To Get Better And Better - 網球

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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."

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