Amélie MAURESMO defeated worlds number one LINDSAY DAVENPORT 4-6 7-5 7-5

28 January 1999

Q. You started very confidently - congratulations, by the way. Well done. You started very confidently, but then slipped back. When did it occur to you that you were going to win this match?

A. I think in the third set, when I broke back, I knew I had a really good chance to win this one. So I kept fighting till, till the end, and I broke her last game.

Q. What does it feel like to be in a Grand Slam final?

A. I think I don't really realise it now. I'm going to play the last match on Saturday, and think about it after the tournament.

Q. Amélie, it appeared you did not get nervous at all late in the third set. How did you keep your composure?

A. I just kept my mind clear, you know. I was - I had the tactical side, so I knew what I had to do. I was concentrating on this, and at the end I - you know, I have nothing to lose, so I just play my game, and do what I have to do.

Q. What was your strategy against her?

A. I think mix it up a little bit, make her run, make her move a lot, try to use that slice backhand that I play really well, and push on her forehand.

Q. Lindsay said you were very strong. Do you work out a lot in the gym?

A. Yes.

Q. How often?

A. How often? I don't know. I mean, almost like three times a week, when I'm in the practice period.

Q. Is that work designed to make you the most powerful woman player in the game?

A. Well, yeah, the one that stays longer on the court. Yeah, and for the serve and, really powerful, and also for my whole game I need to feel very strong physically.

Q. Do you practise with any of the other French players?

A. No, no. I, practice alone, with my coach.

Q. Amélie, in 96, as soon as you finished winning Wimbledon I asked you, "Are you happy now?" You said to me, "I'll be happy the day that I'm among the top ten players in professionals". So are you happy now? You are going to win now, it looks like it?

A. Not yet. Yeah, I'm happy. Of course I'm happy to be here today, to have this great two weeks. Now I know I still have one match to go, and I will play it to the end.

Q. When did you know that you were going to become a professional tennis player? When did that come to you?

A. I was dreaming about it, I would say, when I was five or six. But then, more precisely, I knew it when I was 12 - well, that's what I wanted to do. I was sure, so I wanted to do that.

Q. Who are the players that inspired you most, when you were so young?

A. I said last time, I started to play tennis watching Yannick Noah winning the French Open in 83, so I think if I play today it's also because I saw him. I want to do the same thing. Otherwise, no, I don't really have a special idol, or whatever.

Q. Lindsay said out there before that she felt like she was playing a man at some stage. Did you feel that she was intimidated at all?

A. She was intimidated?

Q. Yes?

A. The fact that I'm strong physically maybe is impressing her. I don't know; very powerful, so, yeah.

Q. Do you regard that comment as a compliment or a slur?

A. As a - - -?

Q. As a compliment. Do you regard Lindsay's comment - - -

A. Yeah, it means I'm very solid player in all the areas of the game, so, yeah, I take it as a compliment, yeah.

Q. How much did you learn from playing her last time, even though it was a different surface?

A. The first I knew I could do it. And then it was different match, different surface. It wasn't a Grand Slam, so it's different. But, you know, the bigger thing was I knew I could beat her.

Q. Who would you prefer to play out of Monica and Martina?

A. I don't care, just - I don't really care. I think I will have a tactic for both of them. So I know how to play, I have played Martina twice last year. I have never played against Monica. But I know how she plays, so, whatever.

Q. Amélie, you barely won your first round match. You came back and it was very tight.

A. M'mm.

Q. After you won that match, did you feel like this tournament was a special place for you?

A. Yeah, when I came back from match point, my coach told me that usually when it happens like this, players are winning the tournament, or are going very far. So I guess he was right. And of course I thought about it, and now I play very, how you say - I just let it go, yeah. And it's going on well.

Q. How will you keep your mind off tennis over the next couple of days?

A. Sorry?

Q. How will you keep your mind off the tennis and getting nervous over the next couple of days?

A. Just, my girlfriend is there, my coach, we are going out to do other things. We just - we don't stay here. We go and practise tomorrow, for sure; but otherwise, I don't know - nothing special, really.

Q. Will you be nervous in the final?

A. Yes, I guess I'm going to be a little bit nervous, that's for sure. But I take it very well, improve and, we will see.

Q. Do you remember the last two points against her?

A. No.

Q. Is this your first trip down to Australia?

A. No.

Q. You have been here before?

A. Yeah, I played as a junior, and in 96, when I came back, I was here last year as well, the third round and - - -

Q. Is there something about the place or the climate that agrees with you?

A. I think the surface is good for me. It's in between clay and grass, so it's not too fast, not too slow; it's good for my game.

Q. You used to wear sun glasses all the time. Why the change?

A. They were prescription glasses. Now I have contacts, so I don't need them any more.