FED CUP - AUSTRIA vs USA

April 28, 2002

Barbara Schwartz

ANDRE CHRISTOPHER: Questions for Barbara Schwartz, please.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: I'm just happy. I still can't believe this. I mean, it's unbelievable for us to win here. I don't find even the right words, but I'm just (inaudible).

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, I mean, I always thought from the beginning on that we have the chance, we can win. And Meghann is a great player, I know that. She's No. 12 in the world now. I just thought, "I have to fight for every point, and I have to take every chance," because you don't get it the second time normally. Then it was so close in the third set. Then I got a break. Then I knew, "Okay, you have to do it." Maybe I was a bit lucky, but I did it.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: No, I never thought that the match was over for me. The match is always over after the matchpoint. But I'm always trying to fight and keep in the game. And maybe it looked desperate, but I was just fighting - just go for it.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, I mean, for us, when we came here, the little Austria, it was the big United States, the No. 1 nation, and such great players. Also, if Capriati is not here or not playing, I mean, if you have a team with Seles, Shaughnessy and Raymond... We were just happy to be here and to play. It's great that we won.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, I think it was a tough situation for them - being at home and playing, and then you lose the No. 1 player. But, I mean, still - again - it's a great team also without Capriati. And we just had a little chance and we took it and we just are unbelievably happy.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, it was very tough for me because it was 5-all in the second set and it was very close. And, well, with the tape on, it was a bit better. And I just tried. I couldn't run like I did before, but I was just fighting and keep the mind on the game. I just tried.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, I did a big step. I don't know actually what exactly happened, but it was just very tight. And then it felt sore. And so I took the -- I put the tape on. Now it hurts but, I mean, the game is over, we won, and now I get my massage after this (smiling).

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Yes, yes, it did. I was so concentrated. You feel concentrate, you win some points, then you're just in the game and you keep on fighting. But now, when I went off the court, I mean, it hurts actually. But it doesn't matter. I have massage now - again - and then we will go home and, yeah, take some days rest. (Inaudible).

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: For me it's very important, but I think first it's very important for Austria. I mean, we are just a small nation, and it was great for us to play the United States. And we won. I played for Austria. And, as I said in the beginning at the press conference, it's a great honor to play for our country. We didn't come here with -- I mean, some players were not here. We couldn't be the whole team here. So we just came in and tried. It's a young team, actually. So we tried. And it's very good for the team and for Austria.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: What do you mean?

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well... It's okay on both sides. I think it's sometimes easier on the forehand because you have more time. With a one-handed backhand, it's tough to get the pressure back on the other side. But, I mean, my backhand worked really well this weekend. And so it's okay.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, when I had the injury from 5-all in the second set, then I went for the shots because I wanted to keep the volley game for sure. So I tried to hit, like, the backhand winner, also if it was not really possible. But, I mean, if you're confident, then you can try (inaudible).

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: No, I wouldn't say that. Austria beat the United States.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, but... Yeah, we did it. We all together did it.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: It really doesn't matter for me, because Meghann Shaughnessy is like No. 12 in the world. It's great for me to play against her. I mean, it was great for me to play against her. I had the opportunities to play against Seles and Shaughnessy, and that was great. I mean, if I would have played Capriati, that would also be nice. But hopefully I will have the chance at the tournament.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Yes. Actually, yes. I mean, I was a bit unlucky with my injuries the past years. I was like No. 14 in '99, but then I had the elbow injury and three operations and it took me two years to come back. And this year I also had a bit of problems. So I just have to be fit and to keep on working, and I believe in my chance. I mean, I played really great here this weekend. But I think it was also because we were here as a team, and it was really a great time. Also the people here, they were so nice. It was a great week for us. And so, yeah... I hope I can do it.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, when I'm on the court, I'm always motivated because I just like to play tennis, and especially when you're injured for two years and you can't hit the ball for one whole year. Then I think you have to be motivated. If you can come back and play on the court, that's great.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Yeah (smiling). Yeah, she's a right-hander, so it's a bit different. But she has a very good forehand. When I was serving to her forehand, it was "boom!" It was faster than my serve, it came back. So I had to do something. I had to try to move her because she was playing very fast. And she's also a very good runner, so it was very difficult. But, as I said, I was maybe a bit lucky and so I could do it.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well... The point at 5-all when I had the set point, I was like, "Oh, my God." And then it hurt. And I didn't know what is it exactly. But then I just thought, "Okay, next point, try it again." But this situation was a bit difficult because if you get an injury, it's always tough. And it was a close score. But it's okay.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Yeah. I was definitely tired. But I just tried to get my serve in, to win my service games. And then I had one chance before at love-30, but I couldn't do it. She was serving very well at 30-all - it was an ace. But, yeah, I had the chance at her service game again, so I took it. Then, as I said, I knew I have to do it now.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: When she was serving, she was serving pretty good. And I just -- I tried to do something because I couldn't run that much - again. And sometimes it was like 40-love for her because I overhit the ball.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: No, no, no. I was not thinking about it.

BARBARA SCHWARTZ: Well, when I went on the court today and -- in the beginning, I was a bit nervous because I was thinking about -- when we were warming up, I was thinking about, "Okay, 2-love, we have a chance, come on." But then from the first point on, I always think, "Okay, just this one. Forget everything. Forget the crowd." And, well, it really worked out great this weekend. And so I didn't feel nervous. I was just nervous after the match, everyone is here (smiling). And I still can't believe this.