Q. It was a bad match, you were nervous, or it was a good opportunity? You are going to keep on trying? Three questions in one, but okay.

MARY PIERCE: Okay. Uhm, let me see. I wasn't nervous, which wasn't good I think. And I didn't ‑‑ I felt like I made a lot of mistakes today. You know, just wasn't my day. You know, just didn't really feel like it was working my way.

Justine played really good, you know, very solid match from her side. You know, I was just trying to get into it, get into it. Uhm, you know, just wasn't happening for me today.

You know, it's very disappointing for me because I've had just such great matches over the last two weeks, and I really felt like my game was improving with every match. And then, you know, to play today's match and not play so well, it's just a difficult feeling.

You know, I'm happy with my tournament, of course. Fantastic tournament. I've had some great wins. Beat the No. 1 in the world, made the finals here in my favorite tournament. So there's so many great things and so many positive things for me to look back on. I know that I'm on the right path. I'm improving every day.

I just feel that, you know, it's always difficult when you lose a match, and it's always difficult when you don't play well because it's not as fun, you know. It's hard to enjoy it when you keep missing and playing bad. And Justine on the other side of the court was just really playing a good match.

You know, I'm going to keep continuing the work that I'm doing and see where it takes me.

Q. The relation with the French crowd, at least you could speak English at the end?

MARY PIERCE: No, the relation with the French crowd is great. I just spoke English at the end because I know that there's people back in the States that are watching me, and they don't speak French. So I wanted to say a few words for the people that were only English speaking.

Q. When your run was finally up here, after the match, there was a very poignant moment at the end. The tears, were they tears of relief or tears of disappointment, just sensing what the whole two weeks meant to you?

MARY PIERCE: It's just a combination really of everything. You know, that's what I was kind of saying in my speech. I just had such mixed emotions and it was just so difficult, you know. Right at that point definitely sad that I lost, you know, and sad that the match went by so fast and I didn't play well. So happy that I was there actually being able to stand there, you know, as a finalist at this tournament.

This is my third time in the finals here, which is it's unbelievable. I just get very emotional when I think about it, you know.

I've had a lot of emotions already in me for like the last four days, you know, or six days, something like that. Just every match, you know, and every other day has just been so much emotions on the court playing, and also off the court, you know. Just so happy sometimes.

You know, when I have my mom, a family member, a friend, you know, send me a message, you know, it just really brings ‑‑ I just really want to start crying because it's just like I'm so happy. It's just unbelievable.

And to think about where I've been, what I've been through, and where I am now, and that, you know, just in the toughest moments that I've had, the darkest moments, to think that, you know, one day I would be standing ‑‑ because that's what I've wanted, you know, for so long and what I've been working so hard for and just hoping. What kept motivating me is just to have those moments again in the big tournaments and play those big matches, you know, and it's happening. It's such a great feeling.

Q. Off court, was there a special moment that somehow brought it all together?

MARY PIERCE: What do you mean?

Q. A note from a family member or a story from the past, past coach.

MARY PIERCE: You mean, during the tournament?

Q. During this tournament.

MARY PIERCE: You know, it's just kind of so many little things daily. I get a message from someone or if I talk to a friend back home. They know how much this tournament means to me; they know everything that I've been through. Just they're ‑‑ you know, just their support and their prayers and all the help and the love from all the people that have just been there for me. You know, the ones that are the fewest that are closest to me know what I've been going through and how hard I've been working and how much I've been really putting into this.

And to finally to enjoy all the hard work, you know, is just so amazing. So it's just so many different things.

Q. You said you weren't nervous. Certainly to the spectator it looked like there were moments of nervousness. There was certainly that overhead in the second game of the second set. >

MARY PIERCE: Yup.

Q. Sure there was no nervousness there at all?

MARY PIERCE: No, not at all, you know. That's why I said I wasn't, and that's not good. Because, you know, you have to have some kind of emotion to be kind of up, I guess, for the match, you know. Before today's match I just was like really calm. I was like, okay, you know, because I do get really emotional ‑‑ a lot of emotions start coming. You start thinking about things, the match or afterwards, or the people or anything, you know.

And like even this morning like having breakfast, sometimes it was like really hard to eat, swallow, get it down, because I was so nervous, you know. And sometimes before some of my other matches, you know, just before I go out on the court, I'm like, you know, my head's dizzy, I can't breathe, I don't know if I'm going to be able to play.

But today it was ‑‑ except for early in the morning, but otherwise today I was like really calm and I really wanted to be calm, not to be too nervous or emotional because I didn't want to be tight.

I wanted to go out and play, just be lose, just be confident. You know, I had nothing to lose, so I just wanted to go out and play a great match and just go for it. Maybe I was a little bit too calm, too mellow (laughter). Maybe needed to be a little more aggressive. Didn't play aggressive enough either, so...

