WIMBLEDON

June 25, 2005

Mary Pierce

THE MODERATOR: Mary Pierce.

MARY PIERCE: Thank you. Getting there. Feeling more at ease with each match. Happy with my victory today.

MARY PIERCE: Quarterfinals, yeah.

MARY PIERCE: I don't know. I don't really think like that and look too far into the future. I'm just taking things moment by moment. I have a mixed doubles match next on, so that's my next thing I'm thinking about. I'm just enjoying being here and every day. You know, last year I lost first round, so I'm definitely doing a lot better than last year. I just feel like I'm improving with every match I'm playing on grass. I hope that it keeps continuing in that manner. Just see what happens, you know, just match by match.

MARY PIERCE: Well, I've wanted to play mixed with him for a while, and it's just never really worked out yet. Then it just kind of happened, not really last-minute, but, you know, I thought, "Okay, why not?" I'm not playing doubles here. I think I can physically playing singles and mixed doubles. I've always wanted to play with him. He's a great player. I'm looking forward to it. It should be a lot of fun.

MARY PIERCE: Not a whole lot has changed. You know, I just took a week off after that, rested, started training and preparing for Wimbledon. That was my next new focus. I was very much looking forward to competing again. I just feel like I'm really on a good path right now and just continue every day trying to improve and, you know, keep working hard. I feel like I'm at a decent level physically and play-wise, but definitely have room for improvement and want to improve and hopefully will improve. You know, that's pretty much what I look forward to every day.

MARY PIERCE: On my outlook?

MARY PIERCE: Nothing at all.

MARY PIERCE: My dad will not be attending matches. He hasn't in a long time. We see each other practically every day when I'm at home in Florida.

MARY PIERCE: I don't know. You know, they're the best people to ask.

MARY PIERCE: You know, I don't know. I think Serena and Venus are really interesting girls. I like them a lot. I have admiration for them and respect. I think they're doing a lot of great things for women and sports on and off the court. Very interesting. I think that they're really the best ones to ask I think of what's going on with them.

MARY PIERCE: Yeah, most of the time because most of the people I play against are younger and not as experienced as I am. So I feel that I can see things on the court in a different way than I had in the past, obviously, 10 years ago. When I play against girls that are either half my age, five years or 10 years younger than me and don't have as much experience, I kind of see things. You know, I mean, that's just why they say experience, it does help, it does make a difference. It doesn't mean you're going to beat everybody, but it definitely helps.

MARY PIERCE: Not in charge mentally (laughter).

MARY PIERCE: I think it's a combination of things. I think definitely with experience, you know, days that go by and things that you experience good and bad, they add to your wisdom. I also have changed over the years. I think that's a good thing. I always look forward to that every day, as well, you know, trying to learn something about myself or others, on and off the court always looking to improve.

MARY PIERCE: Well, what could I say? You know, just more experienced. You know, calmer. I just see things differently, do things differently as well. You know, not a huge, huge change because I'm still the same person. There's not really any secrets to anything. Hard work always pays off.

MARY PIERCE: You know, I just think I'm able to know more my game and my opponent's game. If I need to, to adapt while I'm playing. But, you know, I try to be an all-court -- you know, be an all-court kind of player, be able to do everything on the court.

MARY PIERCE: Well, I think also for their color, it's great. You see a lot other girls that are coming out now, young girls in the USTA that are coming out and playing. I think that was great. We had Zina before and Laurie. You know, just for young girls in general, to get them out there and play sports and have confidence in themselves. I think Venus and Serena do have confidence in themselves and they go after what they want and they know what they want. I think those are great qualities to have. To dream and to know that things can become reality.

MARY PIERCE: You know, I don't know. I don't look at things that way actually. I look at things totally differently. If you're happy and you're doing what you want to do, it's great. That's all that really matters.

MARY PIERCE: I think so, at least for right now. I can't really tell the future. You know, that's how the women's game has been the last few years. You know, different girls are winning the Grand Slams, different girls are winning tournaments each week. You've got new girls, young girls that are coming up as well. It just makes it for a lot of depth on the tour and a lot more challenging as a player. Not as many easy matches. There are none any more. As a player, it keeps you on your toes. You're just constantly wanting to improve physically in your game as well.

MARY PIERCE: I don't think so. I don't think so. I think you need to always -- you know, you're going to reach a certain level, hopefully your best level. You know, there's always younger girls that are coming up that are taller, stronger, faster, hit harder. At least in my opinion, you always need to keep improving.