Interview with Mauresmo after loosing the final

MARTINA HINGIS defeated AMELIA MAURESMO 6-2 6-3

30 January 1999

Q. Congratulations, especially with the second set. Was
there a time in that second set that you really felt that
it was going to go to three?

A. Yeah, I had a few occasions there, to come back. She was
at 4-3, but I was winning 0-40 on her serve, and then on
her serve at 40-15, so I missed little bit on occasions.

Q. What did you learn out there today?

A. First, I think, I'm going learn how to deal with the
Grand Slam final. It's a lot of pressure, lot of
tension. So, you know, I think next time it's going, I'm
going to deal with it differently. But for first time, I
think it was solid.

Q. Which surface do you think will be next time?

A. I hope on clay. Now, I think I have game that can, fits
all the surface, so I don't know. Could be on clay,
could be on hardcourt; whatever it is.

Q. Martina says you learned to be a champion when you were a
champion junior player, which you were, so she expects
that you'll go on to do quite well. Do you agree with
that?

A. Yeah, I think I have played in the juniors, I won some
big tournaments. So in this, at this level, you also
have to deal with pressure and tension, so I learn a
little bit. Today, wasn't enough, but I think it's going
to be, it's a good experience for next time.

Q. Amélie, what do you think beat you out there today - the
fact that she was a better player or she plays better
under pressure?

A. Well, I think both. She was a better player today, and
yeah, she played some really good tennis. She has more
experience at this level of the competition, so, of
course, she handles the pressure differently. But I
think she played, you know, she played a great match
today, I think.

Q. Did the pressure affect your movement a little bit?

A. A little bit. I think both pressure, and I was also
tired from my match against Lindsay the day before
yesterday.

Q. Did you have the feeling that perhaps if you could have
got that second set, the balance might have swung your
way, because for one or two moments when she was looking
a little bit puffy?

A. Yeah, I think that if I would have had the second set,
maybe would have changed the match. Unfortunately, I
couldn't do it. As I was saying, I had a few occasions,
but I didn't take them.

Q. What did Martina say to you on court?

A. What did she say to me?

Q. After the game?

A. She said - I don't even remember what she said. She - I
don't know. She said, "Bad luck", or something. I
don't - - -

Q. Were you at all surprised she came into the net as much
as she did today?

A. Sorry?

Q. She came into the net much more than she normally does.
Were you surprised by that?

A. I was expecting her to come to the net very often,
because, when we play baseline rallies, it's very equal.
So, yeah, I knew she was going to come in very often.

Q. Can you describe what you mean by the pressure, what it
does to you, what the feeling is?

A. Oh, it's just it's a very big event. I have worked for
this, for all my young career, so it's a special moment,
to get on the Centre Court to play Grand Slam final, very
big; emotionally, it's very intense out there. So, you
know, I think that's what I call pressure.

Q. How did the comments in last couple of days in the media
affect you - what the other players said about you?

A. You know, I think that all that has been happening these
past days is a little bit stupid. Both of them
apologised, so I don't want to talk about it any more.

Q. So there was that conversation between you two of you
at - - -

A. Just apologise, and that's it.

Q. Are you disappointed that the focus has come off you as a
tennis player?

A. Yeah. Yeah. Of course anybody would be.

Q. And how did that affect your - was that part of the
pressure you felt today?

A. I said I didn't want to talk about it any more.

Q. The one-handed backhand, were you always playing like
that?

A. Even in juniors, yes.

Q. In hindsight, would you have liked to be a bit more
patient today? Did you feel that you went for too many
winners, or - - -?

A. Yeah, a little bit, yeah. I was a little bit too much in
a hurry, I would say, and she was solid at the baseline,
so I was, yeah, I was too quick.

Q. Amélie, were you surprised with some of her returns. On
other occasions your shots would have been winners?

A. Yeah.

Q. But she returned them and the ball came in?

A. Yeah, she played a really defence game today. My serve,
even, during the points, she was real good in defence,
so, you know, I think - I think that she also won because
of this.

