US OPEN

August 26, 2003

Angela Haynes

MODERATOR: Questions, please.

ANGELA HAYNES: Well, I have a brother and a sister, and my dad also played. Being the youngest, I would tag along to practice. One day, my dad just decided to get me a racquet. And the rest is history.

ANGELA HAYNES: Three. Three years old.

ANGELA HAYNES: (Laughing).

ANGELA HAYNES: The Williams sisters?

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah, I was young. I never hit with them. My brother would play sets with Serena every day. My dad used to drill Serena -- Venus. Her and my sister would hit. But we trained with each other for a couple years, then we moved, and they went their separate ways.

ANGELA HAYNES: Where did I move? To Bellflower (phonetic). I think that's when they moved to Florida -- or, no. I don't know. I really can't tell you.

ANGELA HAYNES: Every blue moon Richard calls my dad. But, no. No, we really don't talk.

ANGELA HAYNES: That's always nice, you know, being at the level they are. Some pointers, they wouldn't hurt me at all, yeah. That would be nice (smiling). But, you know, as long as I stay on this level, I'm sure I'll get a chance to talk to them.

ANGELA HAYNES: I talked to Venus a couple months ago like when the NASDAQ was going on , then. Not very long, though.

ANGELA HAYNES: You know what, I'd only be me. People, yeah, they always ask, "Are you gonna be the next Venus and Serena?" I'm not Serena. I'm not built like her. I'm not as tall as Venus. I may not have the power they have. You know what, I can only play my game and do my best. Sometimes it puts a lot of pressure on me. "Yeah, you got to do this, you know." But, no, that's not me. I'm just gonna go out there and give the best I have.

ANGELA HAYNES: You know, I don't know. I don't know. I can do everything, really, you know. I like the power game but, you know, if somebody wants to hit me a lot of slices, I could slice back. I could serve and volley. I could do all of that, so... I have an all-around game.

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah, yeah. I never really wanted to go to school, you know. School is always gonna be there. I didn't want to be all -- 'cause, you know, agents and things like that, companies, they make players feel bad. When you get like 20 and, "Hey, I want a contract," they're like, "She's too old." They want a 14-year-old. That makes players feel really bad. That's one reason why I didn't consider school. Yeah, tennis, always my first priority.

ANGELA HAYNES: It was very tough. It's just me and my dad. My dad is really all I have. We got here by ourselves really, you know. I knew I wasn't gonna get any help. So, really, like this is my first full year on the tour. And last year, when that age eligibility rule was up for me, I did awful, really. You know, I was just laid back, looking like for a handout. But when I realized that wasn't gonna happen, I really had to step it up. And I really -- I have to do this for myself. Right now I'm not asking for help; help would be nice. But, you know, it always helps to win.

ANGELA HAYNES: Oh, yeah, that was great. I played every single tournament this year. Started from the challengers, started off in January. Like I was 850, like 849, my ranking. I was like, "I'm gonna play every tournament this year. I gotta do good." The results were great, so...

ANGELA HAYNES: You know, that's hard for me to say, you know. It's always hard for me to say where I want to be. I want to be Top 50 this year. That would be nice. But, you know, people tell me in a couple months I could be, like, Top 30. But I give myself a year, another year, to be where I want to be, to get comfortable, you know, playing these girls week in, week out. You just, you know, you learn their games, you get used to playing in front of the crowd. So, yeah, six months to a year I give myself.

ANGELA HAYNES: Oh, the crowd?

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah, I don't know where that came from, but it was nice. It was a little different. But they helped me through it, you know. It's always nice to hear people cheer for you. Got me a little relaxed out there.

ANGELA HAYNES: Actually, I used to -- not long, I trained with Elliott Telcher (phonetic), Robert Van't Hof. That's about it. That's it.

ANGELA HAYNES: Oh, it's tough. It's real tough. Especially for him. Him, I expect him, "Okay, you're my coach right now." We get off the court, I don't want to hear nothing about tennis. I'm constantly on my dad's case. Plus, I'm pretty rebellious. It's hard for him. It's hard for me, too, you know. But we're very close, and that's the way it has to be. That's how it always will be. But, yeah, my dad will always be my number one coach.

ANGELA HAYNES: Oh, yeah. He says it doesn't, but it does (smiling).

ANGELA HAYNES: Venus and Serena?

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah, yeah. It was pretty inspiring to see them, you know, do the things that they did. They're great players. It's possible for anybody, but it really opens up the gate for people like me and people in those kind of neighborhoods, you know. Keep the dream alive. It's possible. With hard work and dedication, anybody can do it.

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah. I better start watching what I do, you know (laughing). But, yeah, it's exciting. The kids, it's really nice to see kids out there watching and asking for autographs. That makes me feel very good.

ANGELA HAYNES: Agassi. I think I was -- I don't know how old I was. Maybe nine. Agassi's always been --

ANGELA HAYNES: Oh, yeah. Yeah. I had this huge poster.

ANGELA HAYNES: He signed it.

Man, you know what, I cannot remember. I really can't.

ANGELA HAYNES: Oh, yeah, I'm watching tonight. And Andy, because I love Roddick. He's great.

ANGELA HAYNES: Yeah, everything. I mean, he's an entertainer. Off the court he's a great guy, you know. He gives you the whole package when you come out there and watch him. You could watch a tennis match for the first time and be like, "Wow," you know. He's got it all.

ANGELA HAYNES: No, I'm no good at any other sport. Tennis, that's it.

ANGELA HAYNES: Oh, that was... That was like... Blew me away, man. 'Cause, you know, tennis is very expensive, for one, you know. And they are so behind me in my career, and that really meant a lot to me, you know. They're just like, "Do everything you can. Play every tournament you can. Do well." That meant a lot.

ANGELA HAYNES: Joe and Lucy Haynes.