VIRGINIA SLIMS CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 19, 1994

Gabriela Sabatini

GABRIELA SABATINI: Tired, no. I'm probably a little bit, but not too bad, actually. You know, as the match start going, I start to feel better and better. I mean, it was -- actually, I think at the beginning, I was a little bit slow, and then by the end of the first set, I was just moving very well, and, you know, physically, feeling very good, no problems.

GABRIELA SABATINI: I said at the end of the -- I said that in the first set and then at the end.

GABRIELA SABATINI: Yeah, it means a lot. It's very important for a lot of reasons. You know, because I've been playing great tennis which, you know, that's more meaningful than anything, because, you know, I haven't had that consistency for a long time, so, it's good to feel that, you know, I've been playing every single match very well, and being in the finals of this tournament, you know, this tournament means a lot to me. It is a very special tournament, the best 16 players are here and, you know, finishing the year playing this way is even better.

GABRIELA SABATINI: I think I'm hitting the ball much better. I'm feeling more confidence with my shots, you know, before the baseline, I know what I'm doing on the court and being aggressive, you know, the shots now, they have aggressiveness -- and that's what I wasn't doing. My ball wasn't hurting, it wasn't doing anything.

GABRIELA SABATINI: Yeah, Juan has a lot to do with this because we have been working on this and he keeps telling me, "hit the ball", and I have to do something with the ball, I have to hurt the opponent and it's working.

GABRIELA SABATINI: What's the question?

GABRIELA SABATINI: Yes.

GABRIELA SABATINI: Sure, sure. You know, I couldn't win a tournament for a couple of years and it will be great, because that's what I need today, to win matches like this, to win a tournament. That gives a lot of confidence, and knowing that I'm there, that proves a lot.

GABRIELA SABATINI: I think it's going to help me a little more because I've been there; I played five sets three times. You know, I know what it feels -- I know what it takes, and probably will have a little advantage by knowing that.

GABRIELA SABATINI: Sure. Even if they were not playing, I still had to play against great players who beat them, and obviously they were playing great tennis too. So, you know, I'm satisfied with that too. I played great too, to beat them. You know, I didn't have to play the top first few players, but I had to play the ones who beat them and they were playing good too.

GABRIELA SABATINI: She's been playing very well, you know. She didn't have any really tough matches, you know, in this tournament. So, you know, I just hope I can be physically well-rested, and I'm going to have to play very aggressive, you know. I can't just play short or, you know, let her take control of the match because she's going to beat me.

GABRIELA SABATINI: I think the mental part has a lot to do with it. In 1990, I was mentally very focused and I played a great tournament, you know, at the Open when I won. Technically, today, I think I'm a better player. But, of course, the mental part has a lot to do with it. If it is not there, I'm not there. It's hard to compare because this year, you know, I did well in some tournaments, but not very well in others. But, talking about this tournament, everything is there mentally, physically, technically.

GABRIELA SABATINI: Yeah, that's something I've been working on. I feel so much better with the serve. I feel a lot more confidence and I feel like I can go for it much more than I used to before. You know, I make doublefaults, but if -- you know, if they're aggressive and I'm hitting them, that's fine, I will do doublefaults -- you know, I will make doublefaults.

GABRIELA SABATINI: We changed very little things, detail. Very, very little. I mean, nothing really big. I think it's just, you know, practicing and, you know, and the matches, that's what it gives you the confidence, and each tournament I've been getting better and better. Compared to last week, I feel better this week.

GABRIELA SABATINI: She wasn't limping or anything, she looked okay, running and moving. I know that she was making signs and she needed the trainer, but, you know, she was still moving very well, she was playing good tennis. Probably the second set, I noticed that a little more because she just gave it away a little bit, especially at the end, and, you know, she tried hard in the third again. But still, I mean, it's -- she played great, she played very deep. She was still able to play great tennis.

GABRIELA SABATINI: No, not really. No, but it's nice to hear it. I think it's very nice -- coming from another player because we have to play against each other, and you know, we have to compete with each other, so, it's nice to hear that.

GABRIELA SABATINI: No, she didn't say that.

GABRIELA SABATINI: Great, that's nice.

GABRIELA SABATINI: I'm trying to mix the game, I'm not trying to play from the baseline all the time and I'm not trying to play at the net all the time. I'm trying to mix the game and, obviously, when I have the chance, I can do very well at the net too. So I'm trying to come in when I have the chance and against different players, I have to come in more or less.

GABRIELA SABATINI: Sure, again, you know, if I have the chance to come in, I will. I can't stay too far from the baseline because she's going to take control of the match.