US OPEN

September 3, 2004

Angela Haynes

THE MODERATOR: First question for Angela, please.

ANGELA HAYNES: Little bit of both. But I was just trying to keep my eye on my opponent and the ball. Not really worried about that. I had a pretty big crowd at Grandstand. I was trying not to think about it.

ANGELA HAYNES: My freshman year of high school.

ANGELA HAYNES: She shocked me with that one. I was too busy looking at her - because it was a good shot - I forgot to hit the volley.

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah, I had a pretty good run. I gained a lot of confidence here. She was a very tough player, very good. But, you know, I have to move on to the next tournament, you know, keep winning and hope that I'll be back next year.

ANGELA HAYNES: No.

ANGELA HAYNES: No. I mean, it depends how you look at it. This is just a great opportunity for me and all the other kids like me coming up, you know. Like Venus and Serena opened the window for a lot of people, you know. I could do the same thing. But I always look at it, you know, in a positive way.

ANGELA HAYNES: A lot of dumb mistakes. I started thinking about it a little bit, going for too much. Because I know she's tough, she was gonna chase every ball. I was trying to do a little bit more, and I didn't play within myself. I don't know. I should have just settled down, but I didn't.

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah, she has a lot of experience. You know, I give her that. She's a great player. But this is my first time on Arthur Ashe, so it was a lot going on for me. But just constantly being in that situation, you become comfortable. So after a while, I'm just gonna learn to settle down.

ANGELA HAYNES: I was excited. It's a great experience, to say, "Hey, I played on Arthur Ashe Stadium." Yeah, just real excited, kind of nervous. But what can I do?

ANGELA HAYNES: About an hour and a half before. I had plenty of time to get ready.

ANGELA HAYNES: Just the crowd and the whole ambiance, being out there in front of all the people, being on TV, people counting on you. I mean, I think I was the favorite. It sounded like I was (smiling). It was tough.

ANGELA HAYNES: Concentration? Yes, sometimes.

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah, I didn't really get -- I couldn't really get a rhythm because she was good at holding her shots. Like she would hold until the last minute, then hit it, and I was just stuck. But it took me a minute. In the second set I got it. I had a couple of opportunities, but just couldn't do it.

ANGELA HAYNES: No (smiling). Not really.

ANGELA HAYNES: I mean, yeah. Being on that stadium just is a great experience.

ANGELA HAYNES: No.

ANGELA HAYNES: He opened the window for a lot of African Americans. He was a great tennis player, great person so... We need more people like him, really.

ANGELA HAYNES: Actually, I'm playing a challenger in New Mexico, Albuquerque. It's a 75,000. So I'll play that and then I'm not sure what's after that.

ANGELA HAYNES: Yes, it could. But I just want to thank the USTA for giving me this opportunity, again, because I had it last year also. But if I just keep winning, playing like this, then I won't need them.

ANGELA HAYNES: I was just fed up with myself, really. I was just giving the girl too many chances. I wasn't making her play enough balls. I felt I gave her too much respect. But, still, going for too much. I wasn't playing my game. You know, going for winners at the wrong time. I should have made her rally more in the first set.

ANGELA HAYNES: Yes, yes. That's what I mean.

ANGELA HAYNES: (Laughing).

ANGELA HAYNES: I was just like, "What the...? What is this?" I'm too busy looking at her. She still has her back turned and everything, I'm looking at her. Then I realized, "Here's the volley." It was too late.

ANGELA HAYNES: Well, I'm not really sure. I haven't really had that much to do with the USTA until like last year, so I'm not really sure what they're doing.