US OPEN

August 28, 2003

Justine Henin

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Justine, please.

JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE: It's good. I played a very good match today finally. I played a very high level of tennis. I just played my game like I did in the last two tournaments. Yeah, I was feeling a little more relaxed than I was in the first round. That's normal. I was really focused, so that's good news.

JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE: Yeah, I think that I've been very focused on every point. I knew that I had to be aggressive. I came very often to the net. I know I had to do that. I've been very aggressive on her second serve. It was one of the key of the match. So I'm very happy with the way I played.

JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE: I was feeling nervous. But I think I prepare my match much better than I did in the first round because I talked to Carlos yesterday, then I was feeling more relaxed. I've been very focused in the practice, from the first ball to the end of the practice. I think it's very important for myself. I was nervous before the match, but I took it in the positive way, and it worked.

JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE: I think that in the past it proved when I had tough matches, especially in the first round, it helped me a lot, because I knew from the beginning of the tournament I had to change the way I was playing. And that's what I did here. That's good because I know that everything can happen, even if you are in the first round or the quarters doesn't mean anything against any player. So it's good sign for me.

JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE: I think, you know, probably I'm very quick on the court, so I can run all over the court right now. I feel so good, so comfortable. When I'm not so nervous, yeah, I'm so quick. So I think that the other players don't like it too much. Then I can be powerful when I want. So technically I still have many things to learn and to improve in my game, again in my serve, maybe my forehand. But I'm working on it very hard right now. I think I'm a complete player. I don't have any bad part in my game. That's good.

JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE: I think that, you know, in my private life, I'm so happy right now. It helped me a lot to do what I did in the last few months. Because when I'm going on the court, I'm not afraid any more to lose. I mean, it doesn't mean anything. I really enjoy my game right now. So a lot of things change in the last few months. I'm a different person right now. I think you can see it. A lot of people can see it. That's big difference for me from last year.

JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE: I have no idea. I'll have a family, for sure. I want children. It's very hard right now to make any plan because I always said I want to have a long career. But I don't know. In seven, eight, 10 years, I don't know where I'm going to be. I'm sure I'll be in Belgium. I love my country so much. I want to have a family for sure. But when I'm thinking in 10 years my big passion, what I love so much in my life is going to be over, it makes me afraid a little bit and scared because I will be only 30 years old. But I have my husband, and I'll have children later, so that's good.