US OPEN

September 3, 1998

Mary Pierce

Q. Can you go a long ways?

MARY PIERCE: I don't look at it that way. I just take every match as it comes, work hard to be ready for each match and just to enjoy it every time I step on the court, play hard and have fun. And in tennis anything can happen and a Grand Slam is long, anything can happen. There are a lot of great players you have to play against, so I just take every match at a time.

MARY PIERCE: I really don't put expectations -- I wouldn't say "Expectations." I think that every tournament I go in, of course you want to win. I have confidence in myself and I know that, you know, I believe in myself, so when I step on the court, it is to win, of course. But that -- I don't want to say that is secondary. It is always in my mind, but that is not the thing when I go on the court. If you think about winning or losing, it puts too much pressure on you. I play my best tennis when I just try and think of the process, of the outcome, enjoying every point and whatever comes out of it, will.

MARY PIERCE: I feel like I am playing great tennis right now. I feel like I am hitting the ball well. I think the main thing -- I wasn't able to prepare as good as I wanted to with my groin injury that I had in San Diego. That kind of lingered for the last few weeks. Preparation hasn't been that great. Physically, I wouldn't say that I am where I want to be, but mentally and my game, I feel very good.

MARY PIERCE: Thank you.

MARY PIERCE: I think so. I am just here to do my job. He is here to do his job. So that is it.

MARY PIERCE: I don't know.

MARY PIERCE: I don't know. My main goal lately this year is just to be healthy and if I stay healthy, I am able to train well and prepare well and be able to play on a consistent basis. That is what is missing in my career is the consistency. . I think my main goal is taking care of myself and being healthy.

MARY PIERCE: I think that the players should definitely have input with, you know, with whoever is in charge or organizing or putting it on because the players are a part of it. It is very important to the players to play Fed Cup, to represent your country and so it is important to speak to the players so that they are able to fit that into their schedule because our schedule alone is very demanding and we don't have an off-season and Fed Cup really takes a lot out of you even though you only play two or three matches, mentally it is lot more demanding than any other tournament that you play emotionally as well. It is really important to try and schedule it into the year, so, I think it is definitely important to have input.

MARY PIERCE: Was what difficult for me?

MARY PIERCE: What do you mean?

MARY PIERCE: It was their decision. There is nothing I can do. I told my captain how I felt and that I was available to play and under the circumstances and the situations and they didn't pick me. I wasn't selected for the team. So I just had to keep going and train and get ready for my tournaments.

MARY PIERCE: Well, obviously, it will take some great tennis and, you know, it is two weeks long like I have been saying and I like it - it is kind of nice to play a match, then have a day off; then play another match where you can rest; then get ready for your other match. I feel good. I am just looking forward to each match just to go out there and have fun and play hard.

MARY PIERCE: Always. You always have to have confidence in yourself when you step on the court.