PACIFIC LIFE OPEN

March 10, 2002

Justine Henin

Q. Was this a fairly easy day for you?

JUSTINE HENIN: It was easier, for sure. I mean, I had already one match in my legs. I think for sure it's easier when you played already. Today I think I'm happy with my game because I was aggressive and I could keep the rallies, and I didn't do a lot of mistakes. I mean, I was good in the match. I won easy. So that's nice to have a match like this and to have a little bit of rest because for sure I was a lot tired after my two matches on Saturday. Then for sure for me it's a nice thing today.

JUSTINE HENIN: Yeah. I think at the beginning the match, it was difficult in the first game. After that, I found my game. I found my way. I was aggressive, but patient also. So I just played my game. I served well also. I was pretty aggressive on the return. So everything was fine in my game today.

JUSTINE HENIN: I think it's fine. I like these conditions, I like these courts. It's not so fast. I think it's a good surface for me. It wasn't windy today. For sure it's dry, but, no, that's not a problem. I think it's the best weather to play tennis.

JUSTINE HENIN: They are people from Los Angeles, but Belgian people. I just met them today. That was friendly. For me to have this support, for sure when you play in Australia or United States, you don't have a lot of fans. But, I mean, today was nice to see that.

JUSTINE HENIN: It's a little bit more difficult for sure than before Wimbledon and the French Open. I think everything changed. But I stayed the same person. I think the people, they see me like a different player, for sure. You know, that's a dream also for them to meet me, when I'm doing shopping, when I'm going to the restaurants. But I think I like that. I like to communicate with my fans. That's not a big problem. But it's more difficult for sure, but it's part of my job, and I can understand it.

JUSTINE HENIN: Yes, for sure. You know, I try to live my life like a normal person. I just do everything. For sure they come to me. But I don't mind about that.

JUSTINE HENIN: When I was young, it was a dream, that became a reality last year when I was in the Top 10 for the first time in my young career. I have many things to do if I want to go far in the ranking. For sure, I'm famous for a lot of people in Belgium. For a little country like this to have two players in the Top 10, it's unbelievable. I think there was a dream, and it's a reality now. I think it's great for a little country like Belgium.

JUSTINE HENIN: I like to go to the movies. But I think in tournaments, I just try to take a lot of rest. For sure, it's difficult, a lot of pressure. Physically, matches are difficult. I mean, when I'm in tournament, I take some rest. When I'm at home, I just try to have time with my friends and family. I don't see them a lot in the year. I mean, I just try to keep contact with them. That's important for me.

JUSTINE HENIN: Yeah, I like this tournament. It's a great organization. It's a great site. Indian Wells, it's so nice. I like to be here. The weather is perfect. People are friendly. So, I mean, that's a great tournament in the year, for sure.

JUSTINE HENIN: It's a big opportunity. I didn't think too much about this. I just tried to keep focus now on my next match. That will be difficult enough against Hantuchova or Schett. There are a lot of tough players in the top of the draw. There's still Dokic and Meghann Shaughnessy, a lot of tough players there. I have to be concentrate on my next match. You know, a lot of tough players are here in the tournament, and you have to play good tennis if you want to beat them. But if I have the possibility to go for sure to the final, I will try to take it. But I don't think too much about this at this time.

JUSTINE HENIN: I can be powerful player also. I mean, for sure I don't have the same size, and I don't have the same game. But with my game, I try to opposite their game. I think everybody has a place on WTA Tour. I mean, I do everything to beat these kind of player. For sure it's difficult because they're strong. It's hard to stay on the baseline and to do a lot of rallies with them. So I have to play my game, to be aggressive, to go to the net, try to beat these kind of players. But I don't think about this. I mean, when I'm on the court, I just want to win, and I do everything with my game to win these match.

JUSTINE HENIN: I'm here in Indian Wells. I'm here in this tournament. The French Open and Wimbledon, it's still far away from here. But, I mean, if you are in the Top 10, that's your place, and you have to win a lot of matches if you want to keep your ranking, for sure. If I win a lot of matches now, maybe I will lose in the French or Wimbledon earlier. I don't know. It's a possibility. But, I mean, if I think about that, for surely have a big possibility to lose my points. I mean, I'm going on the court to win all my matches. If I win a lot of matches -- for sure it's not easy to confirm what I did last year, but I think I had a good start of the year in Australia. I did the final of Antwerp in Belgium. Here in Indian Wells I feel confident. So, I mean, I'm not afraid about this. That's tennis career also, to win and to lose. But we will see what's going to happen. If I am in the Top 10, I have to beat a lot of players to keep my ranking. I just have to play my game and to enjoy also. That's the best important.

JUSTINE HENIN: It's hard for me to say that now because I play well on each surface. I did the final on grass. But I think my favorite one is clay court. I mean, I growed up on clay court. I practiced a lot on. I feel comfortable on this kind of surface. So, yeah, for sure red clay is my best surface.

JUSTINE HENIN: I'm not a big girl, so I try to do this more compact. I change my movement a little bit. I think it's better, a lot better now. I did a great work, especially in December, the last winter in Belgium. But I still need more time to improve it and to be more regular. But I'm pretty happy with that way, and I think it's going to be a good shot in my game - not in the next tournaments, but maybe in the next months, next years, all my career. I'm only 19; I have all my time to work on. That's what I'm doing now.

JUSTINE HENIN: No, no. Physically I think it's easier for me now.