U.S. OPEN

August 31, 1994

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think I was controlling the match really well, and I started to leave the ball a little short and she started playing well. She's a dangerous player, and when she's in position, she can be real danger, and I think I was not as aggressive as the beginning and that's why I have a little more trouble at the second set and I was up 5-1 tiebreaker, and I go for two shots and I miss a really easy and I complicate it and go to 5-All. Then I have to make a good point to come back, but I think it's good because that means that, you know, I have tough match and I handled it really well and I'm happy with the play -- the way I played.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yes, definitely. It's always better to have tough matches in the beginning because then, you know, you're going to have more tough matches too, so if you have it since the beginning, I think it's better because you can be into the match, concentrate, and if you pass that, then you will be ready for the next ones. But I didn't have easy 2-2 matches, but I'm glad the way I played because I control all the time. I serve well, making good points and I'm happy with my condition in that match.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Like I say, she's a dangerous player because she can stay back or she can come in really well and she hits the ball really well. So if you have the control and you're moving her around and you are the one who's controlling and are aggressive, she has more trouble, but when you let her play she can be dangerous like what happened to me -- I was moving her all the time, then I started playing a little shorter and she take advantage and I have a little trouble, but I think it was a very good match. She was a dangerous player and I played very well when I needed to and I finished very well.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: It's different situation because last year I was not play as good as I'm doing right now coming to this U.S. Open, and I have better this summer and I have some good wins and I'm just approaching this tournament with my best, you know, trying to play as good as I can and do my best. I always did pretty good, and I have to keep playing the way I'm doing right now and see what happens, but that's all.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think I'm not putting any pressure on myself. I just think I'm taking this tournament, it's the last Grand Slam of the year, and it's hardcourt and we'll see what happens. But I don't think I have to prove anything to be better player if I win a Grand Slam on another surface, I think. I'm number two player in the world, I won a lot of tournaments, I beat the number one player in the world, so I'm just doing the right thing. So much better if I win another Grand Slam on another surface besides clay, but taking it slowly one at a time and see what happens, if this year can be the year. Because in other words, I will come back -- I have many more years to go, but I'm not putting pressure on myself, I'm just concentrating all the time and do my best.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think right now it's -- we had maybe four players who are between 100 and 150, so it's getting better on the women's side, men's we have many more. But maybe -- I don't know why we don't have as many women at men, but hopefully players 21, 22 are coming and they are doing well and hopefully we'll have much more success in women's. But they can move -- they always looking the way I was doing in the beginning and now they improve and now we having another Spanish player, ranked number three in the world and hopefully we'll have more.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Not Spanish, no. I look other players but not Spanish.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: American.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Chris Evert and Martina, but not Spanish.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think we -- you know, we take the -- just try to have as good coaches as we can have to improve and, you know, each us. We have different -- I have support from my family, myself, and I can look always what they do and they help me a lot, and I always try to have the good coach to help me get better and then I work hard and you just -- I really enjoy what I'm doing and that makes me going to the court, knowing that I found this and I'm doing what I like. So it keeps me with motivation to keep going and I'm so young that I have many more years to go.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think she knows a lot about tennis and probably, you know, will be very good. Hopefully we can have new ideas and can be having better. But, you know, I'm happy that she's there.