U.S. OPEN

September 4, 1994

Ann Grossman

ANN GROSSMAN: You know, I have never played the stadium out here and, you know, I was looking forward to it. It was really tough because you know, they signed us on grandstand and I have never played on that and I have never played on stadium and so it was like going back and forth and I haven't even ever out -- I haven't ever hit out there in my life. Playing somebody, No. 2 in the word and never being on stadium court and I feel like I am playing great tennis. But it is very hard mentally when you go out there and you don't know what to expect; never hit a ball, and, you know, there is just so much emotion going in my mind because I am excited to be out there and my heart just couldn't stop. I couldn't just relax and play my game. I would just make errors, and I feel totally capable of beating her one day. She is just a counter-puncher. She gets everything back, and, you know, I had a pretty good match with her in Australia, and, you know, it is just unfortunate that I don't play out there very often, so it is very -- it doesn't -- you know what I mean? It is such a different feeling, I can't explain it. So. . .

ANN GROSSMAN: Yeah, it is just -- it is the mystique of it, you know, here you are at the U.S. Open on stadium court, you are on television and it is just -- I have been playing extremely well tennis; I am getting more used to it, and but, you know, I have to reach that next step. That is my next step now. I have been consistently doing well and this is my next step. And I wish hopefully today I was going to change, but you know, it will come one day. It wasn't meant to be and I will just-- you know, next Grand Slam.

ANN GROSSMAN: Definitely. I beat Martina in L.A.. I have beating all the top 10 players. It is just now I think getting to the quarters of a Grand Slam, getting to the semis, I think I am totally capable of it. You know, I have been consistently beating them. Arantxa, I mean, she is -- I have always have a very tough time playing her because she is so consistent and, but you know, what can I say? She played well today and I made a lot of dumb mistakes. My heart was pounding so fast I couldn't settle down, you know, and she is used to it. That is like nothing for her just walking out there and playing she does it every single day so...

ANN GROSSMAN: First they were like, okay, forget it, you aren't going on grandstand. Night before, this is what they want to do. They want to have these three matches and then they think they are all going to go really quick; then we are going to switch you over. So you know, and then they come in the lockerroom and say, no way, you are not playing on stadium. You are on grandstand. I am like, fine. Then they come back, he was cruising 3-0, you are going to be on stadium, and I was excited because I never been out there, and that was one of my goals this year was to play on every stadium court, and I did, Australian and here, so you know, it is tough. Because I had no preparation, really.