US OPEN

September 2, 2001

Daja Bedanova

DAJA BEDANOVA: I mean, it feels great. Especially if I play a good tennis, I serve real well, to beat Monica, she's a great player. I mean, it feels great. I played such a good tennis. Monica is a great player. She won it twice here, she played so well in California. Maybe wasn't her best day, but I played so well. I served well, so I'm really proud.

DAJA BEDANOVA: I placed it well. I mean, she didn't get to the ball as well as she would like. I mean, I lost one serve to her and I lost one serve to Meghann. That's it for the tournament. My serve has really helped me out here.

DAJA BEDANOVA: I mean, I figured out that if I keep the ball in as long as I can, I have a big chance to win the point because I'm not as strong as Monica. It would be hard for me to overpower her. But I think I did a good job in what I did.

DAJA BEDANOVA: When I first stepped on the court, I wasn't feeling that well (smiling). I tried to stay calm. Yeah, it went well.

DAJA BEDANOVA: I hit with her before I even played my first tournament in Philadelphia. It was a really great experience. Monica is a great person. I mean, really, she's really nice. Then we practiced a couple more times with her. Once with her home. Yeah, it was really nice to practice with her. It was a really good experience which, of course, helped me a little bit today.

DAJA BEDANOVA: It was, I think, Nick's idea. I was heading to my first big tournament. There was Supreme Court on which she had practice. I was kind of hoping to practice there, too. Monica had to practice there. They asked me if I wanted to practice with her. So I was like a little bit nervous, but I liked it. She's really nice, so...

DAJA BEDANOVA: We were just talking. "Hi" first. It was really nice.

DAJA BEDANOVA: In the practice?

DAJA BEDANOVA: I mean, if you stand with her on the other side of the court, to know how fast it is before you actually play her in the match. So maybe, yeah.

DAJA BEDANOVA: I was there twice, Bollettieri's, and over the winter. It was last year and the year before.

DAJA BEDANOVA: Well, last year I qualified here. I lost in the first round. Just came here, nothing to lose, had not too much to defend. For sure, when I came here, I wanted to win the first round. Then I want maybe the second. Then I thought, "Being in the third round would be great." Now here I am in the quarterfinals.

DAJA BEDANOVA: I mean, for sure, a little bit. Obviously, Monica is a great player. To beat her is not easy. I played so well, so yeah.

DAJA BEDANOVA: I never played Martina before. I used to watch her on TV when I was smaller and cheer for her. I played Jelena a few times in Juniors, so I know her a little bit more, a little bit better. But I never won against her, too. I'm going to watch that match today evening. I'll see how it goes on Tuesday.

DAJA BEDANOVA: It was really good to break her in the beginning so I could just -- I was kind of trusting my serve so much. It was nice for me to break in the beginning. It was easier to hold my serve. It was really great, this moment. Surprised a little bit but, yeah, good.

DAJA BEDANOVA: In the past two games, it was for sure my serve. My serve hold me of over the water in the first rounds, it helped with serve and forehand, which went pretty well. I missed some of those in the last two rounds. I hope I can better -- play better in the next round again.

DAJA BEDANOVA: After the match?

MODERATOR: In general or during the match specifically?

DAJA BEDANOVA: Yeah, actually I wanted to have her as a mentor when the WTA first told me I have one. Unfortunately, for me she was still playing, so I get another one. She's really nice. She's greeting me. It's really nice to have her around. She's a great person.

DAJA BEDANOVA: Well, maybe for her, but I feel really well now (laughter). I mean, it's bad luck for her.

DAJA BEDANOVA: For sure it's higher than it was four days ago. When I came first to this tournament, I mean, I played really well in the Californian tournaments in the past two weeks, I beat some good players over there. Actually, it was pretty well when I came here, but of course it raised after those wins.

DAJA BEDANOVA: I mean, sure. If you beat some good players, you believe more in yourself that you can beat them again and again. I mean, if you don't beat them, it's kind of hard to believe in yourself. If you just once do it, played really well, then all the time you step on the court you think that you have a chance against them.

DAJA BEDANOVA: Yeah, pretty much my dad and my mom. When I was small, I mean, they both played tennis, so I was hanging around the tennis courts. Then later, first with my mom I started, then my dad took me later. So I'm still in the family is everything.

DAJA BEDANOVA: It felt great. I mean, you can't really describe it, if you win such a big match in such a big tournament. It feels really, really well. I mean, it's so great to step -- I mean, to go off the court with a win, it feels just amazing.