WIMBLEDON

June 28, 2002

Laura Granville

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, I think -- yeah, I was down 4-3 and she was serving.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Well, I think those last two games, when I got down 4-3, I just -- she played really well and I didn't play well. And I think that fired me up and I, you know, I knew that if I didn't start playing aggressively and I didn't go for it, then I was going to be, you know, done. So I think I just -- I got more aggressive in that game and I broke her and that gave me some confidence. And, you know, then I held my serve. I think I played better, and she didn't play quite as well.

LAURA GRANVILLE: No. Not tired of this (smiling). No. I mean, it's nice in the main draw because you get a day in between each match, so...

LAURA GRANVILLE: Well, I mean, I wanted to move her around, but, I mean, she hits it so hard that I was basically just trying to get it back for a lot of it. But, yeah, I think I started to move around better in the second and the third set.

LAURA GRANVILLE: No, I didn't.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I hit with another player, so... But she definitely -- I think she's the hardest hitter I've ever played against. So I probably should have hit against a guy yesterday.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah. I think it took me a while, though. It was really hard to get a rhythm because, I mean, she hits the ball so deep and hard. So I think it took me, you know, a set and a half to really get used to it.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I think I just had to move my feet more. Yeah, I really didn't make that much adjustment on my swings.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Actually, I have been. I've been practicing around the same time and, yeah. But I'm really not that superstitious, I don't know.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, I think that I've just been getting into a routine and I really don't want to break it at this point.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Well, I think there's a huge difference. You know, playing college tennis was a great experience for me because I got to play on a team. And, you know, in Juniors you don't get that at all. It's very individual. So I loved college because, you know, my teammates were always there and they were supporting me. And, you know, out here on the tour, again, you're on your own. And so I think that there's just so much difference. And also, you know, the level of competition is a lot higher as well.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, I mean, I definitely think they did. They changed my serve. And they -- especially I got to work with LeeLee a lot my sophomore year, and she really helped me on certain tactics and strategies of the game.

LAURA GRANVILLE: In Wimbledon? I don't know. I know that Linda Harvey-Wilde (ph) made the quarters of the US Open, but I don't know about Wimbledon (smiling).

LAURA GRANVILLE: Not really. I really don't get to see her. But I've seen her a couple times here, so... She's been really supportive.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Not really. I'm just hearing from a lot of old friends. But it's great. You know, I'm getting a lot of E-mails and phone calls, so it's really nice to get the support from back home.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, I actually -- I got a couple E-mails from Lauren and Gabby, they're playing a 10,000 right now in Oklahoma.

LAURA GRANVILLE: They were just, you know, wishing me luck. I'm sure they want to be here next year.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, yeah (smiling). You have to start off somewhere.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I think I was just about to leave for Europe. And actually I really wanted to be there to cheer them on, but I just -- I had to leave for Europe for some tournaments. But they sent me pictures and it looked like they did a great job.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Gosh, I really, you know, I haven't seen her play that much. I think I'm just going to go out there and, you know, chalk it up to a good experience and just try and be relaxed and enjoy it.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah. No, she's a great player. And, you know, there's really no pressure on me so I'm just going to go out there and go for it.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Well, I mean, I think I have to think that way. I have to go into it thinking I have a shot or else I'm already beaten before I step out there. So I think a big thing for me is just I'm playing, you know, well and I have confidence. I think just staying relaxed is a big thing.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I think so. You know, in certain matches I haven't played as well and, you know, I've had some three-setters I've just squeaked out. But in general, I think this is, yeah, I'm playing some of the best tennis I ever have.

LAURA GRANVILLE: A little.

LAURA GRANVILLE: A little, yeah. Especially playing Mary Pierce, it almost didn't feel real. I know, I can't really describe it. But at the end of the third set, I really didn't even feel that much pressure just because it didn't really feel real.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, she does.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I think that she really does -- she really does have a pretty big presence. And so I think I really just tried to concentrate on, you know, myself and really tried not to think about who I was playing too much. But she definitely has a big presence.

LAURA GRANVILLE: (Smiling). Well, my name is French, so hopefully they won't hate me too much.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, I did. I watched it on TV.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Gosh, I can't remember. But I definitely saw it. It was amazing, yeah. She's definitely one of my idols.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, yeah. Uh-huh.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, yeah.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I think just same routine, you know, just rest and practice around the same time - and try and enjoy this weekend.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Well, I think that it really helps my confidence a lot. I think this is really important just for me because this past June I've been playing a lot of challengers and haven't really played that many tour events. And, you know, I wasn't sure where I stacked up to, you know, the top tour players. And, you know, I was still questioning whether I could, you know, really compete at that level. So I think it's answered a lot of questions for me and just it helps my confidence a lot.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah. Yeah. I think that -- and also when you don't play tour players on a regular basis, you really don't know what level they're playing at. So I really wasn't sure. And I think now I know that, you know, I can play, you know, at that level - which is...

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah. I mean, you know, I think I've really had to dig deep in a few matches and just, you know, be tough and gut them out. So I think that, yeah, it's -- and I think this past year, just playing a lot of challengers and playing on the tour has really made me more mentally tough and tougher in matches, because I've had to be.

LAURA GRANVILLE: A little, yeah.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I think just, you know, I'm real excited for this summer and the hard court season. So I think that just continuing to do well at, you know, at tour events is one of my main goals.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Not all that much. I played on grass three or four years ago in the Juniors, then I think three years ago. So I played Junior Wimbledon twice.

LAURA GRANVILLE: No, no.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Well...

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah. Once I was out of the French, we actually -- I started practicing on -- they have an indoor gymnasium with extremely fast courts. So we started hitting on that just to -- because it's a pretty big transition from clay to grass. Then I tried to get over here as soon as I could, and I played two tournaments before this. So that was a big help.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I think a little. I think going into, you know, the French and Wimbledon I was just hoping -- I was just really thinking that it was just really going to be a good experience and I really didn't have any expectations because I didn't know how I was going to do on clay and grass.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Well, my dad's been over here ever since I got in the main. I think my mom wishes she was. I don't know, she might come over now.

LAURA GRANVILLE: Yeah, I've been asking her to come over, you know. She hasn't been really receptive. Maybe she will now.

LAURA GRANVILLE: He's been great. He's just really, you know, been supportive and just kind of been there for me. You know, he's -- he was there for me all through Juniors so it's nice to have him here.

LAURA GRANVILLE: I mean, pretty good. But, you know, obviously I can't be put in the same sentence as those two players. But, you know, it's really nice to -- it's really surprising, too, to get to this round.

LAURA GRANVILLE: A lot of the players have been really nice. You know, Lisa Raymond and, you know, Rennae Stubbs and some of the older American players have been really nice and supportive. You know, it's -- I was surprised, because I didn't know, you know, how friendly the players were on the tour. But, you know, a lot of them are really friendly.