Q. How do you feel just now?
MARTINA HINGIS: Thanks for this question. Heard it like a million times. How do I feel? Well, a little bit disappointed maybe, but Mary played a great match so she really deserved to win today. There were some, you know, great points. I came fighting back. You know, she was already match point up in the second set. I was able to win the second set, but then I was probably too tired in the third. She just kind of overpowered me in the third.
Q. You seemed to struggle a lot. The ambiance with the crowd, does that bother you a little bit?
MARTINA HINGIS: No, not at all. I mean, I knew what to expect. I watched the other matches, when Safin played Pioline, you know, Mary played Monica, Monica-Mauresmo. I knew I couldn't expect the crowd to be on my side. It wouldn't be fair to Mary, either. She just played a great game. From the beginning on, she just, you know, it was tough conditions, and she was able to handle it better. She just played very well. I mean, it was a great match.
Q. You were not tense at all or nervous?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, of course you're always nervous. I was even up 3-1 in the first. She double-faulted like in both games two times. It was like, "Thank you." I didn't have to play, I didn't have to do much. Then she stopped missing. You know, she just played better, smarter today.
Q. You say you got tired. Were you cramping or was your conditioning not good enough?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, if you play like two hours and you have to run from one corner to the other, I think we both were already kind of, you know, tired. I think even she started, you know, stretching, do that stuff like before me. It was too late for me. Even if I would be still able to serve and do all the things, it was too late for me. I was behind already, too, like a set and 3-1. I was already lucky to come back from that match point being down. It was just too much against a player like Mary today.
Q. Do you think she played her best here, because you have a pretty good wining record against her? Do you remember her playing so well?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, when I played her the other matches, like in Scottsdale and was it Indian Wells semifinals, she came out fire from the beginning on. But it was kind of on hard court. You can move better, push off easier. Especially from the backhand side, it was kind of hard for me the whole tournament to come back towards the middle. You have two hands, and the slice is not working for me, not today. It was just very difficult. You know, she served very well. She was just, you know, focused. But definitely that was the best she played me in a long time, yes. But on hard court, it's a different game. She's got more time on clay.
Q. When you touched your leg at the end of the match, was it painful?
MARTINA HINGIS: No. It was just kind of try to like pull it off (indicating). Then you just scared also because you feel it. You know if you push off too much from that side that you might start cramping, because it felt like, you know, it was getting tight there. But that doesn't matter anymore. It was just too late. I was down 5-2. That's no excuse, no.
Q. Did you think at all before the match that in the past sometimes she's gotten nervous on big points, maybe how you could exploit that?
MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I mean, she would even today. But still, she was just better. I mean, not much I could do today. You know, I could only wait sometimes, make her make the mistakes. I just started playing too late. I just, you know, changed my game a little bit after I was down a set and 3-1, but it was too late.
Q. Is that something you knew about her going in that maybe you thought about, or not really?
MARTINA HINGIS: About what?
Q. That in the past here she's gotten nervous on big points.
MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, but she made the finals there in '94 when I was only playing Juniors. I remember I was playing like on Court 3. I played Jacelin (ph) in the final and she was already playing Sanchez in '94. I'm like, "Okay, I've got six more years to go."
Q. The slice can be a weapon against Mary on clay. Was it in your game plan before the match?
MARTINA HINGIS: No, not at all. I was just kind of trying to do what I could. Slice is not my shot, not really.
Q. Is there anything that you think you've specifically learned from this fortnight?
MARTINA HINGIS: I think in general I learned a lot at this tournament. I finally, you know, found the way I should play. I played, you know, maybe the game I should have played throughout this tournament too late, just didn't play many matches on clay in general. Until I found out how to do it, it's too late. You know, hopefully next year I start playing it from the beginning. It's just I'll try to do better the next tournaments. Definitely on hard court I play very well so far this season. Let's see what's going to happen on grass.
Q. What is the game you've discovered?
MARTINA HINGIS: I don't know, play a little bit more topspin. I can't overpower players like Mary. I played Rubin. So I just have to mix it up. When I get my chance, you just have to work it out, those points. You just can't go in it like Monica does. I can't play those angles. I just have to work it out.
Q. Mary and you had quite an interesting battle out there. Conchita came out there and didn't basically even let Arantxa see the ball. You played her recently. I wondered how you think Mary will stack up against Conchita?
MARTINA HINGIS: I think Mary has a winning record against Conchita. But Conchita just played very smart today. Throughout the tournament she probably struggled a little bit, but she always came out as a winner. I'm sure she must be very confident, didn't have a tough match today, and will be fit for the finals. She knows that's her chance if she wants to win this tournament one time. But it's the same for both. You know, they don't want to lose. Mary is in her second final, Conchita's first. I'm sure they both going to give everything.
Q. After two finals here, when do you think or will you ever get to the stage where you think you might developing a complex about not winning Roland Garros? Is there any danger of that, sort of Pete Sampras complex?
MARTINA HINGIS: As I said the other day, I don't need the French Open to survive. I think I still stick with that one rule. There are many other players who have never won this tournament. I mean, I have a lot of years in front of me. As you see, Pierce and Martinez, they never won this tournament. One of them is going to win. One is 25 and the other 28. I have nothing to worry about right now. I think I just played very well this tournament. I'm looking forward to next year, just looking forward to Wimbledon. I think I did everything to, you know, play my best. It wasn't enough, so let's see what's going to happen next time.