ASHLEY HARKLEROAD
THE MODERATOR: Questions for Ashley.
Q. What's with the elbow?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: That's why I didn't play this summer, was because I had a tear in my ligament. So now I'm just coming back. It's a lot better. I have no pain now.
Q. How long were you out?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I didn't play Stanford, San Diego, LA, Toronto. You know, just trying to rest it, get it better.
Q. It was just rest and therapy, stuff like that?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Pretty much. You know, I wasn't supposed to serve for a while. But the tape and the ice, I'm just continuing to try and let it continue to get better, save that.
Q. Is it going to heal without surgery?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's not a big deal. It's a little tear, tiny.
Q. Can you talk about your match today, how it went for you.
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I was, you know, extremely happy with the way that I played. Being here at the US Open sometimes there's so much going on that it's kind of difficult for me to sometimes focus and just, you know, stay within myself.
But today I think I have matured a lot since last year. I was very excited with the way I played today because of my injury and I've been out for the whole summer. I'm very excited about the way that I played.
Q. What sort of schedule do you keep in a tournament like this with everything at your fingertips in New York?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I usually just try and rest, not do so much. I'll practice once, maybe twice, work out a little bit with my trainer, then I'm back to the hotel as soon as possible, resting, watching movies and stuff.
Q. Do you get out, go to shows?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: I will probably tonight maybe, since I don't play tomorrow. But usually I just want to rest as much as I can for my match the next day.
Q. What are your memories from the first US Open you played?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: The first one, I think the memories were just of me in my nice little outfit, you know, just having a good time and playing.
Q. The outfit made a splash. Seems you've gone a different route since then, a little more conservative, less about flash, more about substance. Is that fair?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: Not really. I really don't think about it that much. I like to wear, you know, cute outfits and stuff like that. I am just 18 years old. That's fun for me (smiling).
You know, I just kind of wear whatever I feel comfortable in.
Q. You've certainly taken off this year. What do you attribute that to, as far as your play improving?
ASHLEY HARKLEROAD: What's the question again?