Q. Do you wish you had gone to the net a little bit more?

A. Yeah, yeah. I should have gone to net more, that's for
sure. But, you know, as I was saying, pressure and
everything. I didn't want to get passed too much, so
next time I think I'll do it, yeah.

Q. Amélie, this is the first time a lot of the Australian
crowd has seen you play. What sort of memories will you
take away from the Australian Open?

A. I feel very comfortable out here. The weather is good
for me, and the court surface. The crowd is - the crowd
out there today, they were nice also. So, good memories,
very good memories.

Q. What, in tennis terms, do you think you have learned most
from this fortnight?

A. I think, in tennis terms, I think I have learned that I
should go to net more often. But this I already knew.
But more and more I have to have my game very, very
aggressive, go to net more often. I think, now, I know I
can play great tennis. For confidence, is very good.
So, yeah, I hope I'll keep going like this.

Q. Do you think you will be able to develop in your game a
more attacking style and go to the net more?

A. Yeah, I think so, because I want it. Now, I've been
playing for a long time at the baseline. It's going to
take maybe a few month or so, but, yeah, I'm going to get
there.

Q. In time for Wimbledon?

A. Hopefully.

Q. How do you like the attention that the media has paid to
you the last fortnight, as a player?

A. Sorry?

Q. How do you like the attention that the media has paid to
you as a player over the last couple of weeks?

A. I like it, to pay attention for me - maybe not the good
reasons; but I don't really, you know, pay attention to
that.

Q. Amélie, who in your opinion are the two best women
players in the game at the moment?

A. I think it's Martina and Lindsay, yeah. Yeah, Martina
played really good tennis. I think she's coming back
very strong, at the end of last year and the beginning of
this year. Lindsay has a lot of confidence; it was tough
for me to beat her on Thursday. But, yeah, they are the
best for the women's.

Q. Do you think in some ways you played your Grand Slam
final when you beat Lindsay? Do you think this has been
an anti-climax?

A. No, I don't think so. When I was playing in the
semi-final I knew there was one more to go. But I really
wanted to win this one against the World No 1. To get
into the final of a Grand Slam, it's important.

Q. Have you got an aim where you would like to see your
ranking by the time of Roland Garros?

A. What - - -?

Q. Where would you like to see your ranking?

A. I don't know. I don't know what my ranking is going to
be now.

Q. Eighteen?

A. Yeah, I think, I'm going to be in top 20 after this
tournament, so, yeah, top twenty, to 15. Why not?

Q. By Roland Garros, where would you like to be by then?

A. Top 20 or top 15, yeah.

Q. You can't see a gradual improvement until the next Grand
Slam?

A. You know, it's going to depend, yeah, how I'm going to
handle this final and everything. But I know, I know my
ranking can go up very quickly. I just want to, don't
want to expect too much.

Q. Amélie, what are your thoughts on playing 5-set finals
for women? Is that something that could be considered?

A. Yeah, why not? Yeah, can be considered. I don't really
think about it, but, yeah, why not.

Q. For the crowd, you know - - -

A. Yeah, yeah.

Q. How a match is played?

A. Maybe it would be better. I don't know. You really have
to think about it, see what is positive, see what is
negative.

Q. You would be happy to play a 5-set final?

A. Yeah, today I'd have been happy; maybe not her. So, you
know, it could be good idea. I don't know. I really
have to think about it.

Q. I assume you are playing the Paris indoor event in a
couple of weeks?

M'mm.

Q. What sort of reaction do you expect when you get home?

A. Well, I hope people are going to be behind me when I'll
be on the court, and it think it's going to be great.

Q. Are you going home now, or are you going to Tokyo?

A. No, no, I'm on holidays now.

Q. Where are you going?

A. Aah - - -

Q. Are you remaining in Australia?

A. Sorry.

Q. Are you remaining in Australia?

A. I'm not telling you.

Q. I was just wondering if you like Australia so much that
you wanted to stay for a little while?

A. I've been here for one month now. Maybe it's enough.