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TMS - THE ERICSSON OPEN

March 22, 2001

Alexandra Stevenson

THE ERICSSON OPEN, MIAMI, FLORIDA

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. Looked good out there. You feel like you played well?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah. I served well. It was hard to return. It was windy. So I just got -- I focused and just got by with it.

Q. Seemed like big points when you came through.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah.

Q. A sign of maturity? You feel like you turned it around a little?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: What?

Q. You feel like it's a sign of maturity tonight?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah, I think so. I think in some of those moments I could have lost my serve. I was down a couple times in the big points and I've been working hard and I got those points.

Q. Seemed like you wrong-footed her a lot. Was that your strategy coming in?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah, just to mix it up and play my game and move her.

Q. She's been out of this a while, had back problems.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah.

Q. How about you, do you feel like this is an important year for you in your career?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yep. I think this is a good year. So far, it's been pretty good.

Q. Quarterfinals?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yep, and everything's going well right now. So just getting better each day.

Q. Seems like yesterday you made the big splash. It's been quiet for about a year and a half. You want to make some noise this year?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Definitely. I'm ready to make noise again. This time it's going to be for the next ten years. I went on a little hiatus. It was kind of hard to get used to everything, and it was just like a big thing all of a sudden, then you had to get ready for the next. So it took me a while, but I'm maturing. I think I'm a late bloomer, like a guy.

Q. We won't go there?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah, I'm not a guy. But guys mature later than girls do. So my game is more suited to a guy's game.

Q. You feel like there's less of a maybe microscope on you, that you just can go out and play your game without all these expectations?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: There's still a microscope on me I think, but I don't really care anymore. I kind of just said, "Oh, well, they can say what they say, they can write what they write and I just won't read it or listen to it."

Q. So you're not reading anymore, is that it?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: No, I don't read sports papers. My mom has trouble because she's a sports writer. She still reads them.

Q. You don't read your mother?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: No. I read about politics, I read about the Arts. But I don't read about sports. Only if Derek Jeter's in there, then I'll read it.

Q. Crush on the Derek man?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I think he's a good player. I'm not going to say I have a crush on him. I admire him.

Q. If I was a girl, I'd have a crush on him.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: (Laughing.)

Q. I want to be Derek Jeter. Have you ever had a chance to meet him?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Uh-huh. I made a big fool of myself.

Q. You made a big fool. What did you do?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: It's a long story. I just had a big smile on my face and I couldn't speak. (Laughing.) You know, like Ally McBeal, do you know her, I was Ally McBeal, it was just all over from there. I blew it.

Q. Your tongue was out to here, huh?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yeah. (Laughing.)

Q. When did you meet him?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: About a year ago.

Q. Where was it at? What was the occasion?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: I was down at IMG Academies, he was just visiting there and I was there, all sweaty. I didn't even look cute. But that's all right.

Q. Guys like sweaty women.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: (Laughing.)

Q. Who's next in the draw, have you looked?

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Dementieva. So that's a good rematch. I played her two years ago here in the qualifying and I lost 7-6 in the third, and so I'm ready to take her. I owe her one. (Laughing.)

Q. Battle of tall women.

ALEXANDRA STEVENSON: Yep. It will be a good match.

End of FastScripts....

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