US OPEN

August 29, 2003

Meghann Shaughnessy

MODERATOR: Questions, please.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Yeah, as far as being in a Grand Slam and beating a seeded player, it's been my biggest win since Venus.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Yeah, I mean, I started this year off really well. In Australia I won the first tournament of the year, then made the quarters of The Open. Then did well in Scottsdale, in Miami. Yeah, I started the year off great. Then I've just had a little letdown here during the summer. But I'm just working on some things and I know it's gonna come around.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: I just kept telling myself to keep fighting. And the crowd was great, it was pretty full and everyone was cheering for me. They were there, rooting me on. So they helped out a lot. I just kept fighting, tried to start playing more aggressive because the first set she played great. The first set she was controlling most of the rallies and running me around a lot. I just tried to just change the momentum of the match a little bit.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Very impressed in the first set. I felt like I played a pretty solid first set. She stepped it up there in the end. Then she let down a little bit, she got a little bit angry. I took advantage of that.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Why did she get angry?

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Ask her (laughing).

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: No, no.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: I wish I was that confident right up to the second set. But, yeah, I definitely felt like the momentum changed right there at the end of the second set. I picked it up there. She got a little bit discouraged. I started playing better, I started moving better, looking more for my forehand and doing more with the point. That was the main difference.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: I knew I was gonna have to play well. She's been having a great year. I definitely felt like I should win this match.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Yeah, it's the US Open and I feel like I'm starting to play better again. I've had a little bit of slump the last few months, but I feel like I'm playing well again and I'm starting to really fight and want to be out there. So I definitely feel like I should win that match, walking into it.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: The last time we played was in Indian Wells this year.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Well, I think everybody goes through times where they lose a little bit of motivation or whatever. But, yeah, I mean, there have been times out there that I've just lacked a little bit of confidence and will to be out on the court. And I feel like I'm getting that again.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Yeah, I mean, she's playing great tennis. She's really on fire. She's been on fire all year, so I'm definitely gonna have to go out there and go for my shots. But I've beaten her before. We'll see what happens.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: I think -- no, she's definitely on another level now than she was last year. I mean, she's pretty much, you know, winning or making finals every week. So she's found that consistency and she really believes that she can be the best. And she's right there at No. 1 right now. So it's -- no, she's definitely stepped it up a level.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Yeah, she's great. She's got such a nice personality. I mean, every day I see her she's happy. She loves what she does. I think that's a big part of the reason why she's doing so well. She's happy. I mean, she thinks it's great that she can walk out on the court every day and play tennis. She loves it.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: I think the best thing about today was just the fight. I mean, the actual tennis on, you know, both my part and her part wasn't great. It was -- the conditions were difficult. It was really windy out there. It was swirling. So both of us were struggling a little bit with our rhythm. I'd have to say the best thing was just the fight that stood out.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Yes.

MEGHANN SHAUGHNESSY: Yeah, definitely. I would have loved to have been here earlier, but I'm here now. I'm gonna go out there with Kim and do everything I can.