US OPEN

August 27, 2001

Justine Henin

MODERATOR: Questions for Justine.

JUSTINE HENIN: Everything is okay now. I think I had to take a break. I think I was tired for sure after Wimbledon. I had to stay at home. I think I took a break of one week without tennis, and after, I practiced three weeks very hard. I went to play Toronto the first tournament. I needed this break. Now I can feel fit on the court. So that's okay.

JUSTINE HENIN: It's nice to come here. I like this tournament. I always played well here, especially last year. It was the first time I was in the fourth round of a Grand Slam. That was a little bit special. I love New York. That's nice to be here. Not all the year, but once in a year, that's okay.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think that's great. I think it's better. That's the good way.

JUSTINE HENIN: Because you know you don't play in the first match a No. 8 against a No. 25. That's tough matches. That's not happen in the first one. I think that's the best thing.

JUSTINE HENIN: A million times this year (laughter). I think we have good Federation, good mentality also. We won a lot of victories. We won more and more. I think Federation for me help me a lot to travel and everything. They are good support. You know, maybe we'll not have all the time two players like us. We had Dominique and Sabine. After, I don't know what's going to happen.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think tennis is maybe the second sport for sure in Belgium. Soccer will be always the first one. I think tennis is more popular now. People like to watch it on TV for sure.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think, yeah, people, they see me like another person, but I stayed the same person. I think I didn't change at all. I don't know why I have to change. I stayed the same. You know, I just went home. I was happy to be in my apartment, to live like a normal person. I think that was important to take this break. But I didn't do anything special.

JUSTINE HENIN: It's not the same. You can't go to do your shopping like before Wimbledon or everything. For sure, the people, they see me like a different person. But I think that's not the best important.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think it's our job. It's a good sign. When you lose, anybody is looking for you. I like the contact with the fans. I think that's good for the tennis.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think I not have the confidence that I have now for sure. You know, when I was injured last year, it was difficult for me to imagine that one year later I will be six in the world. I work very hard in the winter. I went to Australia to improve my game. I think I did a good beginning of the season. After that, for sure I took confidence, and everything came. You know, I wasn't injured during a long time, so that's good.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think that's natural, you know. I never worked a lot on my backhand. It's in me. When I was young, it was the same. I worked more on my forehand and my serve.

JUSTINE HENIN: I proved already that I can play well against these kind of players. Last week when I played Venus -- you know, at Wimbledon I thought I still have a big difference. But last week was different. I was on the court. I wasn't afraid of her power. I was inside. I went to the net. You know, maybe I could win this match. So I think everybody has her place on the tour. You have different kind of players. That's the tennis.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think simply I could play a lot of tournaments since last year. Mentally I'm stronger, for sure.

JUSTINE HENIN: I didn't hear.

JUSTINE HENIN: No, no, we never joke about that.

JUSTINE HENIN: You know, for sure I did a good work mentally. I think it's in me. I got on the court to win a match. If it's Venus Williams or Lindsay Davenport or Martina Hingis, the one player in the top hundred, doesn't mind for me. When we are on the court, we are two persons that want the victory. I think I have many things in my game to opposite these kind of players.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think I'm a friend of everybody. For sure, with the language, sometimes it's easier with the French players, the Belgian players. I think everybody is friendly on the tour.