US OPEN

September 1, 2000

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

MODERATOR: Questions for Arantxa.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, obviously, I mean, she must be playing well to be in the third round. It's kind of weird to go to a third round and have to play somebody new. I think she's a big girl. She hits the ball really hard. I mean, the first set was, you know, pretty close. Then later I think that, you know, I play better and better. Once I start moving her, then she has much more trouble.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think 5-4. I mean, I start really well. After 5-4, you know, I realize what I have to do, good into tiebreak. I guess that was the end of the match.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, I mean, that definitely helped me. I feel very confident, you know, doing that. When I need to make a good shot, I did it. I improve a lot on my serve. That helps me now to win a lot of free points.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think for her probably, I mean, she really take advantage of the wildcard and get into the third round. But she has a lot of future. I mean, she's just young. She just need to play more tournaments. She has the game, especially on fast surface, to do well. I mean, actually she's only 17, right?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Oh, yeah. But, still, she has a long way to go.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think it's going to be a different match. I mean, I play three players that hits the ball really hard. She's more like serve-and-volley. She definitely, you know, try to come in as much as she can to the net. I will have to pass her, attack as well as I did. We didn't play for a long time. Obviously it's going to be a tough match. I'm playing well enough and I'm looking forward for that match.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Her?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I have no idea. I don't know.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yes.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: The doubles?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, it was a tough match. I mean, I think we all play well. It was very, you know, good points. At the end, you know, we finish up playing better. It was a lot of fun.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, we practice before the match. We work out a couple things. Now we'll try to do it more for the next match.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I mean, just when she asked me, I just say yes right away. It's been nine years since the last time we played together. It's a great opportunity to play with her. We can do very well as a team. Definitely we have a lot of fun and we can play well. That's good.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think that once we were crossing, we were winning more points at the end and win the tiebreak. We will try to do that more often in the next match.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I mean, she still, I mean, playing great. I mean, she has so much experience. She's still volleying really well. I guess as a team, I try to help as much as I can. I can also learn a couple things; help her, she can help me. That's what the doubles about.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I mean, first you concentrate about the last Grand Slam. Obviously, it's very close between, you know, both big events. The more matches I play here, the more prepared you are for the Olympics. So definitely you just focus first year, and then later you'll be ready for that.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, definitely. It would be my fourth Olympics. I'm real excited. It's completely different atmosphere. It's just great feeling to be with the best athletes of your country.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, the opening ceremony, being with the athletes. You don't have the chance to see them very often because we have completely different schedules. But that's a time where you can spend, you know, ten days knowing them more, make more friends, definitely see other events when you don't have to play.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I mean, there is a lot. They can do well in the swimming. They can do well running, as well. I look forward, you know, for that, maybe going to the gymnastics, as well. It's amazing what they can do, maybe get a chance at that.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think now the girls are much taller than before. Besides that, sometimes is not only how the height you are. You can see in the men that the shorter men are, you know, beating the top men as well. Sometimes you have to adapt your game. If you have quickness and mentally you're tough, you can beat them anyway. You don't have to have only a powerful game. You have to be smart and do the right thing. Maybe in women you don't see that much. I'm definitely happy to be one of that and be able to be as good and be there.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Five foot eight.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, compared with Williams or Davenport, maybe I am. But there is some players who are even smaller than me.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I mean, I'm 5'8" and I become No. 1. If you do the right things, you can always do it.