US OPEN

August 31, 1998

Mirjana Lucic

Q. Please explain what happened with you?

MIRJANA LUCIC: Can you give me a specific question?

MIRJANA LUCIC: After Wimbledon -- before Wimbledon, I had chickenpox, so didn't play for about a month and ten days, something like that or month, I don't know. And before Wimbledon I played only seven days and I started too early after Wimbledon I started getting fever again. I didn't feel good and I had some personal problems, so, most of all was just the problem that I wasn't healthy so, that was the problem.

MIRJANA LUCIC: I think I am the best when it is tough. I think I am very good at that, and I like to fight hard. When it is hard, I like to give my best and to just to get out of every tough situation, I think I am doing that well, so, this time I also -- when I went into the court I tried just to forget everything that was going on and all the bad things and just focus on my tennis, that is what I did well today.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Well, there were a lot of things going on. I mean, for all these years, I guess all of you probably know reading the paper, so, it was just very tough time. Mentally and physically I couldn't handle that anymore. So --

MIRJANA LUCIC: I already answered the question why I didn't play Fed Cup. A lot of it was going on all these years, so.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Definitely. I feel great I am here with my family, my mom, sisters, and two brothers, and I just feel the happiest in the world. It is the first time in my life that I really enjoy tennis and I am having such a great time. I practiced at Nick Bollettieri's Academy for two weeks. I had a great practices there and I am just having fun. I am feeling great.

MIRJANA LUCIC: What break? What do you mean?

MIRJANA LUCIC: Well, everything kind of happened in Wimbledon. So, as I said, it was going on for a long time and I just -- there was a time when I couldn't handle it anymore and I just had to quit.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Yeah. I mean, I did everything to protect myself and my family, and I feel very safe. I feel very good.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Yeah, I mean, I have protection. I feel great. As I said, I took all the steps and, you know, I am on the tennis court. That is what I always wanted to do. That is what I do the best. That is what I love to do. So --

MIRJANA LUCIC: I am fine. I am fine. On and off the court I am fine.

MIRJANA LUCIC: I don't know what you want -- I don't know what -- do you want me to explain how it was? I don't think it is very exciting. I don't think people want to know about it. So -- I am here to play my tennis and to concentrate and I don't like to remember all those bad moments. I don't feel really -- a lot of journalists, I have got a lot of attackings in the papers so I feel like I don't deserve that anymore. I just want to play my tennis and enjoy myself.

MIRJANA LUCIC: No, we haven't thought about that at all.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Great. Very good.

MIRJANA LUCIC: I don't think it is a good example, but I mean, parents are obviously -- I mean, it is not just my case. It is not the other cases, a lot of them that I saw, and I know it is still going on, a lot have to a lot of players and I saw that, I realize that. It is just not right. A lot of them say even -- I was telling before that I enjoy myself, that I am feeling great. Obviously it wasn't like that. A lot of players are saying the same things, but I mean, parents have to be there to support you. I mean, my family was there with me today and I almost -- every point I look at then and all I get was this (indicating making fist) Come on, that is great. That is the only thing the players should get from their parents. They should have a coach, or sparring partners, whoever they have, but from their parents, their family, they have to only get the best support.

MIRJANA LUCIC: As I said before, I was two and a half weeks at Bollettieri's and I was just having such a great time there, practiced a lot, and just enjoyed myself. And tonight I really tried to concentrate to play my game, not to make many mistakes because I haven't played any matches since Wimbledon. I did one match in San Diego, so that was it. So I mean, I was maybe a little bit nervous, maybe not really nervous, but I haven't played in a long time. But when I went on the court and really -- because I was hitting the ball very good all this time these two 1/2 weeks. I felt very good before I concentrated and went to play.

MIRJANA LUCIC: We went there and I liked it very much, so think we are planning to stay there. I got a lot of support there, so, hopefully it will stay like that.

MIRJANA LUCIC: It happens. As I said, if you don't play many matches, that is what happens. But, I am satisfied. I am happy the way I played today. I know -- I mean I was very relaxed and I know that it will come, just when I start playing tournaments, a little bit more matches, I know it will be there.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Definitely. I am very competitive. I love to play matches and play tournaments. But as I said, first time in a long time that I am having fun and enjoying myself and at the same time trying to stay positive and focus on tennis and try to win, of course.

MIRJANA LUCIC: I had support from a lot of players, yeah.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Well, there is a lot of difference. I mean, a lot -- more matches, more matches on Tour of course what makes a lot of difference, but still I haven't had a chance to play many tournaments and last year wasn't as great. So then when I started playing very good, then I got chicken pox I got sick, so, this was last year, my new beginning, it was my first Grand Slam, so hopefully this year it is the same thing again, new beginning.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Very good. I think it is very high. I feel great going on. I don't think about losing. I don't think about anything. I just go there and trying to give my best and of course to try to win the match and enjoy myself. That is the only thing I see. I don't think about anything negative, just everything positive go forward and try to win.

MIRJANA LUCIC: No, I never think about it like that. I just -- I am just going to go to every match and try to win it and try to play my best like I did today. So, no, I don't -- I don't think it is time to set any goals for me. I haven't played in a long time. So just enjoy myself and try to give my best.

MIRJANA LUCIC: Yeah, I think so.