PILOT PEN TENNIS

August 21, 2003

Ai Sugiyama

THE MODERATOR: First question for Ai, please.

AI SUGIYAMA: It's always tough to play against her. She has a lot of power. She can play really good when she needs it. So like also in second set, I had chance. I was up 3-0. Only one break, but I got to keep going. Somehow when she needs it, she served good, she placed the serve really good, at the corner, and then she recovery really good. So I always have trouble when I play against her, yeah.

AI SUGIYAMA: I think, you know, she raise her level a little bit up I think. She was making a easy mistake up to 3-0, but she tried to concentrate maybe, then she didn't make mistake easily. That makes me feel like, "I got to do something." Then I make mistake a little bit more.

AI SUGIYAMA: Yeah, I think my offensive shot and defensive shot, that the balance wasn't great. I mean, I try to hit every shot he was so I was not a great position. She's hitting a good shot. I have to try to defend better. But I just tried to go for it. Make a lot of errors. That's not my tennis. I try to make a good balance between offense and defense. I think that's what I have to do for The Open.