CHASE CHAMPIONSHIPS OF THE WTA TOUR

November 20, 1999

Nathalie Tauziat

Q. The first game of the second set, you had Love-30 and you didn't put another point and you sort of threw down your hand, what happened?

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: What happened? It's not the game, it's since two months, I play every week and I play very well every week, semifinal, semifinal, if I win, whatever. And that was -- at the end, I was not there. I mean, my head was not there. I fight very good in that first set, and after the second set it was -- you know, when you are at Love-30, she made two doublefault, and after that she serve four first serve, what you can do? Just say, "Okay, good serve" and you change.

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: No, no. I mean, it's only 7-6, 1-Love, why you want to get off the court? You want to fight at this time. But my head, I have no more power, that's it. Yesterday, I finish at 11:00, 11:15, and I didn't sleep before 1:30 and I have to play again today. She played at 6:00 and I play at 9:30. It's completely different.

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: No, mentally, not physically.

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: Well, yes, it's good. I finish the year 7 or 8 in the world. Last year I finish 10; so this year is better, I think. I am happy about -- I win two tournaments this year, quarterfinal in Grand Slam is not too bad.

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: Next year, yes, I'm still playing, but I'm going in Australia for the third time only, and I'm going to try at the beginning of the year to play like I play right now.

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: I think there is future for serve-and-volley. I think everybody playing faster from the baseline, but many players play well from the baseline, and the one who want to be in the front of the other one need to go more to the net. So I think the game is going to change a little bit in the future.

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: Because I practice hard and I believe in myself (laughs). No, I don't know. I play good right now because I work on my tennis since long time. I work my serve, my volley, and now I am confident. I like the game I play, and I have fun on the court, and I think it's important, too.

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: Yeah, maybe. Because in tiebreak, Lindsay is very tough in tiebreak. She serve pretty good. If she put first point, it's very tough and you have to play very, very well to win the tiebreak against Lindsay. So when I have this set point, I miss the shot, but I take my chance. I mean, I just missed the shot, and I want to go and I miss, and after, she win the game. And in tiebreak she played well. She played a very good tiebreak. And second set, I was -- my head -- I have an explosion in my head.

NATHALIE TAUZIAT: Maybe I made four doublefault all the week in this match. I can't push with my legs anymore, it was like -- and she plays so fast, you need to be very fast, you know.