U.S. OPEN

September 1, 1994

Mary Pierce

MARY PIERCE: Yeah, it sure did. She played really well. I mean, the conditions were a little bit tough, it was very windy, so you had to adapt almost every time you changed sides, but she really never gave up she played very, very deep and her forehand, she had a lot of good shots-- my shots I kept on missing few inches every time, so...

MARY PIERCE: Well, I was doing that a little bit to try and change the pace because she was really hitting the ball well and so I didn't want to keep doing the same thing. She had a good rhythm.

MARY PIERCE: I don't know what it is with my stomach. I might have probably just ate too much before I went out and played.

MARY PIERCE: I just had pasta.

MARY PIERCE: No, her backhand is a little different than mine.

MARY PIERCE: Well, I feel great, great shape and I feel, you know, in practice that I was a little sour, but tonight it's hard to say how good I'm playing because the conditions were very tough. It was very windy, so I wasn't happy about how I played tonight, though.

MARY PIERCE: My first match I thought I played pretty well. I just have to play a little better than tonight, but I feel I'm concentrating well.

MARY PIERCE: Yes, I couldn't tell you what it is. I don't know what it was. These little chewy things, like Sunburst.

MARY PIERCE: I felt that after the French I needed a little bit of a break and, you know, I don't regret anything. I enjoyed every day that I had and I think I spent them well. I took a little rest and also worked very hard in Florida.

MARY PIERCE: I try not to pay too much attention to those things. The courts aren't very fast. They're medium, I would have to say, and the balls, I mean, just like when it's windy, they were flying a lot tonight. But I like the balls, actually, a lot.

MARY PIERCE: Yes.

MARY PIERCE: My instinct is just when I'm out there and moving and see the ball coming to me, I don't really think, well, she's there, here's the ball, let me hit over there. It's like I already know and I just hit the ball and it goes there.

MARY PIERCE: I haven't done to much of that in the past. I feel more of my personality of how I am off the court is coming more on the court. So maybe those are things, hopefully, that you'll be seeing more in the future, because I really enjoy it out there and I have fun and it's nice to know and feel the crowd is having fun too.

MARY PIERCE: It's close to my bedtime.

MARY PIERCE: 10:00.

MARY PIERCE: Yes, I do, actually when I'm done at the tennis academy in Florida I play basketball a lot with the guys and some girls there, I ride bikes, a little bit of soccer.

MARY PIERCE: Can I win --

MARY PIERCE: I understand the question. Those are tough questions. Do you want me to say "Yes"? I'm not going to say "No." I have confidence in myself, but I'm not going to say "Yes." There are too many girls playing too well.

MARY PIERCE: No, I never do. I come to every tournament wanting to win, but not thinking I'm going to win or lose. I just go after every match and concentrate and give it my best and that's basically all. I don't really think I'm going to go out there and beat Gaby today, or lose to Steffi, I just think I'm going out there and see who I'm playing and I just try to win.