TENNIS MASTERS SERIES - ROMA

May 15, 2002

Silvia Farina Elia

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: No. I went against the odds. Well, I didn't like the lights, but I felt good on this court. It was not so fast, and the balls were bouncing quite high, and that was good for me. But I cannot play every evening.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: It's going to be a tough match, especially because we are in the third round and not in the first. There is a lot of tension - maybe for her even more because she has always been the favorite. She always should have beat me. But so far she's had very good results: The finals in Dubai, semifinals in Charleston, quarterfinals in Amelia Island, quarterfinals in Berlin.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: Well, I feel good, but I know I'll have to be careful. Just because I already beat her four times does not mean that I can relax.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: Yes, it's something I do quite carefully. After Charleston, I decided to take two weeks off to prepare for the clay court season, like I did last year. And I'm glad I did it. Well, I didn't want to and I had a clash with my coach. But finally I'm glad I followed his advice.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: Well, I was serving, it was 5-2, and I was a little bit nervous. I thought about our matches and her comebacks, so I was a little bit too nervous. But in the end it was all right, and she also made some unforced errors.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: Well, at home... No, I just mean that he's no ruler; that we talk things over. And I didn't have the same opinion.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: Yes. Why? Well, unless it is a very tough match with cramps. But, otherwise, I don't see why.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: Yes, we were 30-all and there was a forehand and it was called out, but it was on the line. I didn't ask the referee to come down and take a look at it.

SILVIA FARINA ELIA: I don't know. I can't remember.