Q. What makes it so difficult to play against Henin? Is her level way above the rest? How do you see that?

MARY PIERCE: You know, Justine played really a fantastic match. She's just a solid player, you know. She has all shots: serve, return, forehand, backhand, slice, dropshots, she comes to the net. She just does everything well and she's very confident with all of her shots, as well. She can hit heavy spin.

You know, it's difficult for me to say today, to make a good analysis, because I didn't feel like I played a good match, and I made a lot of mistakes. And it would have been really fun for me to be able to ‑‑ you know, if I played better, it doesn't mean if I would have won; I still might have lost ‑ you never know ‑ but at least it might have been more enjoyable for me, and I think it would have been more enjoyable for the fans who came, and hopefully a longer match than it was.

If I would have maybe played better, I could give you a better idea of what I really feel about Justine's game because I don't feel like I challenged her very much either.

Q. Do you feel that she's better even in the big moments, that she can play better then?

MARY PIERCE: Well, you know, I don't know. I definitely know that when Justine is winning and then she's ahead, and especially after she wins a set, she becomes a lot more confident and a lot more relaxed, and she starts going for her shots a lot more.

Q. There's so much a theme of this tournament ‑ being you and France, the fans. Is it somewhat a relief when now you move on to Wimbledon, there's no flag? Australia, there's no flag for you. I know you said you enjoy this, but do you also maybe enjoy sort of moving on and playing where there is no flag to be concerned with?

MARY PIERCE: Uhm, no. You know, I think there's like a yes and a no to that kind ‑‑ to that question. The no is like I'm ‑‑ it's kind of already, you know, yesterday, the day before, I was like, "Oh, it's sad. This is only going to be like only two days, three days, then it's going to be over." Then it's like, "Wow, it's over already."

And I remember when the tournament was just coming up two weeks ago, I was like, "Oh, my gosh, Roland Garros is already here. I can't believe it. Time has gone by so fast. I don't feel ready. I'm playing terrible."

So, uhm, this tournament really brings out the best in me and I just love the whole atmosphere and just everything about it. The fans have been great.

But, you know, it also takes a lot out of you. You know, all the really strong emotions and everything on the court, giving so much emotionally, physically, mentally. So in a way, It's like, someone asked me earlier if I'm relieved it's over. I'm not really, it's kind of like, okay, I need a break, take a little rest, relax for a little bit.

And I'm definitely going to miss all the other tournaments where I go to. It's not going to be like here. So I'll miss that. But every other tournament is different and special in its own way. But definitely this tournament brings the best out of me.

Q. I'm not just singling you out for this particular question. We've had other finals that have been very disappointing. The WTA are trying to persuade the French Federation and Wimbledon to have equal prize money with the men. Do you think finals like today, last year's, maybe don't do the cause any good in the long‑term for that plea for equal prize money?

MARY PIERCE: Well, I don't know what last year's final was. I really don't remember. But I can't really tell you about that.

Uhm, you know, I don't think that the fight that our tour is having with other tournaments about having equal prize money is not really the duration of your match or, you know, the quality or how long it lasts, you know, who's playing. I think there's just a lot more to it than just that simple factor. It's a lot bigger equation than that.

Q. So are you sort of saying that you would have to look at the championships, like here or Wimbledon, at the whole of, say, the women's event, and look at all the matches and say the quality overall and not just maybe a disappointing final?

MARY PIERCE: Uhm, you know, I think the best person to talk to are the people who are actually dealing with that situation in the prize money area, men's side and women's side, and the tournament's side, you know, really what they think.

Q. It seemed to me like in the second set, after I believe you made it 3‑1, you seemed to change tactics, hit several high balls, varied the pace. It seemed to be effective. Am I correct in thinking that was sort of a calculated decision? If so, could you talk about your thought process at that point?

MARY PIERCE: Yeah, I had a game plan for the match. Unfortunately, I was just making so many mistakes that ‑‑ that wasn't part of my game plan. So I just kept trying to get my game going and it just wasn't happening. So eventually I thought, you know, I had two other things, Plan B and C. I started doing one of those. Seemed to be working better.

But, you know, when you're just not playing well and it's not your day, nothing seems to be working, what you're trying to do. There are other thing that I wanted to also do and that I didn't ‑‑ I just didn't have the opportunity, didn't give myself the opportunity to try and do other things. So, I tried.

Q. Today was obviously not your day. If we talk about all the 14 days, if we would have asked you before the tournament, wouldn't you say your expectations still have been met because you made the final? If I asked you if you thought you would have gone into the final, would you have said yes?

MARY PIERCE: I would have said, "I don't know. I'll just take it day to day and see what happens."

You know, I beat Lindsay, who is No. 1 in the world. I meet Zvonareva; I beat Schnyder. I've had some really good matches. I played some great tennis. You know, today, I think I was at the end of my abilities physically and emotionally. I did the best that I could. Justine is just a really great player and she just played such a good match.

