HOME DEPOT CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 11, 2002

Kim Clijsters

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I was just going to try to bring as many balls back as I could. I tried to make her make the mistakes. That's what you have to try to do against her. I was very motivated. I lost to her, I think, six times or five times already. You know, it's great to have that win here right now.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't think I realized how much money it is.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes. Like before, they asked me what my biggest memory was and it was the French Open final. Now, this is definitely the number one spot.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I was going to play my best game, trying to do that. Like I said before, just don't worry if she hits a few aces. Don't show any emotions. That's where they can read how you're feeling, and that's when they can push you a little bit extra. That's what I did and it worked, I think. Like I said before, I just tried to run as many balls back as I could. She made some few easy mistakes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah. She wasn't moving as well as in the beginning of the set. I was getting a bit tired as well, so it was good she was getting a bit tired.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. I started with a double fault. I don't know if that was because of nerves or anything. I wasn't nervous. I was a little bit more nervous before than all the other matches before the match. I felt pretty calm out there.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I told myself, on my own serve games, I said, well, when I lost my serve games, I said, try to win that first point, because that can be a very big key in every game. If you get that first one, you can work yourself into the game if you have a few lucky shots. There was a few very long rallies, and with a smash, I got it back. Those are the games and points that you have to try to take and the chances you have to take. Yeah, I mean, I just kept fighting. I don't think I really realized at the time I was down. I was so focused on the game that I didn't really notice if I was down or up.

KIM CLIJSTERS: You have to ask her. I'm sure she's going to be very motivated to go into the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. She hasn't won that one yet. She's going to be extra motivated to go out there and play well.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I wouldn't have believed it.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I'm not even thinking about that at the moment. I'm just enjoying this moment. I don't really want to think about what's going to happen next in the future. I want to enjoy this moment. This is my last match of the year. It was a pretty nice one to end with. I'm just going to enjoy the few weeks I have off now and start working hard for the Australian Open. It's a whole new year.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. There's a big time difference.

KIM CLIJSTERS: He was sleeping.

KIM CLIJSTERS: He just said to go and enjoy it, enjoy the atmosphere.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, definitely not. Especially the way I was playing in the middle of the year. Even when I had my injury and I was feeling down at that time and changing coaches and not having a coach for a few weeks, that was tough, but I still kept being very professional and kept doing everything I should. I think that's what made me also more mature, now when I have a coach and everything is going well. I think the injury really helped me out for these type of tournaments.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I've got no idea. I know that if I play my best tennis and if I keep my consistency up throughout the whole match, I know I'm capable of getting close to winning matches against them. It all comes down to a few points then. I know if I played my best tennis, I can do it. It's just being consistent enough and a few points here and there.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't know. Tonight it did. Today it did. You never know. The next match I play against them, I might lose one and one. That's what makes tennis so interesting at the moment. There is so many people that can -- I think Venus and Serena have played so well these last few years and have been up there. I think it's nice for the other players to see that they are beatable and I think that will motive also some other players.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I did it with my racket. I just put my racket there, and luckily the ball hit the racket and it went over the net. I think she missed.

KIM CLIJSTERS: That's what I mean. You just have to try to make that extra ball, and when they don't expect it to come back, that can make them not in the right position or not focused, and they make a mistake. I think that was one of my goals. On not only this match, that's what I try to do every match.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. I think I can have a big party tonight.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I'm building a house at the moment. It's nice. I can use it. I'm going to go home and go to an exhibition and play an exhibition against Justine, and then go to Australia, so I won't have a lot of time to do a lot of shopping. I might do a little bit of shopping here tomorrow before my flight.

KIM CLIJSTERS: In Belgium, in Brie, where I'm from.

KIM CLIJSTERS: If I would had no legs, I wouldn't have won. I think it played a big role. Of course, you know, I think I'm very lucky to have my type of legs, especially to play a sport. Maybe not for modeling or something, but to play tennis and to run a lot of balls down, I think my legs are pretty good.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I have no idea. I remember the first time I did it, and I did it at the US Open, actually when I played Serena as well, and they showed it on the replay that night on TV. I don't really think about it when I'm doing it. It's just natural. I've got no idea.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Once it did. In Stanford last year, because it was so hot, and I kept sliding when I was playing Lindsay and I burnt my toe. Sometimes it hurts.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. Well, like, occasionally if I go and get a far ball in practice or something, but it's not something I work on.

KIM CLIJSTERS: It's hard. Of course, I'm going to be up there, and it's a big tournament. I'll definitely have my status. It's still pretty amazing for me to realize all of this and what I have achieved. I'm only 19. It's incredible. I can never imagined I would have been sitting here speaking to all of you after a win. That's something I would have never have thought. It's, of course, great. I don't see myself -- I know I play tennis, and I play tennis because I enjoy it. I'm not there to be famous or anything. I'm just there to enjoy the tennis.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't know. I mean, I know I can -- if I play well, I think I belong there, but there is a lot of other players who belong there as well. You have Lindsay and Monica who played really well, I thought, against Venus. You have players like Elena and Dementieva can always beat, but maybe not as consistent as what those top four players have done. I think if I have a consistent year, and if I'm injury-free and stuff, I think I'm capable of staying in the top five.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I had a few experiences, maybe not with my own game, but when Lleyton won the Wimbledon and US Open, that was amazing. I felt like I won them as well. That's what really sort of maybe made me realize how much it means and how much it means for a tennis player to win those big events. I was really -- even like this week, I was doing everything very professional and 100 percent, so that's what paid off.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I think if you keep telling yourself, I feel tired, I feel tired, of course, you're going to feel tired. That's with every person. I was resting a lot during my days off. Of course, I didn't play -- I think I only -- before coming into this match, I only played about two hours and 20 minutes. I think with Venus pulling out, I had an advantage over Serena, because she played a pretty tough match against Jennifer yesterday.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I didn't really beat Venus. It feels amazing. I don't think I'm realizing at the moment what I've done. I'm sure once I get back home to Belgium, I'll play my exhibition in front of those 10,000 people, and I'm sure I'll start realizing what they have gone through and what I've done.

KIM CLIJSTERS: He was very proud. He said, yeah, I knew you could do it, well done. That's what I think every dad would say.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Of course, he always supports me and helps me out. He doesn't really say tactics. He always says little things like, go out there and fight and have fun. Those are the main things he says. That's what I definitely did today.

KIM CLIJSTERS: We played one last year in Antwerp. It was a bigger stadium, 20,000 people. This year I'm flying tomorrow, and Wednesday night, Belgium time, 6:00 I have to play the exhibition after getting in at noon. I don't know if my level is going to be as high as what I achieved here. It's going to be in the south part of Belgium where Justine is from. There is one from the north, where I'm from, and then one in the south. We play a match against each other. There is, like, a Belgium group and like music bands performing. It's really nice.

KIM CLIJSTERS: To see us, yes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: You don't really realize how it feels. This is definitely my biggest win, and it feels incredible. At the time, I couldn't believe when she missed that match point. I couldn't believe I won. Maybe at that time I had goose bumps all over my body. I couldn't believe it. It was amazing. It's an amazing feeling. I hope a lot of players can have that when they win a big event. It's really something amazing.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I have no courts at my house. I have dogs.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No courts.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes.