I really believed it. I felt it very strongly. |
[Exerting pressure from the opening game, Pierce drove the ball deep with her forehand. She is supremely confident in her game and her life, and thinks she has tennis in perspective.] It's all great and this is what I love to do, and I feel like God has blessed me with this gift, ... At the same time, there are lots of things going on in this world. The last hurricane down south, there's people struggling with their lives . . . I'm very excited and happy to be in the semifinals. It's part of my life, but it's not everything. |
[She said she didn't know what that could be.] But I felt, 'OK, I really believe that,' ... I thought, 'Well, I'm just going to do everything I possibly can and be the best I can be.' |
After I lost the first set, I was like, `OK, I need to get help because I can't play this way,' |
As long as I was hitting the ball hard and hitting it deep, our rallies were not that long. ... There was one way to beat her, and that was to be aggressive first. |
At 6-0 up, Elena looked nervous, |
At that moment, I though anything can happen. In tennis, it's never over till it's over, |
Before this match, I felt really good, ... I was ready for it. I was looking forward to it. I wanted it. But today was definitely not my day. |
Everybody gets injured, ... There are time-outs for certain reasons. Some players go to the bathroom. Some change their clothes. Elena went and changed her clothes after I won the second set, so it's part of the game. |
Her serve is not what we're used to seeing. When it's too easy, it becomes difficult. |
Her serves weren't as fast, ... It can be difficult playing against somebody who is hurt. |
Hopefully, I won't be having nightmares. |
I aim to keep going out and playing my game the best that I can. I've been playing well lately, and I hope it continues. |
I also played two great Fed Cup finals here, winning in 2003 and losing last year, so Moscow will always have a special place in my heart. |
I am just feeling so great. I am healthy and able to play out here in front of my fans. Everything that's happened in my life - I'm just so grateful. |