WIMBLEDON

June 27, 2002

Monica Seles

MODERATOR: Questions.

MONICA SELES: Yeah, definitely I started off a little bit slower. The last time I played her, I lost to her. It's always a little bit more nervous going into a match like that. Once I won the first set, I felt much better.

MONICA SELES: Oh, pretty much. I mean, the French Open I felt well the first few days. The second week I got the cold. Here I had it the week before Wimbledon started. Now I think I'm feeling fine.

MONICA SELES: I mean, definitely have to give them best chances to Serena and Venus, obviously Venus winning this the last two years. But, you know, it's tennis, as we've seen yesterday. You just go out there and do the best job you can.

MONICA SELES: I've never played her on this surface. I think it's going to be a tough one because she takes the ball early. Going to be an aggressive player. I'll have to play better, I think, than in today's match.

MONICA SELES: Great to have her on the team - just not on the team, but on the tour. She's been a great champion. Just really looking forward to it.

MONICA SELES: Last time I talked to her was Indian Wells.

MONICA SELES: I don't do e-mail, not with anybody (smiling).

MONICA SELES: No, huh-uh.

MONICA SELES: I think it's not impossible. You see at the French Open, you have Henin lose the first round, Clijsters in the third round, two players really never thought they would lose. I mean, Kim losing today to Likhovtseva, very tough third round match. I think on the women's side, the depth is really huge. There aren't too many easy matches that you're like, "I'll get easily to the quarterfinals," like 10 years ago. Nowadays it's just a lot tougher, becoming more and more like the men's tour.

MONICA SELES: Oh, definitely. I think the girls are just hitting the ball physically, stronger. It's like men's tennis on grass, really who has the more powerful serve. There are not too many rallies in most matches. It's great to see someone like Hewitt doing so well who is staying back, still winning matches.

MONICA SELES: I couldn't comment. I haven't seen it. I have no idea.

MONICA SELES: During my match?

MONICA SELES: I think that's the tournament's responsibility, so...

MONICA SELES: I would say only there's a little bit of a gap, very little one. I mean, that's my feeling - if there is a gap. You just have so many floaters in the draw, that, gosh, could beat any top player on any given day or take a top player to three sets. What happened yesterday on the men's side doesn't happen too often, losing Agassi, Sampras and Safin in one day. I mean, that's very unusual. But the women had that experience a few times. When someone like Steffi, who has won this tournament seven, eight times, there were years she lost in the first round. That happens. Everybody's human. You know, especially on a surface like this, where points can be over very quick. If you're having a bad day, it's done.

MONICA SELES: I'm just looking forward to playing my next-round opponent, Ai, on Saturday.

MONICA SELES: I learn more and more about Billie as the years have come along. The first time, I mean, I just knew her name, but I didn't know too well her history. I met her I think in 1989, so I got to know a lot more since about '95.

MONICA SELES: Oh, definitely. That's one huge advantage of playing Fed Cup. Gosh, she's so helpful. You wish it wouldn't be just one week here and one week there, because it's very hard to apply that in one week to a match and go off and play like that. But she just picks up so many things that would take most people a long time to do.

MONICA SELES: Yeah, there was a point where I was. I think once she decided with Fed Cup, I think it would be unfair. I think if you're a Fed Cup captain, better keep that area separate.

MONICA SELES: Yeah, definitely. I mean, it's just so difficult. It's not in my nature. I wish I'd done that when I was 15, 16. But in hindsight, looking back, even then, when you're losing one match a year, it's hard to not feel that pressure. "I'm going to experiment a little bit today." I think everyone was surprised how I volleyed, saying I'm crazy that I'm not going into net. I understand that. I've tried. I keep trying. But it's very different playing a practice match and doing well than putting that in a regular match when there's so much on the line.

MONICA SELES: It's unfortunate.

MONICA SELES: Definitely. I think one of the best matches in my career I played against Martina Navratilova. It was such a contrast in our game styles. Nowadays, in the new generation, you really don't see that. Yeah, someone like Justine will come in at certain times, but no one that's going to chip and charge and just attack at the net.

MONICA SELES: No. I played against her in exhibition, I knew she was playing well, in December. I knew she was playing well on a surface like grass, which suits her game really well. I think wining in Madrid has given her a lot of confidence - I guess she and her trainer. That was fantastic to see that.

MONICA SELES: I don't know. I'd be interested. I'd be interested to see how she would do. I really would love to see that.

MONICA SELES: It's very nerve-wracking, because all you can do is lose (laughter). There's a lot of pressure. I understood that portion of the other girls having that. At the same time, the last time I played her I think was Atlantic City when it was kind of my first match back after the stabbing. Didn't really think I would play Martina again. I was just really surprised how well she's playing, but I shouldn't have been. You don't lose that, what she's had. She's in phenomenal shape. Put her on a fast court, she can play very well.

MONICA SELES: Yes, I am.

MONICA SELES: Oh, definitely. But, I mean, Andre is four years older than I am. There's still quite a difference there. I do hope we're going to see them back. I think Pete can still, and Andre, win this tournament. It's just, you know, I mean, the level is so close. Just a little bit you're off, that's it. Definitely it gets harder. Tennis is a sport that rewards the youth. As you get older, it definitely gets harder and harder day in and day out. There's lots of stuff to worry about than hitting a ball.

MONICA SELES: I was here during World Cup. That was quite exciting. Let's hope Tim wins this one.