AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 27, 2006

Amelie Mauresmo

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, I'm feeling great. I had a little bit of practice. I'm going to take it easy for the rest of the day and recover, make sure I'm a hundred percent for tomorrow.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Well, I've already started to think about it a little bit. You know, probably a little bit more tonight and tomorrow. Obviously, tomorrow morning. But we're going to probably talk a little bit about it tonight already.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, I mean, we've played against each other many times. We both know probably what the other is going to do and how we're going to play. Yeah, just also remind a few things here and there that can really be effective or could make a difference.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, I think she's proved on many occasions that she's really a tough one. She's staying on I don't know how many wins in a Grand Slam final. You know, she showed really some strengths on the mental side. As I said yesterday, you know, I'm expecting a tough one. She's not going to give me anything. But I know that.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I'm getting tougher and tougher as my career is going, as the experience is running. Yeah, I guess I'm tougher and tougher. But, you know, we'll see.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I hope so.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Well, it's also learning from the tough moments, learning from the experiences you had and maybe the things you didn't do right at the right times. Yeah, probably getting some experience in these big matches. I guess that's how you grow up and how you get tougher. You know, some people get it quicker than others. It's also really depending on your own evolution. Yeah, I guess that's the way it is.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I used -- well, not too much now, not any more I would say. I think after LA I really convinced myself I was really capable of doing it. It made me really take things very differently now.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: You know, I haven't won a big one. But I don't really take things like this. I don't see things like this because it's very different what I'm living and what I'm going through from what has been written and said on me. I don't really feel this way.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I've already won slams, is that what you mean?

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Oh, their first Slam.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: I hope it's going to happen tomorrow (smiling). What can I say? Yeah, it's not very often. Some never do. You know, I'm still in position where I can still believe in doing it. That's what I'm going to try to do tomorrow.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Not at all. That's really not the way I am right now. It's not the way I'm feeling. It's almost the contrary. Now I know I'm capable of really getting to these occasions. Really considering having some more in the future.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, I'm actually thinking I'm in great shape - maybe in better shape than I used to be maybe three years ago. You know, I pay attention a little bit more to everything, not only on the court but also off the court, what I'm doing, what I'm eating, whatever. I think I'm in a better shape right now actually, which is maybe a little bit strange, but that's the way.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Well, the technical part of the game is one side. As we were talking about the mental a little earlier, it's probably another thing that I've really worked on, learning from different experiences. And, again, physically I think I'm much stronger. I can last a bit longer. You know, touching wood, for one year now I've been free of injuries. It's a pretty good thing.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Not really. I can't really recall. No, I think it was -- yeah, I don't think I was ready really to go through these kind of experiences at the time.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: We'll see tomorrow (laughter).

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: You want to push me through the door (smiling)? No, no, I haven't considered that yet.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Yeah, I heard she said that in New York, I think it was at the US Open. I was a little bit surprised she was considering to retire at such a young age. You know, if she feels that's the way she wants it to be, then she has that choice, she can make that choice. I'm not there yet.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: We'll see. If my body holds, we'll see.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Everything is going to be tough, I know. You know, I'm ready for that. The emotion can play a big part. The technical also will play some part. I don't know if there is one that is going to be more important than the other. I'm ready for every situation, I think.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: It's difficult to rate, but quite a lot. I think I just proved to myself, you know, I was capable of beating the best players. I was staying on many losses against Kim at the time. I lost against Mary in a pretty tough way in New York a couple months before. I was probably wondering, okay, am I going to be able to do it, all these kind of questions. It came at the right time I think for me.

AMÉLIE MAURESMO: Not before the match, but tonight, yes.