Q. Patrick, the first few games, was that sort of just getting warmed up or was it a bit of nerves? A. Yes, I guess I didn't put my serve in the corners and near the lines as well as I would like to, just trying to find that rhythm and also trying to work his game out a little bit. He played a pretty loose couple of service games as well, which let me get back into that first set. I think it was just a matter of sussing each other out for the first few games.
Q. How much weight has lifted off your shoulders with a first round win? A. I'm very happy anyway, put it that way. It's just good to be on the score board.
Q. Was your confidence building throughout the whole match, do you think? A. Yeah, I think I sort of jumped the gun. After the second set I thought I had won the match. I felt pretty good about myself and then halfway through I had to knuckle down and make sure I concentrated on the rest.
Q. You said you wanted to get away last week and have time to yourself. Did you succeed? A. I did.
Q. You managed to avoid us all? A. Yeah, it was great. I got away to a really good spot where I got looked after fantastic. And there was no-one there; it was just myself and few of my mates playing tennis and playing golf and having a really good time. And all of a sudden I just felt a lot happier about myself. I felt like I worked really hard on the court and then I was able to relax and have some time off.
Q. Did that sort of help today, do you think? A. I think it helped me straight away the next day. I think I got down on - I started training Thursday, and straight after on Thursday afternoon I knew I was in the right environment.
Q. How are you feeling about your game at the moment, after today? A. Not bad. It's not as sharp as I would like it to be just yet, but I'm hoping that will come in another couple of matches, providing I can get through them.
Q. And Woody in the next round, how are you looking at that one? A. Mark is a very tricky player so I'm going to have to be on top of my game to win this match. There's not going to be any free points given away. He's a great competitor and I'm going to be at his heels all day as well.
Q. Pat, how conscious are you when you are playing - there are a lot of fellows out there singing and carrying on. Do you try and soak that up? Do you try and ignore it? A. Actually today they were pretty good. There were a couple of my mates up there who are going to go on the world chanting tour, I think, in all different sports, so these guys actually made it fun out there. I was really actually interested to see if they could get the whole crowd involved. Some of them tried as to get into it. But it was a fantastic feeling walking on the court there for the first time today. I walked out there and I actually got goose bumps and it was just a really nice feeling.
Q. How do you feel this time, this year, compared with last year? I mean last year you had a real struggle in the first round. Are you feeling a lot better about your game than you were a year ago? A. No, I don't think - I think I was probably a little more confident last year but this year I feel I'm building up to it a little bit better. I'm feeling probably a lot fresher than I was last year, there's no doubt about that. So that's a positive I do have.
Q. Patrick, I noticed Damien Oliver was trying to get the crowd going? A. I haven't seen Damien for a while but I know his voice though. He has got one of those jockey voices. No, he has been good mate, so I'm going to catch up with him tonight, I think. So it was funny.
Q. Just a quick one. You were at the meeting the other night. I didn't get a chance to hear what you thought about it? A. I walked out early.
Q. Do you have any thoughts on the issue about this Korda thing that you would like to share?
A. I'm very supportive of what Jim Courier said. My opinion on that is I think it's probably killing the sport. You know, I think if someone gets tested in any other sport - if someone gets tested in athletics or something and they get found positive, they are out straight away. That's not the case in tennis, and I think that should be the case, unless Petr has got a bloody good explanation, and we didn't hear it. So that was my feelings on it.
Q. Is that one of the reasons why you left, because there - -? A. They were avoiding it all the time. So I just didn't want to stick around for it any longer. I was straight after Goran, but I went through a back door. You didn't see me.
Q. Goran had to pull out. I guess that could be disappointing for some players not having - - -? A. For the party players. He's a great man, Goran. I really enjoy his company. So, yes, it's going to be unfortunate not to see him here this week. He makes me laugh.
Q. Who do you see the main opposition in your side of the draw? A. I haven't looked, so - but I do know there's a certain Philippoussis running around in my section. But there's, you know, there's Woodforde next match and that's what I'm concentrating on and I don't know who is next, so please don't tell me - if I do get by.
Q. What is your record against him, or how are you feeling sort of? A. Oh, Woodforde - I'm going to say 2-1 or 3-1 to me, something along those lines.
Q. Would you prefer not to meet another Australian at this tournament, being, you know, the home crowd sort of?
A. I think you have to expect it. I think there's close to probably 20 Australians in the draw, so I think it's very difficult to avoid them. Obviously, I prefer to play someone else; but on the positive side, one of us is going to get through. So you've got to look at it that way.
Q. Pat, you got out in three sets today? A. M'mm.
Q. Would you, you know, maybe taking a longer term view of the tournament, would you have preferred maybe a little more tennis out there or were you just pleased to get out of there? A. No; bloody happy to get off, mate, as soon as I can, because you don't want to expel too much energy too early on. If you are out there too long, I think, example, last year, you know, you are going to run into a pretty heavy schedule for the rest of the week; and I'm playing doubles here, so the sooner I get on and off, mate, the better.
Q. Can I ask you how you know Damien Oliver, please? A. I met Damien at the Coolum Classic Golf Tournament in, maybe beginning of, the end of 95, I think it was, and we actually just clicked; we got on really well, and he was in Hong Kong and then we spent a bit of time hanging out in Hong Kong, and again we got on pretty well. Yeah, we just catch up pretty well once a year, and have a good time, yeah. He knows how to have a good time.
Q. And those, Pat, those mates of yours, are they from anywhere in particular? A. Anywhere; I'm sure they are. I don't where they are from though. I think they are Sydney boys. They are going - after here, the Australian Open, I think they are going to the Caribbean for the tennis, for the golf - for the bloody cricket. And then I think they are going, then they are coming to Zimbabwe for Davis Cup and then they are going to Federation Cup in Austria, and then they are going to Wales for the rugby.
Q. Just having a bloody good time? A. Yes, well, I think they are trying to make it a bit of a living to get there and try to gather a big support group, and I think it's a great idea. I mean the Swedes come out here, the Dutch come out here and bring a big support group and I think they are trying to do the same.
Q. And the new look today Pat, casual no-collar look? A. Yeah. I'm not sure quite if I'm going to get in trouble for that yet. They took my shirt away and said "I want to have a look at it". I said, "No worries".
Q. What, a tournament official? A. Yes. But I got away with it on the first match. I don't know. I've just got to see. I'm trying to get the old beach look going. I'm trying to turn into a surfer. Because I can't surf, I'm trying to look like a surfer.
Q. Pat, there's a lot of positive buzz about tennis in this country now. For someone who comes here occasionally, you can see they way it's built the last few years. Do you feel some sense of pride that you have contributed to that? What goes through your mind when you see the enthusiasm that the sport seems to be generating? A. Not a huge amount; maybe a fraction. But the people here in Melbourne are - just support sport full stop. I mean rugby league came down here and they are supporting that.
Q. I'm sorry, do you feel responsible personally because of your successes that have helped contribute? A. Yes. I'm just saying Melbourne people will support any sport that comes down here if they have their team in. And I think tennis has grown probably a little bit bigger and bigger, because I think through word of mouth it's better to watch it live than on TV, and you can come out here and have a good time and I think that's the reason why it's getting bigger and bigger. Maybe I have half a per cent input on that, and you have to look at all the people that have helped with it, Cashy, and everything else as well.
