US OPEN

September 10, 2005

Mary Pierce

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Mary, please.

MARY PIERCE: She's a great girl, you know. She's a champion. She's been No. 1 in the world, now she has a Grand Slam title to her name. You know, I'm happy for her.

MARY PIERCE: Not at all.

MARY PIERCE: Oh, no, no (laughing). Not at all. I was able to get through my match against Mauresmo, able to get through yesterday against Elena. It was not a factor why I won or, you know, lost today.

MARY PIERCE: Thank you. Definitely. Of course, uhm, big disappointment right after the match, even during at certain times. But that lasted for a few minutes and, uhm, you know, then I just really have everything in perspective in the big picture of things. You know, there's always a reason for everything. I firmly believe in that, and it's always for the best. Maybe it's not exactly what I would like at the time and when I would like it, but I believe strongly in that.

MARY PIERCE: You know, I knew in the very first game, when she came back to 30-All, I knew it was going to be tough, a very tough match. She's got a different style than any girls I've played against this week, or these two weeks. You know, haven't played Kim in over a year and a half. And, you know, last time I lost to her was completely different, you know. It was indoors and I was a different person, player, I guess athlete you could say, at that time. So I came in probably expecting something a little bit different and, uhm, you know, I knew it was going to be a tough match in the first game when she got back to 30-All, so...

MARY PIERCE: I don't really see anything different.

MARY PIERCE: You know, not really. I don't think anything really had to do with that in particular. You know, before this match, I felt really good, you know. I was ready for it, I was looking forward to it, I really wanted it. And, you know, just today was definitely not my day. And I'm looking forward to see the tape, watch the match and see the stat sheet, very curious about my unforced errors. But, you know, I give all the credit to Kim because today, you know, she was obviously the better player; that is why she won. She made me play bad, I guess you could say, because she is quicker than all the other girls that I've played so far. She got another ball back every time. And even when I would hit a good shot that usually would either win a point or set up a winner for the next shot against other girls, you know, Kim would hit another ball back and, you know, I'd know I'd just made a mistake. That was basically how I felt how that match was going.

MARY PIERCE: If not the best, one of the best, definitely, yeah.

MARY PIERCE: Yeah, Kim is fast, you know. There are fast girls out there on the tour as well, but, you know, Kim is just solid, you know. I think she gets real far behind the baseline and she slides, even on hard courts, and gets balls back. And not just get them back but, you know, hit a fairly decent shot, and deep. So, you know, I would definitely say that that is probably her strength, yeah.

MARY PIERCE: I don't know. I thought it was going to be an ending point if I won it, but I guess not. I guess this is a key point, right (laughing)? You know, it's just been amazing. It's just been a great year, especially this summer since the French Open. Since then, you know, I've only lost, you know, two matches basically. So I'm feeling really good, and I think I'm playing well. You know, I just really feel like having a break right now, and not thinking about anything to do with tennis for the moment. Then figure out -- well, obviously, hopefully my next goal for the rest of the year that would motivate me would hopefully be to be in the championships at the end of the year. So hopefully to do well in other tournaments to hopefully do that.

MARY PIERCE: Oh, I don't know. I mean, I don't know. I really just keep playing because I feel like that's what I should be doing right now with my life. Once I feel that I should be doing something else, then I will do that. But, obviously, I'm supposed to keep playing some more, so I'm not done yet.

MARY PIERCE: You know, I really, in a sense, in a way, I don't. Because it's all -- the only thing I think is that we talk about, is age. And it's a number. You know, I'm 30; he's 35. I really don't put an age on anybody, you know. Because even there are some kids that are doing great things at a young age, you know. So I think we look at age a lot and, you know, maybe, maybe not, that makes a big deal or not. But, you know, Andre is fit, probably as fit as he's ever been. You know, he's playing great tennis. It's an amazing ball. So I'm not surprised that he's doing so well.

MARY PIERCE: Hey, you know, it's her life. She can do -- she can live it however she wants and whatever makes her happy, you know.

MARY PIERCE: It's definitely different. It's changed a lot. It's a lot more intense, it's a lot tougher, the competition's tougher week in, week out. It takes a lot out of you mentally, physically, emotionally.

MARY PIERCE: I did.

MARY PIERCE: No, not at all (laughing). She's a great athlete.

MARY PIERCE: (Nodding).