US OPEN

August 26, 2002

Alexandra Stevenson

MODERATOR: Questions for Alexandra, please.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yes, but I didn't do it in the match. It was a pretty pathetic match. Not much to say.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I didn't really pay attention. I was focused on this match. It didn't matter, the second round. I had to get past this match first, and I didn't.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: That I didn't play well, that I didn't play my best tennis for the US Open. It's disappointing to go out in the first round again. As an American, everything that's happened, I really wanted to do well here. I didn't perform well.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: It was great that they came. It's been sad since I've been back. But that's why I wanted to do well. I guess I just have to work on what goes wrong in Grand Slams. But it was wonderful that they came and supported me.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: It's devastating. That's the only word I can use for it.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I don't think it's my game. I just think something's wrong with my head when I get to a Grand Slam. It happened at Wimbledon. It happened today. I mean, I played fine last week. I let up a little bit against Hingis. Then the week before that, I played okay in the first rounds. I guess I have to figure out what's going on because something's happening out there. I'm not the same Alexandra as I am in another tournament.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I didn't really get distracted. I went on the court and I didn't play like Alexandra Stevenson should play. I must have had 20 double-faults, maybe 30.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: 18. So that usually never happens. I get upset when I get four. 18 double-faults is pretty unbelievable.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I think it was a domino effect. I mean, I tried to fight it off. I fought so hard. Everything I did worked against me. It's just hard to explain, as an American, seeded for the first time here, I really wanted to do well. It's the fifth year that I've lost in the first round.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: No. It was a long time ago. I guess maybe I should. I mean, I played well here as a junior. As you said, I won the junior doubles. But doubles isn't the same as singles. Lucky I'm 21, I guess.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: No. It was just an Alexandra Stevenson defeat. This is the Grand Slam that as an American you look forward to. It's in New York City, the best city in the world. It's on your home turf. You have the crowd, you have the excitement. It's just, as I said before, it's devastating that you go out in the first round again.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I definitely know it's a Grand Slam. I guess I just have to think it's just another tournament, and I don't think I'm doing that I guess on the court. I did say it's just another tournament, but it happened again. It has to stop.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Work through?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Hopefully. Or it's going to be a long 10 years on the tour. I did it once before in '99. I was loose, and it was because I was 18 and no one knew who I was. I played good tennis. I hit the ball, I served well. I haven't done that in these tournaments because everyone knows who I am, I guess. I don't know. I guess I just have to figure out what I'm doing, because I'm not loose and I'm not serving well and I'm double-faulting. I mean, I fought hard, but it wasn't good enough.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: No, I love being on Grandstand. It was the first time I actually played there for singles. I love the crowd. I don't think it would matter on an outside court or on an inside court tonight.