PILOT PEN TENNIS

August 28, 2004

Nathalie Dechy

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

NATHALIE DECHY: It was tough condition out there. I'm still so hot, I cannot cool down. But, no, it was a tough match for sure. It was so close. Just few points. But that makes the difference.

NATHALIE DECHY: It was good to finish the night because the night has been terrible. Like I couldn't sleep very well with this neck. But then I had my physical trainer from the French Federation who came this morning, so really helped and did a great job. That's why I could actually be on court and be almost hundred percent to play. But also it took a while to warm up, and that's why maybe I didn't start really well in that first set.

NATHALIE DECHY: Yeah, exactly. And with the heat also, it was good to keep it warmer. Maybe at that time it was too hot.

NATHALIE DECHY: Yeah, just to change. At least to change the shirt, because the shirt was weighing like two kilos of water.

NATHALIE DECHY: I don't think it was nerves. It was more like I felt like I run out of gas, like I didn't just have time to realize and I was Love-40 down, like I didn't hit that shots. It was so fast. And then I watched to my coach and my boyfriend. I'm like realizing, wow, it's three match points down. That was too late.

NATHALIE DECHY: That was my biggest opportunity. I think it's more on these two game points than at the other game I miss my chances, I think.

NATHALIE DECHY: He's part of the Federation. He has to stop traveling because he's in charge of the women's tennis in France. So he stops after US Open. We've been working for three years together, so it's a bit disappointing. It's good also, I'm starting with a new coach after September. It's going to be a good thing, for sure.

NATHALIE DECHY: Yeah, we always played some tough match. Even on the tour when we practice together, it's always like five -- when we only have an hour to hit, we do five-all all the time. We always go tough match. I knew today would be a really tight match. That was the case for sure.

NATHALIE DECHY: Well, I didn't expect that that much because the last two matches has been night session match, so pretty good for the body. But maybe it's the best preparation for the US Open because if it stay like this, it's going to be the same next week. So just get used to it, and my body will recover, for sure.

NATHALIE DECHY: That's always really good to be at the end, like the last day even, sometimes in doubles and also in singles. It's the best day of the week, for sure. Losing in the final for sure is disappointing, but I had such a great week. I'm coming from the Olympics. I didn't know really what to expect because I just arrive on Saturday evening. And the whole week has been really great. So I just have to think about this and then move on to the US Open next week. But it's been a great week.

NATHALIE DECHY: No, I wasn't different this morning. I was more focused on my neck that really bother me.

NATHALIE DECHY: I have no idea. Maybe, yeah. I like playing tennis, no matter where it is. Really some great match here. I think the crowd liked it. So we see. But it will be for sure pleasure to come back here.