U.S. OPEN

August 28, 1995

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: It was nice to come back and play the first match on Center Court, and I think it is always, you know, the beginning is always the toughest one, but I feel good, and to be able to play yesterday on the same court. And I feel very good, and I think it was an easy match today, but I feel very comfortable.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think it is normal that all the attention is on Monica. I mean, she is back and after two years, I think, you know, she is doing a great job, and it is normal that all the attention is on her. It is better in some ways for me because it will take the pressure off for me. I know the attention is on Steffi and Monica. I don't think about that. I just try -- in a lot of ways, it can help me, and I am feeling, you know, very good. And I am just trying to concentrate; play match by match and give my best and what happens, happens. That is all.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think it is too early to talk about it because the tournament just start. But it would be great, definitely, if I get there, and I have to play her or Steffi, that would be also great. I mean, I think that it is much more competition, and it is much better for tennis and makes it more interesting, you know, definitely can help me in a lot of ways.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No. No, because I don't know where that comes from, but it has been a lot of talking and I only said that it is great that she is coming back. And, I mean, she was No. 1 when everything happened to her, and I think it is great. Like I say, makes more competition. It is better for the game. So that is all I say, and I will say it again now. But I mean, I don't know where that idea come from because I did not say anything like that.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Not much. I mean, I did see her a little bit in Canada, and I saw her a little bit here, and we talk a little bit. And I just, you know, first time I saw her, I welcomed her and it was nice to see her back, but I didn't have the chance to talk more with her. I mean, we don't have the same schedule, but probably, you know, maybe within the days maybe we can get together more.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, doesn't matter because normally, I mean, if I would be second seeded, I would have to face her or Steffi probably in the final, but now it would be a lot earlier, but I don't think it affects to me. I just think that -- I think it is great that she is back and if you want to be the best player, you have to beat everybody and now she is back, so we will have to face her. I will be ready. If I have to face Steffi, I will also be ready. So it is nothing else to talk about anymore and it makes more excitement, and it is better. That is what is important. If you want to be the best, you have to beat everybody.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I saw her a little bit, so maybe I have to see her play more here. So I saw her a little bit, few games.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, if I will not have nothing to do, then I will watch it. But, I mean, it is a two-week tournament, and if I don't see her today, and if she wins, then maybe I have a chance to see her another time.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think, I mean, everybody knows that if she was going to come back she was going to come strong, that is for sure. She is coming back playing great tennis, and I mean, she did great job, coming and playing the first tournament and beat everybody like she did, and I think, you know, demonstrates that that is why she was No. 1 before and probably, you know, in two-week tournament it is probably different, but she is ready. She show everybody that she is coming back strong and the rest I don't think there is so much to talk about.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No, I mean, even if I didn't win as many tournaments as I did in 1994, I think it has to be positive because it is getting three Grand Slam finals and probably, you know, the last two has been the closest one I probably can -- couldn't win it, but I have to be happy and I am probably, you know, I can play better than I did, so far during the whole year, but I have to be, you know, satisfied with the year that I have so far and now just keep going and continue playing my best.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I have to change from grass to clay to hard court, but besides that, I think that those tournaments helped me to get, you know, in a better shape to come here. What I was looking for was to come, you know, in a very good feeling to the U.S. Open and the matches that I played helped me and even though I have some losses before, but nothing happened, I just think that, you know, thinking tournament by tournament and probably the Grand Slams I did very well this year and that is probably, you know, I can-- you can be more focused on it.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No, because I just try to probably to continue having the same work as I have been doing and it has been successful and try to just concentrate and play my game and that is all. I am not, you know, thinking about what the others they are going to do or not. I just -- I try to give my best and that is all I am thinking now.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Everything is a factor. If you are not ready mentally for two weeks; then it is harder to maintain your best level and like I always say, I try to go match by match because, you know, that -- it helps me in a lot of ways and I am trying to, you know, get better matches I play and probably I always always have the feeling that physically and mentally I am ready and preparing for these events and it is a great feeling to see the success and winning and getting so close, only two players get to the final and if you win, much better, but if you are getting close and you do the right thing, probably you can continue being as success as I did then.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think I improve my serve and my volley is much better and my aggressive game is improved on hard court, so that gives me more confidence to be able to play better in different surface and I think, you know, I become a better player in trying to improve those aspects of the game to get more confidence and it is working really well so far.