US OPEN

September 2, 2000

Lisa Raymond

THE MODERATOR: First question for Lisa.

LISA RAYMOND: You know, I think the 4-1 game was huge. I think if I would have just consolidated that second break, you know... But I kind of let her back in that game, then I got tight on my serve. So it was just a matter of, you know, a couple points really changing the momentum.

LISA RAYMOND: Yeah, I think if I would have -- who knows? Who knows what would have happened if she wouldn't have gotten that first point. 15-love, just kind of made a lot more relaxed...(Inaudible). Being up two breaks and feeling a lot more freer in that game.

LISA RAYMOND: Well, not really. I mean it was more of a -- more where I just put a little too much pressure on myself I think, instead of just playing the tennis that I played to get to that point. I kind of the got a little bit lax and allowed her to dictate again.

LISA RAYMOND: Not really. I think I did a really good job of kind of putting everything that happened behind me. At least when I went out there for my singles matches, you know, this is what we play for, the Grand Slams. And, you know, if you can't get up for these, then I don't think you should even be out here.

LISA RAYMOND: I think, again, I did a pretty good job of just putting everything behind me and, you know, realizing that this is a Grand Slam, let's go, this is what we train for. You know, I probably could have been a little bit more physically prepared, that's for sure but, you know - and maybe a little bit more mentally. But, again, I think with the circumstances, I think I did a pretty good job.

LISA RAYMOND: Yeah, it's very, very difficult. I hear something every day. Either I read something, I hear something in the locker room, you know. When I'm signing autographs, someone will say something to me. You know, sometimes I watch the tennis at night. They bring it up. So it's definitely, in a sense, it's very difficult to put it behind me. But personally, I have. You know, but, you know, obviously if people talk to me about it, I'm not going to say, "I'm not going to talk about it," I'm going to voice my opinion and carry on.

LISA RAYMOND: Yes, I've said it all along, the support I've gotten has just been beyond positive. It's just been everyone from strangers to friends to other players have been so supportive in what I've done. You know, the stand I took. And, you know, even after the decision, you know, everyone kept voicing their opinion to me and saying you did the right thing by fighting this.

LISA RAYMOND: Well, again, I was up Love-30 I think in that game. But a great point, she passed me across the court. You know, who knows if I would have been up Love-40, I could have broken her there. So it was very close. I think it could have gone either way obviously in that second set, and, you know, I think I stopped really taking it to her. And, you know, against Mary, you have to. She's too good. She'll just sit back there and just rip balls all day long trying to be aggressive. You have to put her on the defense.

LISA RAYMOND: No, not at all. Again, this wasn't against me and Serena, you know. And I don't expect anything from her.

LISA RAYMOND: Well, again, in a sense it was. But yet I feel like I didn't have to -- I don't have to prove anything - singles, doubles. My past results have proven I'm a good doubles player, I'm a good singles player, my ranking proves that in both events. And, you know, I'm still in the doubles and, you know, we're certainly going to go for it; that's for sure.

LISA RAYMOND: Actually, I'm going to take some time off. I've really been -- I've got two pretty bad feet, and, you know, I need to really assess my fall schedule and really just, you know, take four, five weeks almost and kind of figure out, talk to my doctors and figure out what we're going to do with it.

LISA RAYMOND: It's two -- both feet have got a really bad case of plantar fascitis. My heels, they're extremely bruised heels. They really don't know exactly what to call it, but it's just a matter of a lot of rest. And, you know, I've been playing so much since I mean May, you know, March, April, May, through the summer, and, you know, it's unfortunate that I'm going to have to take -- I think the indoor season is probably my best other than the grass, but I have to take time off. It's just -- I'm afraid that something really bad could happen to me if I don't.

LISA RAYMOND: I think so. I think at least for the first, you know, week or so, two weeks. Then I'll probably go back down to Orlando and work out with my trainer and, you know, at least, you know, maintain if not get in even better shape.

LISA RAYMOND: For fun. I'm sorry?

LISA RAYMOND: One thing about the Open that's always great for me is I see a lot of friends and family, you know, are here. So, you know, it's always great to see those faces I haven't seen for so long. And, you know, it's, you know, I've been at the courts like I mean all day, every day, playing mixed doubles and singles. So, you know, maybe I'll, you know, do some shopping or something now, now that I'm out of singles.

LISA RAYMOND: Yep, they're here.