So, you know, I got to this tournament and I really didn't feel like I was playing very well in the beginning. Sometimes those are the tournaments where you do really well. You know, I just really took things day to day, match by match, and tried to do my best. I improved as the tournament went on.

So in the beginning of the week, if someone would have said, you know, "You'll be in the finals, you'll beat these players." At that point I would have been like, "Cool, yeah, okay, let's see."

I always have confidence in myself and in my game. I believe that I have the ability to do great things on the court still. So I'm not surprised. I'm just happy and satisfied that it confirms what I feel and that my hard work pays off.

Q. Despite the loss, you're leaving Paris in a happy mood?

MARY PIERCE: Yeah, I mean, definitely. I mean, as soon as you lose a match, I don't think anybody's happy. And especially when you don't play well, you don't have fun. So it makes it tougher. And especially a final, you know, of such a great tournament.

Of course, you know, there's disappointment. But with time, and you understand and realize what you've done, and over the last two weeks how amazing and how great it's been, it's just fantastic.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. What did you feel during the match? Were you thinking it was the seventh match and you were tired, you felt pain? How did it happen when you saw the games going by in the wrong direction for you?

MARY PIERCE: Well, I believe I tried ‑‑ well, in fact, I had too many things in my head. I was thinking, "I should not think." Instead of having an empty mind and playing simply, playing my match, playing my game, I was thinking too much.

Sometimes when I play against strong players, instead of just going on the court and playing my game, I think too much. It's not good for me, it's not good for my style of game. And I was feeling I couldn't get into that match. In the beginning, I won my first game, then my second game, it was okay. But little by little it went down and I started making mistakes and I felt I was not into the match. I was trying to remain calm, but, as I said, I was too calm.

I was not aggressive enough. I knew that against her I had to play a very aggressive game, otherwise she would be the attacking one. That's what happened. She started attacking me, and I thought I was ‑‑ I should be aggressive.

I was not lucid. I was not feeling good on the court. I was thinking about too many things at the same time. I was trying hard to do things instead of just playing. I was trying to wake up and to feel more intense because I was feeling it was not there. My legs were moving slowly, my emotions were empty, so to speak. It was different from the other days of the tournament.

Q. Physically you were feeling able to play this match completely?

MARY PIERCE: Yes. Physically I was feeling like the other three matches. I had little injuries, but I was able to play, of course.

Q. So this extraordinary emotion once the match was over, when you started speaking, we never saw you like that on the court. It was very deep.

MARY PIERCE: Yes, I was feeling many emotions. It's been already the case for the last days. At that moment, it was very strong ‑ too strong. Once again, I was in a final on center court in Roland Garros. It was incredible. What I did for those two weeks was a dream. I was so happy.

After all my work during the past year, it was mixed emotions. It was being sad and disappointing because I lost and played a bad match, because I played bad. At the same time I was feeling that I was surprised and happy to be on center court in the finals.

Q. Was it easy to forget about this third final? Were you able to set aside your thoughts before the match?

MARY PIERCE: I didn't understand.

Q. Was it easy to not think about the fact that you had a third final here and just concentrate on the match?

MARY PIERCE: Well, I tried to. But I must say it's very difficult when many people ask for interviews and we have to speak a lot. I'm not used to that because it's been a couple of years that I didn't do a lot of press. It's normal that I was not requested for interviews before.

When I had to do that, it was very tiring. It takes time. It takes energy out of you. It's difficult not to think when you have to speak all the time. When you talk about it, you think about it, of course. I tried. But, yes, as I said, I can't say much more. There's nothing bad in my preparation. I prepared well. Things are just the way they are. It not always like you want it to be.

Q. In spite of today's disappointment, I believe the French Open will give you confidence for the rest of the season. What are your ambitions for this season, for the next years, because you said you were coming back next year?

MARY PIERCE: Well, I'm going to follow the same path. I think it's good for me. I'm successful. I have the desire to go as far as I can go. I'm very eager. I'm going to try to reach my best level, and that's it. That's it.

Q. You were talking about the media. Did you watch the news at 8 o'clock in the evening and heard your name on television? Watching yourself on television, was it something special for you?

MARY PIERCE: No, it didn't affect me.

Q. It's just the accumulation of interviews here at the French Open?

MARY PIERCE: Yes, because I do English interviews and French interviews. Always the same questions in both languages, so my brain is exploding in the end (laughter).

Q. The fact of being in a final in a Grand Slam and to be able to sustain the pressure physically for two weeks, does it give you ambitions for the other Grand Slams of the year? Do you have more ambitions?

MARY PIERCE: No, not really. Already I felt before I could do it. I did it. Well, almost, with some injuries. I still reached the end. I was able to play and I was able to play three sets. This gives me confidence. It confirms for me that what I'm doing is good and it also confirms what I felt inside of me before. My ranking is going to go up, of course. I think my game is getting together well, so I don't see why I should stop here.