Q. Can you tell us whether Team Stosur has left Australia and how many have
actually managed to get on the plane?

S.S.:
   Well, I can tell you that at least mom and dad and my older brother have
come.I thought my little brother wasn't coming, but now I've been told today
he is on the plane.So I have absolutely no idea, but apparently they get in
tomorrow morning.


Q. A few years ago you were a doubles player, No. 1. At that time, did you
think that you could be one of the best single players?

S.S.:
   Well, I always was trying to become a better singles player through that
whole time and had very good success in doubles. So it was just one of those
things.I thought I could definitely get better than what I was.Whether I ever
thought that I'd be in this position, I don't know.I always would have liked
to have been able to achieve what I've achieved.So now to actually do it ,
yeah, I'm very happy with that.


Q. Back to your parents and your family arriving, what's it going to be like
taking to the court knowing that they're there watching you? Because they don't
always make it being in Australia and that far across the world to see you.

S.S.:
   Yeah, well, it will be great knowing they're there. It's a special moment
no matter what happens tomorrow. They, I'm sure, didn't want to miss it. But
as for everything else, I've got to try and block everything out and just play
the match. But knowing that they're there supporting me I think will be great.


Q. Are they indeed going to make it? They got on a plane or are getting on
a plane? I know it's a long trip in a very short time.

S.S.:
   I think they have left. I spoke to dad quickly last night, and they said
they were going to be coming. I said, When do you leave? He said,
In five hours. My brother was still at work and whatever else. I don't know
what's happened between when I spoke and now, where they are, but they're going
to be here.


Q. Obviously you want to win tomorrow. I'm just wondering, is there also
maybe a shared sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, joy, when the two of
you step on the court because obviously the circumstances for both of you
is somewhat similar?

S.S.:
   Yeah, absolutely. I think it's going to be a great for both of us no matter
who wins. I want to enjoy it as much as I can. Hopefully we can have a good
match and just make the most of it.Yeah, it's gonna be a day we're both gonna
remember.


Q. Is there a moment when you say, I'm fed up being just a double player
and I want to be one of the best in singles?

S.S.:
   Yeah, I mean, I never was only a doubles player. I always played singles and
I was always trying to be a better singles player.I got this label of a doubles
specialist and a doubles player because I had good success, but that whole time
I was my goal was to do those kinds of things in singles.


Q. And why did you change to become one of the best singles players?

S.S.:
   Well, like I said, I never had to change because I was always trying to do
it. Just the last couple of years have really been a big jump from 2006,2007
when I was in the final here of the doubles.It wasn't like I made a huge
conscious decision to go and change anything.I was just maybe a little bit more
focused, and it just kind of went from there.


Q. Obviously if this was Melbourne it would be pretty mental around the place;
you'd be struggling to deal with all the cameras and all the pressure. Does it
make it easier and easier to focus on what is this magnificent opportunity
you've created for yourself being so far away from home?

S.S.:
   Yeah, I guess it does. It's pretty crazy as it is, so I couldn't imagine
what it would be like being in Australia right now. Maybe that is a good thing.
You don't see the papers and you don't walk around the streets and have people
recognize you all the time and stuff like that.But it's still obviously I know
what's going on, but you're not right there in amongst it.


Q. On a totally lighter note, if I could, you have, shall we say, a fairly
unusual name. Could you give us one incident, or what's it like living your
life with that name, and is there a story you could tell us?

S.S.: As in my last name?


Q. Yeah, that's right. (Laughter.)

S.S.:
   Well, my grandfather is Polish, and it's a Polish name. Not really any funny
stories. But I don't know, for some reason, a lot of Australian tennis players
have come from a Polish background.That's maybe just a big coincidence, but
there is a big group of us with that history in our families.


Q. How encouraging has it been, the warm weather finally returning here, with
all that it does to your game over the last few days?

S.S.:
   Yeah, well, yesterday was the warmest day so far. I don't know what the
temperature is going to be tomorrow, but it's pretty hot today.Yeah, maybe that
will be good for me. I think whatever the conditions tomorrow I've won in cold
this week and yesterday was warm, so at least I've had a taste of both
scenarios, I guess.So I'll be ready for anything that happens tomorrow. But if
it's sunshine, then it will be a nice day.


Q. Have you ever spoken to Caroline Wozniacki about your shared heritage? On a
different subject, could you talk about what Dave brings to you as a coach?
You've been with him for a while. Seems like a good coach.

S.S.:
   No, I haven't really spoken to Caroline because I don't speak any polish, so
I don't want to embarrass myself speaking to someone who does.Well, Dave, I've
been with Dave we've known each or for a long time. He's been our Fed Cup
captain for years, and privately the last couple years. I think from where my
game was to now, you can't really compare the two since I started with him.

   He's had lots of great experiences, and I really respect what he has to tell
me on the court. We've become good friends, too. I think it's a perfect situat-
ion. We work really well together. It's just kind of been quite a cool ride to
this point.


Q. You've had an incredible run so far. Do you feel any more pressure buildup
for tomorrow's final?

S.S:
   No, not really. Not at the moment, anyway. Yeah, I know it's a final and
everything else, and I've had some great matches up to this point. But none of
those win me the match tomorrow.I've got to go out there and try and play it
like any other match, and go out there and play my game and try and block all
those other things out.Yeah, it's been really fantastic up until this time, so
hopefully I can make it a little bit better.


Q. Yesterday you mentioned that you were a big fan of Patrick Rafter when he
was playing. Did you have any contact with him about your success until now?

S.S.:
   Yeah, he's good friends with my agent, actually. He's been sending a few
text messages through. Yeah, it's nice to know that someone like him is behind
me and willing me on.


Q. Some advices for big finals?

S.S: Oh, just good luck and best wishes and that kind of stuff.


Q. You just spoke before about retaining that focus. What will the next 24
hours entail? Are you going to sort of chill out with films, or what will you
be doing?

S.S.:
   Well, practice a little bit. That's about it. Go for dinner and keep every-
thing the same. Pack my bag and just get organized like any other match. Try to
go to sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow and do the same thing.You're not going
to really try and change anything and say, Okay, I have to try and relax by do-
ing this. I'm just going to have to do what I feel.But, yeah, try and keep it
as low key as possible.


Q. It was mentioned before obviously, you know, if this was Melbourne, all the
other craziness is back home. Is that the reason why I guess it's been 30 odd
years since Australians have had success at the Australian Open. We've won
Wimbledon, US Open titles, as well, and obviously you're in the finals here at
the French. Does it help a lot being away from home? And do you think that's
been a factor even for other Australians in the past?

S.S.:
   I don't know. I mean, up until this point I thought I've made fourth round
of the Australian Open twice, and they were great results for where I was.
So I never felt like I had really performed badly at home. I always enjoyed
playing at home and liked that experience.

   Yeah, I know some players in the past have struggled with that and not had
the best results at home. Not just Australians, but people from everywhere.
So I think it's just one of those things. Yeah, maybe not being right in all
the hype does help a little bit.But having said that, it would be incredible
to do the same thing there. So you don't really it's hard to say why, but, yeah,
maybe it does make a little bit of a difference.