WIMBLEDON

June 25, 2001

Ai Sugiyama

MODERATOR: Questions, please.

AI SUGIYAMA: I think at the beginning we both were very nervous, very tight. She pulled it out second set. Well, luckily I won the first set. Second set, she start to play better. I was still tight. It took so long to feel the way I play. Well, when first set and second set finished, then I feel like I got to do something different, otherwise I just freeze, playing with the tightness. It's not my tennis at all. I just tried to do a little bit more aggressive coming to the net, I just tried to do, and it worked out. It was very tough to play first round. But a lot of Japanese people were cheering me up. It helped me a lot. It was just so great to get through the first round.

AI SUGIYAMA: Yeah, I should get used to it by now. Still last two weeks I didn't play good. Well, I start to play good, but in practise and a match are real different. It was tough to have confidence. You have to come with a result. Also even when I was practicing good, I just couldn't believe myself. I should believe myself that I can play better, then it's coming out. I can play good tennis on grass court. I like it. I'm going to play better next round.

AI SUGIYAMA: My serve a little bit. My first percentage was pretty low today. I need to work on that. Also I can come into the net more. Every time I feel that I hesitate to come in, so it's not working good. You don't know where should I be. Play aggressive more.