Day 1

Q. You fought very hard in the second set. Can you talk a little bit about what the difference was.

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, there is no difference because when I start till matchpoint, the last point, I play not so good. Between the first and the second, for her, is not so easy to win the match because you need to win always, and every points are difficult. I played not very good, not special, like I can play, but it's okay. Meghann, she won a good match.

Q. Was it your forehand? You had been in wonderful rallies, then your forehand would seem to fly off on you. Could you just talk a little bit about that part.

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: My forehand?

Q. The forehand.

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, but is a good shot. But today was really tough because for tension maybe and because is completely different situation, Fed Cup for me - I feel my heart let go like 100 speed. And, no, my forehand is very good when I stay with my legs, with my foot down, and I don't jump. But this is a technical mistake, that kind mistake. I can be a lot of points with my forehand. I need to study and to practice a lot, but my forehand can be very good shot.

Q. What is the most difficult part about playing someone like Meghann Shaughnessy?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: What is difficult?

Q. What is the most difficult aspect of playing someone like Meghann Shaughnessy?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Meghann, with me, I don't know, but she play always good. At the end she has had some difficult because to win the match is not so easy like everybody think, "5-1, okay, is done." But is not like this. Meghann, she play good serve, and she play very good when she move from the forehand to the backhand side. And she push my backhand. But, you know, she is good. If I don't play like today, was tough. The result was 6-3, 6-4.

Q. When you were down 5-1 in the second set, a lot of players would have given up; you made a good comeback. At what point did you think you might be able to pull this out and maybe take it to a third set and win?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Maybe the point, the breakpoint that I have had in the last game, 5-4, and she mistake the first ball. I played one backhand out. You know, if you play inside the court in that point, maybe it can change the match.

Q. With what state of mind will you approach the match tomorrow?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Tomorrow will be tough because Chanda play good. But we will see because Rita, Rita need to play today, and you never know. I believe in the play Rita play. Tomorrow, we will see. Because I am strange, I can play unbelievable match, I can play very good, and after, the day after, maybe I can lose against one of you (smiling). So I need to find my balance, and after I will be tough for the other people, the other players.  

--Last edited by solene on 2006-09-26 11:35:02 --

Day 2

Q. You played such a competitively good match. What happened after you didn't get to break back in the second set and went into that third set? What was the difference?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, Chanda played very, very good, I think. And when you play with a great player, she play always like level nine; eight, nine, so... And I played eleven, sometimes eight. But if you play seven, like this, is very tough to beat them. And in the third set, she didn't mistake a lot of balls, and I didn't play -- I didn't serve very well. But I played every point, point on the point on the point, every point.

Q. In that second set, you thought you were going to win, did you ever?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yeah. For me, from the start, I know that I can beat a lot of players, also Chanda. But until the last point, you never know. Chanda, sorry...(speaking to Chanda Rubin at the back of the room) I have a question for you. I am a new journalist from Sport Week Magazine.

CHANDA RUBIN: That's scary, no... (laughing).

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: There is a possibility to beat these players, but she's mental very continuous. And I need to improve also this one, and in the future will be very tough for them to beat me.

Q. How important was her breaking your serve at the beginning of the third set?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Very important. In the deuce, 4-all deuce, I play double-fault. But I think that was ace the first serve - I think. And when you lose just some, a little concentration, and I played double-fault, and after she played good speed against me, and I lost that game. But we were very near with the points and with the play also.

Q. Do you think you kind of lost concentration for a little bit toward the beginning of the third set, and that's kind of where she just went on a roll?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes. In the third set, it was I think different concentration, kind of mind of concentration. I need to improve that. But it's okay.

Q. After a fantastic first set that you and Chanda played, what did that do for the morale both for yourself and the Italian team at that point, coming in down 2-0, knowing you had to win all three matches, you won the first set? It seemed like the Italian bench was lively after that second set. How did that affect the morale of not only yourself but the teammates and captain?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Did you ask for the point? I fight very good from the start - sorry, huh? You speak...(speaking very fast). No, for me, this point for Italy was very important. I start with the good confidence after the first set. I watched my team, and they were really excited. Me too, huh? Also the captain. We believe in what I played. But also when I lost the second set, I believe in my chance until the last point, really. And is not bad luck, but I try to do my best to have this point because I love play Fed Cup, and I think that everybody, when you play for your country, you are excited, your heart go, and is very nice. I don't know if you can play one time in your life for your country, but I hope that you can feel this emotion. Okay? (Smiling.)