AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2006

Amelie Mauresmo

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Amelie, please.

AMELIE MAURESMO: Well, it is tough. Obviously, a little bit more for her than for me because it's always, yeah, tough to play in these conditions. I see they closed the roof right after our match. Makes a big difference when you're out there. So the heat is still here, but then the sun has no more effects. I think it's better for everybody, though: the crowd, the players, the game.

AMELIE MAURESMO: I think last year during the quarterfinal was a very hot day as well. I think it was on the Tuesday probably. I remember a very, very hot day also. But yesterday and today, it's pretty tough. I heard tomorrow is even worse.

AMELIE MAURESMO: I?

AMELIE MAURESMO: Can't? Cannot?

AMELIE MAURESMO: As I said on the court, it's really mixed feelings, you know. On one side you don't spend too much time on the court in these tough conditions. On the other hand, you know, I was playing some good tennis and I -- much better than the first games, the first two matches I had. So I maybe wanted to, you know, keep it up. But that's just the way it is. I just hope for her that it's not too bad and that she recovers well. I guess the heat for her made a bad thing.

AMELIE MAURESMO: I don't know. Some people deal -- just handle it better than others. Some will maybe always have problems playing in the heat. I don't know if it's her case. You know, maybe she didn't hydrate enough or, I mean, I don't know. I'm not the doctor or whatever. I don't know. Maybe some experience can have a role in that, but also I think your body is maybe -- can handle it better or differently.

AMELIE MAURESMO: I wasn't really paying attention to her. I was really focusing on my game, what I had to do. I could see that she was not moving so well. As soon as the ball was little bit far, she could not really get it. So, you know. But I was -- I didn't know it was this bad.

AMELIE MAURESMO: No, not like specifically how much, how many liters or whatever. I think first of all also it's depending on the person. They of course tell us to hydrate a lot.

AMELIE MAURESMO: I don't know. I don't know really. But during the -- just one set, like half an hour we played maybe, it's already two liters. One and a half, two. So that's a lot.

AMELIE MAURESMO: Well, I don't know about that. Yeah, I guess -- I don't know, because it's very tough, I think, to make these rules. Some players like it, to play in these conditions, and want to play because they say, "I'm stronger physically so it might be an advantage for me to play in these conditions." Some others would prefer to have the roof closed and everything. I'm just really wondering what's the right thing to do in these moments. But, obviously, makes a big difference not only for the heat to have the roof covered - closed, I mean - but also for the game. It's very different when you play. Like it's not really indoors, but it's still conditions very different.

AMELIE MAURESMO: Well, I don't know if you're happy to play in these conditions. Actually, I wasn't even thinking about playing with the roof closed. I just, you know, I knew coming on the court, so didn't go through my mind. But I have to say, yeah, it must be pretty nice to play with the roof closed.

AMELIE MAURESMO: Well, she seemed to be playing really well. I was playing right after, so I watched a little bit of her match. And really plays very consistent tennis, given also the very small number of matches she's played in the last couple weeks. That's quite impressive, I have to say.

AMELIE MAURESMO: It's a little surprising, I think. But in the meantime you can see she still has the eye, you know, the coordination, you know, the feeling in the racquet and everything. So she's doing great.

AMELIE MAURESMO: Sorry? I didn't get it.

AMELIE MAURESMO: You know, it was already over couple years ago when Justine had some great moments in all the Grand Slams, and Kim as well. And I think now it's more -- more players can really consider winning a Grand Slam. But you never know with them. I think -- I remember last year at this time, everybody was saying, "Oh, they're not ready," or, "They're not prepared enough," or whatever. Then you see Serena winning the championship. And it happened quite often. At Wimbledon, Venus was also -- you know, a lot of people saying, "No, they're not focusing on tennis enough," or whatever. She comes up and winning the event. So just really never know.