TMS - THE ERICSSON OPEN

March 21, 2001

Ashley Harkleroad

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Yeah, I guess like Continental Cup was much different than this. I play Orange Bowl here, too, and since then I feel like I've gotten much better. But today I played much, much better than I did in Orange Bowl and everything, so... The experience out there was -- I felt I would be more nervous than I was, so I was happy about that. And I played pretty well today.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: It's my first main draw, biggest tournament. I played US Open, but only qualis.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I just thought that -- I just think that, "Just start the second set like a new set, just like the first set." I got down 4-2, then I came back to 4-all, and she had a couple of good volleys and good serves. I had my chances at 4-all, but I couldn't get them. And I played maybe just a little -- not as well as the first set. Started not playing so aggressive; she started playing more aggressive in the second set, coming to the net more.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: My passing shots weren't as good as the first set. I felt she was putting far more pressure on me in the third set, and I put too much pressure on myself. I felt like I had to make them too good.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I used to play in Georgia until I was 13 or 14, then I moved to Tampa. I trained at Saddle Brook Tennis Academy.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: As a tennis player?

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Probably Martina Hingis, I like Kournikova a lot. Maybe I like -- I think I like Kournikova better than Hingis.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I really don't know. I like to watch her play, and -- but I feel like Hingis is, you know, a very good player.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: It doesn't make me feel awkward. It's -- they just want there to be like a Kournikova but from the US I guess. I mean, I hope I can be that.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Yeah. (Laughing.)

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I've been training only, and then I played an ITF Group One in Paraguay. This was a week before this tournament. I won that, now I came here.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I haven't seen them on the shelf. This is what they gave me to wear. I don't know if it's special just for me. I have only seen Davenport wear them and that's it.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Nike, yes. And Babolat.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I think I go to Atlanta to play a 25,000. Then I go to Europe for two tournaments and the French, then I come back home, then I go for Wimbledon and a warm-up tournament before Wimbledon.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I have to do school on the road.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: No. My dad.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: No, but I mean he can help me.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: No, I go to Saddle Brook Prep. I go for one hour a day and I do the rest of my school work at home.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Now it won't be. Maybe if I would have -- I have no more wildcards left until I turn 16. And hopefully if I can get in the qualis.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Nowadays, I think it's much harder to, you know, like Capriati, make it to the semifinals of the French Open at 14. I mean, the game has changed so much since then. I'm pretty content where I am right now. Sometimes I can get a little impatient. I would like to be doing better or things like that. I've only played three pro tournaments this year, and I'm doing all right I guess.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Yeah. I train with her. We practice together sometimes because she trains at Saddle Brook. I'll play, you know, I've played matches with her a couple of times. I've hit with her. Lots of pros come in and out of Saddle Brook I get to train with.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I used to hit with her a lot. She's not there very much right now. She's just been playing tournaments.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: My dad. Yeah. More of my dad. He's always there most of the time. I travel there for a while with the USTA and by myself, but now he will come with me everywhere probably.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Danny.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Uh-huh.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: No, he doesn't work.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Yeah.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: He worked at a printing company.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Not really. Every now and then when articles come out, they'll use that. I'm not from there anymore though.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: My whole life, twelve years.

ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Yeah, two years. It will be two years in August.