U.S. OPEN

September 9, 1995

Monica Seles

MONICA SELES: Yeah, well, the first set I think I thought about it too long a little bit although the second set was 6-Love, but I reminiscing so much about that one serve, but -- oh boy, well, there is so many emotions out there today. All through the two weeks, I think both Steffi and I played so well. Running each other around and whenever she hit a winner, she had to hit it perfectly. I did the same thing over myself. It was so close. It is so hard when you lose a match that could have gone either way. It is so hard.

MONICA SELES: I think a little bit. I think a little -- it is hard to say. I just think on the key points, I felt she was getting more of the breaks than I was, and been some close calls, that I think they bothered me a little bit more than they should have.

MONICA SELES: Maybe a little bit, yeah. A little. I think I wasn't moving as well, but that is expected. But I still told myself, "just go out there and run for every ball. "

MONICA SELES: Yes. Well, 5-3 I mean, it was hard because it is just one break and the break that I lost my serve which really shouldn't have happened. I was thinking about the overrule -- 15-Love for me, then I was serving. Then he overruled. I think it was, like, very hard for me to get back mentally after that. I was kind of like somebody poured cold ice over me. I was like, okay, not another one, and then I couldn't get going again. That was my feeling.

MONICA SELES: Definitely because -- I think I mean, the electricity at that point, I think they want a longer match or they hope that I would get to 5-4 and break Steffi, but as I was returning today, I don't think I had too big of a chance of doing that. But definitely, the crowd has been amazing throughout the whole two weeks from first Monday night on 'til today, I mean, wow - wish I could take them with me everywhere I play, make it a lot easier, I think.

MONICA SELES: Well, I do know I am going to play the Championships, then I think something beforehand, but it is going to depend a lot on my knee also.

MONICA SELES: If I can play more, I will definitely play more. But right now, I think my main thing is just to rehabilitate the knee so it gets to the point that I have no pain. After that I am going to rally it.

MONICA SELES: I don't know. I mean, biggest points were very close. All missing it by this much or not; I think it made -- I think the match would have been very different, probably, if that serve would have been called in, whatever. So a lot of close calls all the way, but I don't know. I mean, Steffi is a player that runs so many balls down that other players won't even go for them. I knew I had to play some great tennis. I think I did play good tennis.

MONICA SELES: I don't think so. Not today.

MONICA SELES: If the ball is wide, I know it. But this one, to me, was just so in. It was like clearly in. And I was like, I thought that I won the set pretty much. Then I guess she had a late call or whatever, and it was like, oh, okay, I have to serve a second serve. The emotion is one up. It is like when Steffi had the matchpoint against Gaby, she is already up, but then the umpire said, whatever, I don't know what happened there, but that was my feeling, and it was a little bit bugging me too long, which shouldn't have. But it is easier said that done.

MONICA SELES: I don't think he said anything to me. He probably said it was wide, or it was long.

MONICA SELES: I just asked him are you sure. Because I felt that it (Seles giggling) I felt the call -- she made the call, first of all, very late. I thought I was already by the umpire's chair. But whatever, I mean, that is gone, it is gone, so ...

MONICA SELES: I think only time can tell that. I was very surprised by Toronto, and definitely here also. It has been very exciting to me playing again, and just being out there feeling everything once again what was such a routine before. As long as I keep having fun, that is what is going to matter to me the most.

MONICA SELES: I don't know. I think the second set when we had that long first game was kind of a changing game. I didn't feel that I won the second set as easily as the score suggested; not at all. But I just took it as it was. But maybe because I was a little bit mad about losing first, I just said, heck, with it, I am just going to play this one as it goes so...

MONICA SELES: I don't know. It is a long way off. I mean, I have a few more months to Australia. But -- the two tournaments I played this year I came in with a different mentality; was just really happy to be playing out there, and not so much about expecting to win a tournament, but I surprised myself, I think, both times, and now I feel maybe okay, I can play pretty good, still, and just going out there playing it. That is about it all.

