PACIFIC LIFE OPEN

March 11, 2002

Alexandra Stevenson

MODERATOR: Questions for Alexandra.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Well, it was hard because she has no pace. I was just missing my shots and I wasn't keeping the ball on the court, so I had to figure it out and work hard. Unfortunately, I lost my serve at 4-3, and it went downhill from there in the third set. I mean, there's a lot of things I could have done much better than I did today. But I guess I'll have to do it next time.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: In the second?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Well, I was down 4-1, 6-1, 4-1. I just told myself I wasn't going to get killed by her because that would be kind of sad. I just had to work hard because she got everything back, and I brought it back. I thought I was going to win the third set, but I didn't. I made a couple errors, and she just kept the ball in, and I missed my shots.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I don't think so. I guess, I mean, there's a lot more things I need to learn. If I'd known how to do those today, maybe I would have won. But she -- can't really say much.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah. It was hard because she was like getting every single ball I hit back. I was running. It was dry and it was hot. I got a little tired. But I just said, "You can't get tired. You just have to keep moving." I tried to, but it didn't work out for me.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Well, I need to get to the net more and make the volleys. I missed key volleys. Match point I hit the volley bad. That made the difference, that I didn't get in enough, and I didn't move forward, and I let her hit lobs and high balls and get everything back. A couple times when I did move forward, it worked well, but I didn't do it enough. Against Amanda, you have to do that, or she's just going to get everything back all day long.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Very.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Because I wanted to win. I wanted to keep moving up. I'm just going to have to go back and go practice for the Nasdaq-100.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: No. Last night I thought I was playing Marrero. Obviously, Amanda won. This morning I found out I was playing Amanda. I never really thought ahead to Hingis. It's just one match at a time. It would have been nice to play her, but didn't get to. So maybe next week I'll play her.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I beat her in Tokyo 7-6 in the third. Close match again. She's always tough to play.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I just know how to play the game a little better. I think I'm quicker. I'm more mature. Just I'm getting smarter. I'm learning how to be a professional.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: They were great. Well, actually, it was nice getting to the semifinals, but I really wanted to win it. Losing to Lindsay was very upsetting because I got bageled, 6-1, 6-0 I think. I got killed. So I was humiliated on centre court. That wasn't so good. But making the record was nice. But I wasn't satisfied after. I mean, I wanted to win the whole thing. Getting to the semifinals is nice, but winning the plate is better.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Obviously, yes. I mean, tennis is entertainment. You see all the people out here watching tennis. I think they're trying to get a tennis channel going. That would be wonderful if we got the tennis channel going because we need it. In the '70s and '80s, tennis was huge in America. I think it needs to be going back to that. It would just be awesome for our sport to get on the top with basketball and football and baseball. We're like 25th on the list right now. I mean, being on stadium, you're entertaining people. There's nothing better. I'm doing a little bit of show business right now.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: My goal is to make The Championships, to get top 16 at the end of the year.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: As an American, I'd prefer it to be in America. As a southern Californian, it would be very cool if it was at the Staples Center. But I don't really know anything about it. I just read the USA Today article this morning like all you guys. That would be really cool.