Q. Congratulations for being back in a Grand Slam final. Can you sum up for us what has happened in the past two years, where you had a lot of ups and downs?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think that the years, you know, I have my chances. I get to the finals many times, but I lost most of them. I think this year probably has been the most difficult one because I start well the year, but like I said before, I have two bad injuries, and have bad times. So I have to try to be much faster and quicker and a hundred percent, you know. So I think that I did work hard, you know, the last time, short time that I have. I try to become, you know, and play as much as I can to get my game back.

Obviously, I was not on my best shape, you know, when I came here. But with the matches, I started feeling, you know, from less to more each time. Obviously, each match, you know, at the beginning I didn't play well enough, but I still winning. Then I have very tough matches, you know, against Williams and Schnyder. That give me much more confidence.

I think that because I didn't have probably nothing to lose and no pressure, you know, today, because I think Lindsay was the favorite, you know, she's No. 2 in the world. I have nothing to lose, I just went to play, you know, my match and try to take my chances. And I'm very happy because you have to live, you know, these moments. I'm very happy at this moment, at this stage.

Q. Was there a moment sometime in the last 18 months when you thought, "I'm just never going to get back into another Grand Slam final again"?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: If I tell you the truth, I think that if I was doing the right thing and I keep working the same way as I was doing, sooner or later my time was going to come. I don't know when. If I tell you the truth, I was not, you know, feeling a hundred percent I came here. So I'm obviously very happy at this stage because I probably recover faster than I thought. So I'm very, you know, excited at this moment.

I was very also a little bit nervous to close out the match. I think that it was one stage I could not put my first serve in the court, so I have a lot of trouble. But I think that, you know, I can probably -- you know, this is the happiest moment of my life because of all the situations and how the year went for me.

Q. What was the most hardest match you did this year here?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, all of them, because each match has been different, different opponent, different style of games. But probably if I would not come back from the set and 5-2 down, you know, I probably would not be here at this moment. So probably that was the first one. Then the quarterfinals, and then today, all three matches have been very tough for me. I think

I'm happy because I give, you know, my best at the moments that I should give them. I mean, I've been playing, you know, better. But it's a great feeling because I was probably, you know, the underdog, and that helped me a lot.

Q. You said Lindsay was the favorite because she's No. 2 in the world. But I think most people felt you were the favorite. You had a winning record against her, you've beaten her both times you played on clay. Clay is your surface, certainly not hers. Why wouldn't you go in there thinking that was your match to win?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, because she had better years, you know, than me, and she won probably more tournaments than myself, and she was probably coming here, you know, probably winning more than myself. So, like I say, by ranking, she is No. 2 and I'm No. 4. So normally, that's why I say she was the favorite.

So I think the way she was playing, she was playing much better than myself, you know, to come here.

Q. What do you think of a final if you have to play against Martina Hingis?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, first of all, I don't mind if I play Hingis or Seles. Both players are very good players. I mean, I just have to wait. But, I mean, if I have to play Hingis, I have nothing to lose. She's the No. 1 player.

She's probably the favorite to win here. So that can help me to keep going and play my game. I think that help me, you know, can help me a lot.

Q. You are in the finals. There are three men from Spain in the semifinals. How can you explain this exceptional success of the Spanish tennis in Paris?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: First of all, I'm very happy for Carlos and Felix and Alex, that they're in the semifinals. Probably, you know, will be another Spanish, obviously between Felix and Carlos, and Alex we'll see if he will be able to do it also. I think that this is a special tournament for us.

We came here to try to, you know, do well. Always it's been the favorite for all the Spanish, you know. We are specialists on clay. We always done very well. I'm just wishing all the best. Hopefully, they can continue doing the same as I do.

Q. Today was a very close match. What do you think made the difference?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think we were both playing better when we were returning than when we were serving. Obviously, we have a lot of breaks in our serve, so we didn't serve very well at all. But I did probably take a little more advantage of that, you know, in the first set.

After that, she did went for it before me, she did take more risks also. But she did play very well. I was mostly on the run. I think probably there was some moments that there were some errors, you know, because there were nerves, you know, at the end. If she wins, she can go to the third set. I have to close it up.

But it took me, you know, very long to close it up. One moment I think that I knew we were both very nervous, but I did probably handle more at the end. I was be able to, you know, take the ball into the court, so she has to go for it, and she make some mistakes.

Q. Everybody's talking of the new generation at the top. How much is this a motivation for you to fight back?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think it's normal that they talk about the young players, because there is the new generation. But if I tell you the truth, I think that can help me. Like I said, you don't have any pressure, you know. You can sneak around. If you do the right thing, you there. That's very good for me.

I knew I was not the favorite here. But I'm very happy to be in the final. So besides that, everything depends on the result. I've been there for so many years. I don't have nothing to prove anymore. Everything who will come will be great for me. But it's normal. I mean, if they talk about them, okay. That has nothing to be with me. I just keep going and do my best. That's all.

Q. As you say, you have nothing more to prove. What would another Grand Slam title then mean to you?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, it obviously will mean, you know, another French Open for me. I've been in the finals here also three or four times. I just think that I'm just going to enjoy this moment today and then, you know, have a good warm-up tomorrow, and then just thinking, you know, when it comes the final on Saturday, get ready and give my best. It will be very, you know, great. Now I think to be in the final is perfect. I will try to see if I can go one more.

Q. If it's Hingis in the finals, do you have special memories of previous matches against her?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No. I mean, every time I play -- last times I play Hingis, I lost. So this is a Grand Slam. It's different. This is the final of the French Open. I always have, you know, probably extra motivation to this tournament. I'm just, you know, I will enjoy, like I say, this moment today, because that's what I want to do. Not many moments like this. Then thinking about the final on Saturday.

Q. If it were Seles, because she won the first set?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I don't mind. I don't have preference, either Seles or Hingis, it's going to be a tough match also for me in the final. Both opponents are great players. But, you know, I will be ready to play either one in the final.