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Flavia lost to Serena Williams 4-6 3-6
Q.
You played with tremendous heart out there tonight, and the crowd really
responded. It was a very electric match. I know it wasn't the result
that maybe you wanted, but what do you come away from that match and
this tournament knowing about yourself and your heart?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, you know, I'm really happy about this
tournament, about the season, everything. It's going to be very good. I
think today was very great match. I didn't have a lot of chance. I have
just two, and I didn't make it.
But she was playing really great, really aggressive. When you play with
this player, you have to play always on the best tennis and you cannot
make mistake. Today I make few mistake in important point, and she just
take the chance to close the match.
But I think I give everything on the court tonight, you know. I was like
running and fight until the end. It's the only ‑‑ it's the only way to
win against this kind of player. And I was there, but tonight was not my
night.
Q. It seemed you started to get maybe a little tired in the second set.
Do you think the earlier match might have wore you down?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No, no, I don't know. I was okay really. I had time
to rest. I had one day. It was perfect. I was ready to fight. She was
playing really well. She was really aggressive. The ball was very heavy
for me tonight, but I know that.
Q. Do you think she's above all the other players?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, for me, Serena and Venus are the best one,
you know, when they are in shape and when they are like fit, they are
the No. 1.
Q. What about mentally when you play against them? Is it different?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: No, it was not different, because I play Venus few
time already, Serena just one time. But, you know, when I get in the
court, I always try to think I can win the match. I don't go in the
court and just say, I hope to make a good game and then will we see.
No, I just go in there and try to win the match.
Q. The way she screams and grunts on the court, you heard from Vera
Zvonareva the other night, and she has a different style. How would you
compare it, and what makes Serena so distinctive the way she yells out
there?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, everyone is different. Serena or Sharapova,
they have the style, have different style. But, you know, when you are
playing, you just think on your game and you don't really listen what
they do.
Q. Well, looking at her game, what do you think is the strategy that
someone would have to take to beat her?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Well, I think the serve and return are the two
points really important. You know, you have to start very aggressive and
take the ‑‑ be on the court. You cannot be like two meters down. You
have to stay in the court and just try to move her.
But it's not easy.
Q. Do you think she has a stronger ambition for this tournament?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yes, I think so. Of course. Well, everyone
normally, when you're playing in your country, it's normally you want to
do good, and it's different.
Q. Looking back on this tournament or on this summer, how much are you
satisfied with your performance?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I'm happy. Not now in this moment, but, you know,
I'm happy because I think I play in the last two months very good
tennis. I have a lot of ‑‑ I won a lot of good match against good
player.
Still have like four tournament until the end of the year, and I hope to
play in the same way.
Q. Kim said earlier that when she hit with you in Rosmalen that you were
hitting with much more aggression than she had seen before. Would you
characterize that as the biggest difference in your game this past year?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yes, I think my ball is more heavy, and it's now ‑‑
it's painful, you know. When I put my body on the ball it's really,
really heavy. So I improve a lot in the last two years, I think.
Q. What she noticed, is that what you were specifically going for?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yes. Yes, actually.
Q. On match point, it was a very long rally. Did you think in your mind,
Well, I saved a lot of them the other night?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yes. Why not? (laughter)
Q. You think you can qualify for the Fed Cup tie?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: I think for the moment it's still ‑‑ I'm not there.
So I have to play more, and I have to make like a good result in the
last three tournaments. This will be not that easy, but I will try.
Q. This is your goal?
FLAVIA PENNETTA: Yeah.
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