http://www.henin-hardenne.be/bin/index.asp?lang=en To Get Better And Better 13/04/2006: The queen of clay, in her first clay match of the season defeated Austrian Sybille Bammer. In her usual self deprecating manner Justine talks about the second round, and where her form is in context to the Family Circle Cup historical record. Justine, can you talk about how you played tonight with the six double faults? "Yes. The first match on clay is never easy, especially a night match for me to start in the tournament. It wasn't the best conditions. But no, I'm just happy to win this kind of match. She played well. It wasn't so easy for me as a first round, so every year is the same thing. I play too far from my baseline in my first matches on clay, and I'm not aggressive enough, and you have to fight a lot to win the points; so that's not easy. You get tired very, very easily, very soon in the match because you're just out of the rhythm. So I think all the players feel that first matches on clay court. So that's pretty normal." You're trying to find your game as much as gauge hers at this point in the tournament? "Yes. I think that's right. I just have to be focused on myself even if it doesn't depend on me, but if I play my game, I just have to be aggressive. That was a bit hard for me at the beginning of the match because I was too far from my baseline. I was hitting the ball very hard, but I was too far away, so as soon as I put a step in the court. It's not easy on clay because you have to find a good balance between the patience and being aggressive, and it's hard. I mean, to win a point on the clay takes you a lot of effort." How was the transition for you on clay? How have you been getting ready for this? "Yes. It's not easy. Like I said, in the first match, especially physically. It's not the rhythm, and you have to be in the good rhythm so you can play your best tennis. So I'm sure it's going to be better match after match. Now it's just the fact that I won was the most important thing for me, and I did. I will have another chance to get better and better in my next round." You had service issues; those six double faults? "I don't think we have to stay focused on the six double faults. I mean, I won 6-2 6-3. It's not a big deal. If it's the only thing we can keep from the match, it's a bit sad because there were many other good things. So I have no problem on my serve. Just I had to get used to the lights and everything also. So nothing special." The final score 6-2 6-3, yet you were down a couple points. Do you get anything extra from playing closer games as opposed to when you're clearly playing dominantly? "I think that even if it's 6-2 6-3, it wasn't so easy, and that's what I need right now, this kind of match. That's the kind of match that's going to help me to, keep going, and feel better, when you have to fight; it's better than when you win so easily. I'm happy that I had this kind of match, and I will have to be more aggressive, play more in the court and try to go every ball to the net in my next round." You had some beautiful finesse shots tonight. Is that something you've been working on? "Yes. I did a couple of drop shots. I mean if I don't do them on the clay, I won't do them anywhere. It's the best surface to do them. So I didn't work especially on that. It's just the feeling. I mean when I was feeling it was the right time I did it. And I just missed one, my first one, I think, in the match. So that was good because it changes the rhythm. She was very far away from her baseline because she was always in defense. So that was good for me sometimes to say I'm not going to hit. I'm just going to hit a drop shot. So that changed the rhythm of the point." When you come into a tournament where you've never lost a match, do you feel a little invincible? "Not at all. Not at all. Every match is different. Every situation is different. Even if I won a lot of matches here in Charleston, I like this tournament a lot, but it doesn't mean that I have to win this time. It's just match after match. I feel very nervous before every match, no matter where it is and no matter what happened in the past, because it depends also from the opponent. You're not alone on the court. She wants the same thing as you, and that's why tennis is very good because it's great battles on the court and it's very exciting. "Thank you guys." -- 下一場對上Sprem --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 61.229.32.221