U.S. OPEN

September 1, 1995

Mary Pierce

MARY PIERCE: Well, let us see. I think first of all, I have to give Amy a lot of credit. She played a great match. Because given the circumstances today, the wind was really tough, for me especially. It was swirling a lot. So I never felt that I could get used to it or get my rhythm or, you know, just get in the groove with my strokes at all. So I think I made way too many mistakes.

MARY PIERCE: Well, the first set was totally like I was swimming up creek. Nothing was working. I was making -- missing all my shots that I was going for. Then after the first set, I felt like I started getting used to it a little bit, and I started feeling at least I was playing a little bit better; second set was better. It was close. I felt I probably could have won the second set. Then hopefully start feeling better, better in the third set.

MARY PIERCE: No, not at all. I felt that there were people out there cheering for me too, so.... You know, those are things that me, personally, as a player, doesn't consist of winning or losing a match if I have got the public behind me or not that is just bogus. If they are behind me, it is even better, so...

MARY PIERCE: Just my forehand? Wow. I wish it was just my forehand. I think I was missing everything, my forehand, backhand. I think, you know, like I said before, she played a great match. She played deep. She didn't make that many errors which was tough today with the wind. I just tried to keep fighting for every point and tried to get in the groove and stayed down and stay with the ball and keep it in play, but it just didn't work.

MARY PIERCE: I think the season is not over have got --.

MARY PIERCE: I have got five tournaments left. Well, yeah, I am really disappointed, I have to be honest, because I started the year off better than I expected. And the rest of the year didn't go as I expected. So it is a little bit disappointing; especially for here which hard court is a good surface for me and I like to play here in New York. You know, for me losing the third round is just -- unexpected for me personally, from my expectations. I really felt like I was playing well, working hard, and I felt like I was ready.

MARY PIERCE: I don't know. I hope to find the solution soon, so I don't do it anymore.

MARY PIERCE: I don't know.

MARY PIERCE: I played Amy once two years ago in Philadelphia, lost the match. I think she won in three sets. I think, so, I mean, I knew that it was going to be a very tough match. I knew that she was going to be ready, and I knew that the way she played today was the way she was going to play. So, you know, just more on myself, I never could get my rhythm.

MARY PIERCE: Well, I mean, after winning the Australian, which was just like unbelievable which I didn't expect, it was like a dream come true to win my first Grand Slam tournament, the very first major of the year. It was just amazing when you win something like that; then you start to believe that you know you are finally ready to be able to at the top and play consistently week in and week out and be in the top with the other girls, and then the injuries and ilnesses I got made it hard for me to do that, so now I have been feeling well for the past two months, that is why I was really excited to play here.

MARY PIERCE: Not bad. Not bad. Pretty good, I can't complain, I guess. It has been okay, but, you know, little bit of -- not pain and suffering, but I mean, when you are sick and you are hurt, you can't really training or practice, that is probably a little tough to deal with too.

MARY PIERCE: I like Amy to win -- no, I am just kidding. I don't know.

MARY PIERCE: That is hard to say. I mean, it is really hard to say. There is Steffi, Conchita, Arantxa, there is probably a lot of other girls out there that I can just go on and say lots of other names. It is hard to say.

MARY PIERCE: No, got to the quarters last year, I think, so I was counting at least to do that well. But you know, when I go to every tournament I have the confidence that I believe I have the game that I can win the tournament, but I don't think to win the tournament. I think to just go out there and try play the best every match.

MARY PIERCE: That is hard to say. For Amy, personally, I couldn't really compare us or other players, but I mean, maybe in general, I mean, there is something different in the players in the people like Monica, Steffi and Martina and Chris Evert; that is why they were the top, that is why they are No. 1. There is something different in them than the other players which is obvious. That is what makes them a champion. I think if you go on the court and if you have the attitude to just go out and play and don't care if you win or lose, I mean, that is good, you probably are never nervous and you don't really care; it doesn't matter, but I think at least, me, personally, I go on the court and I really think I mean, I want to go out there and win and play good, and I just get really excited about it.

MARY PIERCE: What am I supposed to say, nightmare??

MARY PIERCE: Let us leave it at that.

MARY PIERCE: I don't want to think about it today. I am glad in a way that I am not playing mixed today. But, you know, it is going to be definitely fun.