U.S. OPEN

September 2, 1994

Mary Joe Fernandez

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I was a bit disappointed. I didn't play very well today. I didn't feel I was timing the ball particularly well. She played very well, doesn't make too many mistakes and it was just a weird match. I never really felt in the match. I was mistiming a lot of forehands and I wasn't getting the breaks. I needed points to get up in the second set and I didn't capitalize on them.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Oh, no, I was focusing and I was concentrating, but, just one of those days where you don't hit the ball as well as you'd like. I've been hitting the ball pretty well throughout and it was a little windy and I think I just didn't adjust well to the timing.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I am, I'm disappointed because I was hitting the ball well and got through a tough one in my second match and that gave my a bit of confidence. And so to come out and not play particularly well today, it is a bit discouraging.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I've had a rough year, healthwise, it's been up and down and I haven't really played too much. So, it's been tough. I feel, physically, now I'm doing a lot better and hopefully now it will be a good patch for me where I'll be strong and healthy for a while and hopefully the more matches I'll play the better form I'll get.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I think I'm still pretty far away. I still need to play a lot of matches. I'm a little slower than I was before. You lose like that when you don't play a lot and people start getting more confidence when they play you when they know you're not on top of your health. And girls go out there and have a little more fate that they can win instead of being intimidated, and they know they have a chance, so it makes it tougher.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I'm getting there. I don't think I'm where I was but, I'm feeling better than I was a few months ago, that's positive. I'm working on it. Every day is stronger.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: A little bit, I think. I guess I haven't played a lot of matches and you forget how to play those big points and what to do and which shots to go for and that all takes a part.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Hopefully, I'll play a lot. Tokyo a week from here and a couple tournaments in Europe and Virginia Slims in Philadelphia.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: No.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Wow! I was a very little girl when I first saw her play. I just remember watching her and Chrissy play in all the finals, basically, and I remember how strong she was and how she changed the game really. She changed everybody's fitness program and got everybody doing the weights and getting in shape, and I just remember all the tournaments she won time after time after time. Sad to see her leave, she was such a great champion, but I don't think we can expect much more from her. As for me, I'm glad I won't have to be playing her anymore. I enjoyed playing her so she'll be remembered as probably the best player ever.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I don't remember. I remember the first tournament I played where she was at. I don't know if I met her there. It was the Virginia Slims of Florida, Linda Carter -- I don't know, something like that. I hit with her first time in California in an exhibition. She asked me to do it and I was pretty excited and I was 13 or 14 years old.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I did, a couple.