QUESTION
From your viewpoint, what went wrong?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:
Just didn't win the match. You know, bottom line.
Uhm, you know, certainly had my chances and just didn't execute. You know, I felt like I was -- when she was up and then I'd get back there, back in the game, I just didn't take advantage of that and let her, you know, let her control the situation again.

QUESTION
What are the challenges of playing someone you know so well and is a friend?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:
Uhm, I mean, when we go on the court we don't really think about that. We just go out and we try to play our game, you know. No matter how well you know someone or not, it's a new day and a new match, and you just try to go out there and perform.

QUESTION
How impressed were you with the way you were striking the ball?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:
I was pretty happy because I kind of came from a slow court in Toronto to a pretty fast court here, which you always know going into the US Open, the Arthur Ashe Stadium is pretty quick. So it was all about adjustment.
I played a tricky opponent who doesn't give you much rhythm. It was just really important to stay on top of her and do the right things from the beginning. I thought I had a little bit of a slow start, but once I got going, I was able to do a good job of maintaining.

QUESTION
What are your thoughts?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:
Uhm, no real thoughts. I lost the match (smiling).

QUESTION
Do you, yourself, understand what happened this afternoon?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:
Uhm, yes. I mean, if I'm smart enough, I should know. It took me a while to get going. It's a little too late to start picking yourself up when you're down a set and 3‑0. You know, it's a little late.

QUESTION
In Paris you played with a lot of enthusiasm and energy. As far as your level of fitness is concerned, are we seeing Maria almost a hundred percent or getting close to it?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:
I think there's still work to be done. I think, uhm, all the matches that I've been playing have really helped me, you know, definitely not just with my tennis but also physically, you know, getting used to the movement on the court as well as, you know, moving on two different surfaces.
But, uhm, you know, I always feel like I move pretty good on grass.

MARIASHARAPOVA

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

QUESTION
You looked very tired, but you fight until the last ball. Can you explain what you feel, how you feelnow.


MARIA SHARAPOVA:
Um, it took me a while, obviously, to startgoing for my shots and create, you know, good opportunities to come to the netand finish the point off, you know, closer to the court.

Yeah, it just ‑‑you know, I guess you could only ask your body to do so much. You know, everything fell a little shorttoday. The pace wasn't there on mystrokes, and, you know, I was five steps slower today.

I think everything kind of combines. The fact that, you know, she just playedreally solid and made me hit a lot of balls, and I came up short today.