U.S. OPEN

August 29, 1995

Mary Joe Fernandez

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: It is funny because Judith and I played many times and our matches are always very up and down. It is like someone wins four, five games in a row and the other one wins four, five games in a row. It came to my advantage in the second. Even though I was down 4-1, I knew I had been down 4-1 before against her, and I came back. It flopped there. I won, what, 10 games in a row there? It is was really strong. I lost three games in a row. Then I said "Oh, no, I hope it is not going to be seven games the other way now." Judith moves well, smart player. And I just knew I had to hang in there and try to, you know, mix up the pace as much as I could. She was playing well in the beginning off my pace so I tried to mix it in a couple of lobs and come in a little bit more. It paid off.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I definitely won more games after she got treatment. I asked her at the end. She had said she had blisters. That could be really painful. I am sure she wanted to get the point over with quicker; started making a few more unforced errors. In the beginning, she got a lot of balls back; really didn't miss. The minute she got her feet taped or whatever, she started making more unforced errors.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Yeah, this is as good as I felt. I have had a pretty good summer, and, you know, I think I just have to be patient and, you know, persevere, really. You know, I am working hard off the court, and, you know, my philosophy is sooner or later that pays off. Mentally I just have to hang in there. It is tough, but, you know, one day at a time.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Maybe not. I think maybe I am a step or a second slower to reading the ball, picking it up, when it bounces short. I am really trying to focus on the short balls, but I still feel myself, oh, I could have hit that one and come in or I should have taken that one on the rise, so, you know, instinctively I think I am still a little bit slow. That comes with more matches I play.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I went to change. I was soaked too. When I knew she was going to take an injury timeout, I said, I better change before I get too cold.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Stomach flu, yeah.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I have just played -- I played couple of exos and Fed Cup, and L.A.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Well, I didn't do too well in L.A.. I lost my first round. I'd wish I could have played more matches there. Obviously, not playing Canada hurt me too, but, you know, you got to deal with the cards you are dealt, and just hopefully get through my matches here. I have a tough second match now too. So I will get through that and hopefully I will be in good shape.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Yeah.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I felt I got -- it was a game point for her. I come back from Love-40 to 30-Love, and every point counts against Judith and every game counts. I felt that on that sideline I got a bad call; on the other side too. So a little aggravating when they overrule on a big point, and it is on the far side, you just wonder what goes through their head when they do that.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: No. I was like, great, I am down 3-Love now. You know, I am pretty good about that. I get a little frustrated at the time, but I get over it pretty fast. Every match is where they go in your favor and you have your matches where they don't.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Yeah. I like it a lot. I have had good matches on that stadium. You play well when you have done well on that court it is smaller than the center court. So I think it is better. The crowd is a little closer to the court.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I think just because mentally I hang in there, and I was taught from very early on to never give up no matter what the score is, and, you know, this is a Grand Slam and if you can't hang in there in a Grand Slam, then you shouldn't can playing the game.