokic. What do you think about that?
A. We watched it in the locker room. It was great. She played fantastic. You know, she's struggled since probably the Australian Open of this year. She hasn't really had too many good performances but that was very, very impressive out there. We really enjoyed it in the locker room. Everyone did.
Q. What do you think she can do, without putting too much pressure on her?
A. Who does she play? You guys should know this.
Q. She's got Spirlea.
A. I think you should look at one match at a time. I think it's pretty important that you don't get ahead of each other on these sorts of things, because then you start putting a lot of pressure on her. But, yes, if she plays anything like she did today, there's no reason why, you know, she can't go on and do very well.
Q. Generally for her career, though, this experience, whatever happens?
A. Well, she's going to be good anyway. I think she's only 16. You know, I think we said that at the beginning of the year, especially after the Hoffman Cup, there was definitely a lot of potential there and it was just a matter of time, she can just learn to play with the big girls a bit more.
Q. Is that a disadvantage in Australia that they don't get to play with the big girls as often, you know, at an early age?
A. No. She's ready for it, yes. Did she play juniors this year at the French?
Q. I don't think so.
A. I like talking about her rather than me, so keep asking me questions about her.
Q. Was it a big crowd in the locker room from Australia?
A. A few, all the Aussies were watching and there were a few Americans as well. I won't name everyone but, you know, there was a lot of interest running around. I think it hasn't been since Graf lost to McNeil that you saw an upset like that. '93, was it?
Q. '94. How was your reaction about the cricket game?
A. I was very happy about the cricket.
Q. You had a party?
A. Well, I had to go out and play, but it was raining all day in Holland as well, so I was watching it on the Internet, and we were watching it ball by ball. Yes, the Internet, it's sort of hard to watch it too, but it was fun.
Q. Pat, you're one of the finest volleyers in the game. Can you say, is there one specific thing that you do to make a volley effective, that you keep in your mind?
A. At the moment, I'm not really volleying quite as well, so I don't know what that is, but usually you try to get down to the level of the ball. That's probably the best tip you can get for a volleyer. That's what I try to do. It's not really working right now.
Q. How do you get yourself to improve if you feel you're not doing well right now?
A. Go back on the court and keep working hard until you get the feel and the touch of it.
Q. In comparison, say, to the US Open last year, and to now, how's the feeling?
A. I don't know. After Halle, I felt like I was hitting the ball really well and Rosmalen, I started playing pretty well and the last couple of matches I just didn't serve well. A bit of the touch went and it wasn't really there today either, so I'm going to get back out on the court tomorrow and do a bit of work and hopefully on the doubles match, if I do play, I can work on it a bit. The US Open, the last couple of years I've gone in there with a lot of confidence. I definitely don't have that style of confidence just yet.
Q. You've got the next chance here to be number 1 after the tournament. You've got that in your head already again?
A. Jonas is a tough match, so if I get past Jonas maybe I can get it in my head. But I still do need a good result here as well.
Q. Fourth round?
A. At least.
Q. Is it like there's a burn inside you, Pat, you want to win this tournament?
A. I think every Grand Slam you want to really do well and really win. It's not just this one, it's every one, and this is an opportunity. It's a very good opportunity for me to do very well here. It's a very open draw, and I really haven't had that great success here yet. So it's in the back of my mind that I would like to have a really good tournament here.
Q. What would you rather do, win Wimbledon or be number 1 in the world?
A. Win Wimbledon, but if I win Wimbledon I will be number 1.
Q. You mentioned that you were watching the cricket on the Internet. Do you travel with a laptop?
A. No, it was computers at the tennis tournament. I didn't know how to work a computer.
Q. That was the question, if you ever go on the Web or stay in touch with Email?
A. I don't. I don't have an Email address. I have nothing like that.
Q. You look so relaxed when you're playing doubles. Is that the most important thing to do?
A. Yes, instead of doing the practice on the court you can still get the match practice and be very relaxed. Doubles is something that, instead of practising, I play doubles, and I go out there with that attitude, like a practice session, so I'm very relaxed, but win or lose, it doesn't matter.
Q. Have you got an opinion on the women's push for equal prize money?
A. Is this a Tim Henman question? Anyone from The Mirror here? They're doing very well, so I mean, you know, they're getting good crowds, so, you know, there's no reason why in the future, or very shortly, that they can't have equal prize money. I think in the future the women and men should get together in the tournaments.
Q. Does it matter that they don't play as many sets?
A. Well, they get the crowds, and that's what it's all about.
Q. So finance it by maybe taking some of yours?
A. No, there's plenty of other money out there.
Q. Will they ever work under the one umbrella?
A. I think they should. I think it's very narrow minded of both organisations if they can't come to a conclusion on it. I think they should. I think, yes, I think it's definitely a possibility.
Q. Will you be on the steering committee for that?
A. No, I'm not pushing anything. But I'm not going to get on the board or committee of any of those. But I still think it should happen.
