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Q. It was a bit too close for a first round match?
A. Well, there have been some closer matches - yesterday 9-7 in the
third. Well, I'm happy with the performance for the first match. Jill
played really well. You know, she was hitting close to the lines and she
was keeping the ball in play, so she played well. And it was good for me
to fight, and I was really fighting and hanging in there in tough times,
and I think I should have been more aggressive, but, you know, I figured
it out later in the match, then I started doing what I should have done
in the beginning.
Q. And you obviously had a problem with your serve today, but you still
got away with it. What is your plan to overcome that? Are you - - -
A. Well, I think I served really well in the important points in the
tie-breaker and, you know, in the important ones. And I am still trying
to mix up a lot of serves and go for it, and go for first serves, and so
working on the serve.
Q. Is it more of a technical problem that you have, or is it mental, do
you think, because, as you said, you served well in the tiebreak?
A. Yeah. Well, I think it is half and half; it is half mental, half
technical. But it is not like a huge problem. When you have a mistake in
the forehand, nobody notices, but when you make a double fault or low
percentage of serves, everybody talks about it, but it is just like any
other shot. I should just think about it like any other shot. I should
go out and prepare myself to really try to do my best on the serve.
Q. You had a huge support base out there. Do you find having so many
vocal fans a distraction or do you really enjoy it?
A. Well, like I would say, I couldn't really change that probably, so of
course I enjoy it. Of course it is good when you have a lot of people
supporting you. It definitely helps, and it's great, you know. I'm
really happy and I'm glad that the audience was full today.
Q. Do you see any similarities between your career and Sabatini's? There
have been so many comparisons made between you and Sabatini?
A. To tell you the truth, I don't even know her career. When I started
playing, she already kind of finished. I played against her once,
doubles, like three years ago, so I never heard any very close
similarities between me and her, or anything like that, so.
Q. When you first started double faulting a lot in the fall, were you
trying to make any technical change at that point?
A. No, I think I was just tired at the end of the year, and I wasn't
keeping my body up, but nothing. I didn't try to change anything.
Q. Has your coach suggested technical changes or has he said "Forget
about it"?
A. No, no. Right, forget about it.
Q. You look in good shape. What have you done in the off season?
A. Yeah, well, I am really happy with my physical shape right now. I can
move well. I can run well right now. Basically, I was running every day
and working out in the gym and looking after myself, eating a little bit
more.
Q. Is it cold out there? Did you notice the wind?
A. No. Well, it was windy on one side and the wind was going around. It
was spinning only on one side, to the left of the umpire chair I think
it was windy, but on the other side it didn't feel like it was windy.
Q. Where do you see yourself five years from now?
A. Well, right now I just see myself tomorrow and practising, and after
tomorrow playing another match. So I will just take it a step at a time.
I don't want to plan anything. You never know what might happen, so I am
just enjoying every day, and I am happy. I am 17 years old; I am 13 in
the world and playing doubles and I am happy to be here.
Q. What is your view of the fans who have the big sheet with the
telephone numbers in the audience?
A. Well, I didn't see them because I was trying to keep my eyes on the
ball, but like it really helps when a lot of people support you, and I
am glad they have something to do. They come here and they have fun.
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