VIRGINIA SLIMS CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 15, 1993

Mary Joe Fernandez

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Not really. I mean, I pretty much knew what I was in for and what I'm in for in the future, still.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Yes.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Yes.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Yes.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Yes.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Pretty much.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: No.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I feel I'm playing pretty well. I started playing about-- you know, four, five weeks ago, played in tournaments a couple weeks ago, I feel like I'm hitting the ball pretty well, still a bit weak and still a bit slow, especially on these courts, they are fairly quick. You have to be moving well to the ball and I'm a step slow and get there a little late, so I'm out of the point if I don't hit a good shot right away, then I'm the one on the defense all the time.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I felt that I was in the match. I mean, after-- in the second set after 2-1 I thought I started playing better, hitting the ball a lot harder, and I was taking control of the points and third shot starting playing better making a few errors and I think I played a couple more errors. It was very quick, so have you to put a lot of pressure on her and it's one big-- the break in the third she served well, and that was it, it's over.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I think her speed is the main thing, she's very quick on the court, she's a smart player. She moves the ball around very well, and you know, hits the ball on the rise pretty much, she had a very good year, and I think, like I said before, her quickness helps her a lot to get to a lot of balls and stay in a lot of points.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Well, it was weird even though it was, you know, I was lost 6-1 then on one 6-1 it was pretty close I thought it was even throughout and in the third set maybe if I would have got an early lead it would have made a difference, but you know, we played tied for a while and then she got that break which came in late in the set and it's always harder to get back into it after you lose--

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: That was a big game for me to hold and, you know, I needed to break her and I didn't do that.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: There aren't anymore.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: I feel very pleased. You know, I basically played first half of the year. I didn't play too much the second half and, you know, the highlight was definitely the finals in the French. That gave me a lot of confidence, in myself knowing I can play with the top players and hopefully beat them back to back, and before that, I played well on the clay, and then, you know, last halfway a bit unfortunate, can't do much about health problems, but you just have to take it and you know, now it's a little bit starting over again and like you said it's going to be a long road back and I was happy to be feeling well and happy to be playing again.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Yes.

MARY JOE FERNANDEZ: Every three months.