ROUND 1

U.S.Open 27 August 2001
M. HINGIS/L. Granville 6-2, 6-0

MODERATOR: Questions for Martina, please.

Q. How do you feel about the way you played overall as you look at the first match?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I started off pretty well. Then the two games being 40-15, having the advantage to come back and win it, then lost it. Maybe a little nervous, a little tense there at 3-2. But overall, I feel pretty good. Four aces today - pretty good - only one double-fault.

Q. Must feel pretty good to be back on that court?

MARTINA HINGIS: Opening it up also is a great honor. 11:00, I'm not really a morning person. This occasion, it's great to do that. I feel very honored.

Q. You talked about four aces. Your service speed I don't think once got over a hundred miles an hour. Are you still relying on placement?

MARTINA HINGIS: I know I'm not going to hit it like Venus, 124. No, placement, mixing it up so the opponent doesn't always know what I'm doing. That's my strategy. I know I'm not going to overpower anybody or hit a hole through someone (laughter).

Q. After a couple of weeks off, what state of mind are you in coming to the US Open?

MARTINA HINGIS: Good, positive. I mean, probably like 95% healthy. Maybe still in the back of my mind I have, but not today. That's why I try to (inaudible) the matches, keep them shorter, not to be too short out there.

Q. How is the foot?

MARTINA HINGIS: Good. But the last five, six days, I could really put all the pressure. I took a few days off, had to start a little slowly. You know, it's been better. I feel it a little bit, but nothing serious.

Q. Are you getting any treatment on it?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, well, that's just general. You have to continue. During the tournament, it might worsen. So, yeah, of course.

Q. What's the injury again?

MARTINA HINGIS: It was a stress reaction.

Q. On the right foot?

MARTINA HINGIS: No, left. I had that ankle four times, so I think that's my weaker side.

Q. The fact that people aren't picking you to win it, do you like that, or would you prefer to be favored?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, at the Grand Slam, everyone obviously is ready. You just have to play your best game if you want to win it. If you're not, that's too bad. You go out there, try your best. If it's good enough, great. If not, I'm going to survive. There's many more chances. It's a great challenge to be here again. I love the occasion. I mean, I love this tournament. I always had a lot of success. I hope it's going to stay that way.

Q. When you look back on that breaker when you beat Jana and played Steffi in the semis, does that seem a long time ago?

MARTINA HINGIS: I was just recently actually thinking about it. After the Arthur Ashe Day, I still, that day, practiced on the old stadium, the Armstrong court. Every time I step out on that court, I remember that. It's always there, yes. That's going to stick with me.

Q. You have a tendency over the years to say things that I guess here in America we would call politically incorrect. Is that a concept that you are aware of? For example, the most recent thing in Time Magazine seen about saying blacks may actually have an advantage. Is that a concept that troubles you at all, the reaction to those statements?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I'm sorry if I hurt anybody's feelings with that, but I think at that time I meant it probably not always in the same way. I think I was right at that time, but it doesn't mean it's against everybody. I just maybe said something which is not maybe politically correct, but I don't know. I don't know all the laws, all the rules what are going on in this country. I mean, if you expect that from me, it's too much. I'm sorry if I hurt anybody.

Q. Do you believe that the Williams sisters use race as a weapon?

MARTINA HINGIS: No. It was just that one time, I think. And I don't know, it's not up to me to judge that, what they do.

Q. In reference to Indian Wells, is that what it was referring to?

MARTINA HINGIS: That was a family thing. I don't want to comment on that, no.

Q. How do you think the media treat the Williams sisters? Is there some fear in speaking out about them from other players on the tour?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, you always have respect about whatever you say. You don't always want to judge other people. Doesn't matter what race they are, what color they are. It might always turn back on you, turn against you.

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