F. SCHIAVONE/A. SUGIYAMA
6-7, 7-5, 6-2

An interview with:

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You said on the TV you felt like you've improved a lot in the last three days. Can you talk about that.

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yeah, I said that I improve because every time that I start I try to concentrate a lot. When came the rain, you need to stop to relax back and to go again. Is not easy, but you are there. Every moment, for me, it was very, very nice and very important for me, for my life, everything.

Q. You played Jennifer in Germany.

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Uh-hmm.

Q. What do you remember from that match?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I remember that I was injured. Was my leg, was pain a lot. I lost 6-4, 6-4, but was different, weather different, light different, everything. So this evening will be another match (smiling).

Q. Would you like to maybe play all your matches over four days? That seemed to work for you, that strategy?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, no (laughing). I have a lot of fear, really. Every time that I start to play after the first stop that I play very well, at the start I was play very well. After, was strange, strange feeling. A lot of fear. Why you don't say that I didn't have, so I have a lot. But at the last stop, when I enter in the court, I said to myself, I said, "This is tennis and I can play, is important to play, just play and don't think about other things."

Q. How do you feel, you don't have enough time to enjoy this big win because you have to prepare for another match?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, I'm enjoying (laughter). I don't know you; but me, yes. I call my friends. I receive a lot of e-mail, a lot of short message. I am happy.

Q. Do you have time to prepare for your next match now?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yeah, yeah. Now I have time, yeah. Now I go to eat and I prepare my match.

Q. Have you ever played two singles matches in a day?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes. This, yes. Yes.

Q. That's no problem for you?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: If I have problem, I leave my problem because is like this. I don't have choice (laughing).

Q. When the ball hit the chair umpire, some of us saw you on TV saying, "What more could happen," it looked like you were saying?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, because she look like she was not feeling so good. So I scare, I said, "Call the trainer, something has happen." But she was very professional, because she continue to play and to take her job. Was very professional. And I think that was another help for me, because I was totally out from the court. I was there, but I didn't play tennis until this stop and after the rain. So was perfect for me (smiling).

Q. So you orchestrated it maybe?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: (Smiling). I ask for some help. He give to me.

Q. There was some problem with a bug, also, or bugs on the court? A bee?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Ah, yes. In one shot, yeah. Because I was playing one shot and something is happen. I don't know, I saw... But there was there some.

Q. What did you think?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I did like this (swinging). I was, "I killed somebody."

Q. Do you feel this advantage by the way that you have just a couple of hours between your matches and Jennifer will have more than one day?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Jennifer doesn't play tennis from two or three days. So for her, she can -- maybe she's not feeling so good; I don't know. I don't know, you can ask to her. But I think by myself, and I think that I am here, I enjoy this moment, and I want to do more, more. Because I know that I can do it. So we will see this evening.

Q. How difficult has this week been for all the players with the delays? How hard has that been?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes, is difficult. Everybody, I spoke with every single players, and is not easy. You are there, you are in all the day inside here... If I think about, I say, "Good, Francesca. Good job. Really." (Patting herself on the back.) I didn't slept for three nights, so...

Q. How many hours did you sleep?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I didn't count, but not a lot, really. Tough, tough days. I am happy.

Q. Is it just the mental stress of being in the middle of the match that's hard to sleep?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I don't know. I didn't slept. I don't have an answer about. I think yes, is probably, yes.

Q. Do you think there is some adrenaline that you can take from having won this match this afternoon into that match with Jennifer tonight, some momentum or adrenaline?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes, I think that I can take from this match the play, my play. Because when I play, when I hit the shot, my shot, for the opponent is tough because my balls go quickly and with speed. I can serve very well. So, yes, I take a lot of things from this match.

Q. So when you came out at first today at 3 o'clock, or whenever you went out, she's up 2-love, looked like she just needs to close out and win, at that point did you just think you didn't have a chance? You said you didn't feel so confident until much later after the second?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, is not confidence. Is not that I think that I can win or lose. When I play tennis, is tough for Ai Sugiyama to play. That's all. If I am aggressive, more aggressive than Ai, I can play and I can win the points. That's all.

Q. You still felt you could win at that point, when you came out today for the first time?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I said, "Tough, tough, tough." But if I am there, is because I live the present. I try to live the present.

Q. There was some disagreement about how many times you guys went off and on. Can you go through the four days for us?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes, is a record. I am very happy (laughter) to be in the history of the US Open, I hope that is with my results, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Can you clarify, did you start at 11 o'clock on Monday?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, I start 2 or 3 o'clock.

THE MODERATOR: You played one game?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I don't have any more the time in here (pointing to her head).

Q. Do you remember the beginning of the match?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I don't know. Yes, I remember everything - everything. And I am happy to live this match for four days. I am very happy

J. CAPRIATI/F. Schiavone
6-1, 6-3

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Longest day, huh? Long day?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yeah.

Q. How much was your physical condition affected by playing two matches in one day like that?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: A lot, a lot, yeah. Because I try to do my best. I was there. But to prepare a match so important, so difficult against Jennifer, I need time, I need rest, I need tactic and everything. Very big concentrate. So today was very tough.

Q. You think it was fair you had to play the two matches in one day?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Yes.

Q. Why? Why was it fair?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: It was fair because you don't have a lot of energy to came back, you know. So you need to have time.

Q. I'm sorry. So do you think you should have played?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: I'm sorry.

Q. My fault.

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, my fault. No. I think that if there is a possibility to go -- to don't finish the Sunday -- or Saturday and go one day more, it could be better. But I know the television, a lot of things I can't control. But it's okay. It's okay. Next time, I will work to go to the semifinal (laughing). I did two quarterfinal. Now I have more experience. Now I know how I feel during a match like this.

Q. So as the day finishes, are you more happy that you beat Sugiyama, or more sad that you lost to Capriati?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: No, I am -- I say that I am really full of energy and very happy. I won a great match, really a great match with Sugiyama. Now, I can say that I can do more with Jennifer. I need to understand (smiling). For now, I don't understand very well.

Q. What did you think when there was a delay from the umpire being injured?

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Sorry?

Q. When the umpire was hurt during the match against Sugiyama.

FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE: Oh, yeah, I say already in the last interview. I said everything. Was very professional because she didn't stop, she try to continue the play. It can happen. It can happen, it can happen.