MONICA SELES: I don't know. First -- I want to ask Steffi if that is okay to tell you guys, I don't know, because I feel bad. I have this confidentiality thing maybe too much going, but it was just really -- I mean, Steffi said very nice things. I said back to her; talked about -- I shouldn't say that.

MONICA SELES: Just really nice. I don't know. I mean, Steffi is a very private person. We didn't talk about anything big. Really about New York and how she loves spending time here and how I loved it also here and how both of us played a great match. She said she played great and I played great and I said the same thing - that type of conversation.

MONICA SELES: I think Steffi played great. I mean, she was running balls down that very few people even go for them; not even hit them back and she wasn't making too many unforced errors and I felt her serve was going very well today. Very hard time returning especially in the first set and then again in the third set. But not playing Steffi for such a long time, it is hard to remember what was going on then, but we always played close matches and she played better on the key points today.

MONICA SELES: I think it is very exciting. I think -- I just heard a very little about it. But if that would happen, I think it would be wonderful. Wow, we have been trying to get a sponsor for quite sometime and if they would come -- I don't know if whatever -- I mean, I think it is great for women's tennis, wow.

MONICA SELES: I think hopefully women's tennis is going up now with all the excitement with Steffi and myself playing these great matches; then Mary, Arantxa, and those guys, Conchita, I think now women's tennis is going up. There are going to be some great matches and I think the future looks very bright.

MONICA SELES: You see, for me it is very hard to say, okay, my return contributed to it, because I don't know-- I think the excitement that it brought with the fans and everything probably helped a little bit. But I think women's tennis is a Tour with or without Monica, but I do hope it brought some excitement with me coming back and playing tennis again. (Seles giggles).

MONICA SELES: Oh, I don't think some. I mean, going in today's match, I really didn't think about that at all. I was just doing my best that I can.

MONICA SELES: Today, okay. I think it was so close, that it could could have gone either way and I don't think -- no, I don't think so. No.

MONICA SELES: I don't think so, no.

MONICA SELES: (Seles giggling) My favorite word the last three weeks. (Seles giggling).

MONICA SELES: I don't know, I mean, ectatical, maybe. (Seles giggling) I can't think of dictionary words here. - I have been reading this heavy dictionary with all neat words - It has been just been -- really, the last three weeks have been amazing, absolutely from being on the tennis court and playing some great tennis and off the court also, going anywhere, the support that I felt through the fans, I just felt, "wow," I made the right decision which helped me tremendously. And my parents supported me all the way too. The -- just wherever I went, the people have been so nice. I never kind of had that before. Like in a restaurant or anywhere just walking down the street and of course, on the tennis court, so that has been the best part of it for me.

MONICA SELES: I don't know. I mean, I still think I am probably the same one, some things probably changed, maybe a little bit more respected than beforehand, I think. But I like to think that -- I have grown and I am sure next year, wow, how stupid I was this year and each year later on. It for me, what happened in Hamburg, it was an experience, but I try to put it back and then move on.

MONICA SELES: I think so. I think it already has; in the past also. The great matches Steffi and I play, we are both players that hit the ball really hard, so there is going to be some very strong tennis out there. There is no question. That is a little different because it is two Americans, but this one, I am sure, in the states might not be as big as if it was in Seles/Capriati or Anke Huber against Steffi Graf, but I still think you -- I mean, if Steffi and I are going to keep playing each other and all these tournaments, definitely, I think, definitely has the potential, if not, it is already there.

MONICA SELES: I am sorry?

MONICA SELES: Okay. Okay. I do not remember so much of the past, because last time I played Steffi was Australian Open. Almost three years ago though this day. And -- but it did feel like playing Steffi, I mean, the way she was serving, giving balls back, so it is hard for me to compare it because of not playing her for such a long time.

MONICA SELES: No, because I just try to look at them as a tennis player; that is what we are all, and I just said, go out there, do the best whoever it was, from the beginning of the tournament. I tried to take each match at a time and 'til the end also.