TELECOM MASTERS ITALIA

May 14, 2005

Patty Schnyder

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Patty, please.

PATTY SCHNYDER: Yes, of course it's one of my best wins, and definitely she deserves to be No. 1. She's a great champion. I just took a chance on clay court. I think it's her weakest surface. I played a great game and could win today. I'm very happy about that.

PATTY SCHNYDER: Yeah, I think once the rally went on, I was the dominant player. I move better on clay court than she does, but you have to be really careful. She can hit the winner out of every position. So sometimes it doesn't help if you move really well, because a winner is going to hit you anyway. But still at the end that was the key, that I could play better the rallies from the back.

PATTY SCHNYDER: No, not really. I mean, I really believe in myself, especially on the clay, and I know that I can beat the top players - I've beaten some No. 1s, I've beaten most of the players on tour. But, still, you still have to do it every week and every day, basically, and that's the challenge. I'm just very proud today, how the way I started - I was really tight, my legs were not moving at all. And that I could come back and play such a great final set, I'm really proud of today.

PATTY SCHNYDER: No, I just probably more -- for me, it was also about ranking. I can be in the Top 10 again. So for me, that's special. For her, probably the No. 1. Yeah, sometimes it makes you a little bit tight. Also, I think it's also a little bit of tired in the mind also because I played so many matches and I've come from the States, I only had three days at home, then I went on to Warsaw and to Berlin and I keep playing and playing. So I guess sometimes it's not easy to start really good.

PATTY SCHNYDER: You have to ask her, but I think she does. She does notice (smiling).

PATTY SCHNYDER: Yeah. Also the beginning of last year I played great tennis, but I had some injuries and that put me back a lot. So I'm back again and I'm playing definitely the best now. And I'm just so happy. I wish that I can go on like this some more months - maybe years (smiling). I'm just very happy.

PATTY SCHNYDER: I mean, what else do you want? I mean, tell me, what can I do better? I don't really know. I mean, I'm not a powerful player, I'm not 190, I don't have these muscles. You can tell me. I am happy if you have some magic tricks (smiling).

PATTY SCHNYDER: Just he believes so much in me and my tennis. That gave me so much security and confidence also. We talk a lot about tactics. I mean, that's -- he always has a good tip. We talk a lot about other players also, so that helps me a lot. I know that on the court, like the strokes, I can feel myself. So that's a great combination.

PATTY SCHNYDER: I expect a great match. I mean, there's gonna be some rallies. She moves really good. She loves the court here; me, too. So, yeah, I don't worry too much because I just gonna be out there and play and give it the best I can.

PATTY SCHNYDER: No, I think this clock or this measure is a little bit high, I have to say (laughing). I noticed. Some case less, I guess. But, no, I mean, I'm working out in a gym also - probably more than the taller ones - and I'm trying to serve hard and keep up with them. Yeah, I give my best all the time (smiling).

PATTY SCHNYDER: Oh, it's a long time ago. I think I got more power definitely and probably also a better serve to the forehand off the right-handers. So it means from the deuce, the ad side to the forehand, and on the ad side into the middle. I guess I improved also those serves. And the kick has always been a good weapon, but I guess it's also little bit faster and more kick, so, yeah. But I don't really know.

PATTY SCHNYDER: Yeah, I just -- that's the way I play. That's the way I want to play. So I just practice that way, and I think it's a good weapon against some power tennis. But I don't really think too much. I just enjoy my tennis, and I see that people enjoy watching it. So, yeah, it makes me happy.

PATTY SCHNYDER: Yeah, I mean, she achieved so much in her career. She had some injuries, like you said. So that was her decision. I think she's a great champion. I don't know if she wants to come back or not, but it doesn't look like. I think she loved the game a lot and, yeah, she's retired now.