CHASE CHAMPIONSHIPS OF SANEX WTA TOUR

November 17, 2000

Kim Clijsters

Q. Why so many mistakes?

KIM CLIJSTERS: Many mistakes, well, I think it was a very high level match. And the rallies were so long and you have to think that I only played my first match on Monday, so now it is Friday already. So it is not that I had a lot of match rhythm, but I don't think that I played a lot of mistakes. She is just a player who keeps bringing all of the balls back in. She is a very tough player. She keeps on running and she is very fast. She moves very well, and then, yeah, well, I had like a few problems with my returning today. It was -- yeah, like I just couldn't feel the ball on my returns, like the first set and the second set, and the third set it was better already.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Oh, yeah, I loved it.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I really love the crowd in New York, even like at the US Open and stuff I really love it. I think -- I like the crowd. I like it when the crowd gets into it. I had fun here today.

KIM CLIJSTERS: It could have been like the other way around then, as well. Like I had to fight a bunch for those games, and, yeah -- and then like at 4-2, she started to keep the balls a long time longer in the court than I did and she started to serve a little bit more precise than me. And, yeah, well, that was the thing that changed the match, I think.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, 15-Love.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I thought it was in, but that's tennis. I have to forget about that now.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I think that she's very consistent and she runs very well. And she even like -- she hits so many winners with her forehand. Especially the biggest thing is that she moves so well, and she can hit like winners all over the court.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, you would have to ask Elena.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I made a lot of points. I only use the backhand slice because I could not hit the two-handed backhand anymore. Like the drop shot, I think I had some good points. I think I made some good points at the deciding moments. The drop shot, like one, when was it like at the end of the third set, I missed one when she passed me. But, yeah, that's tennis. Like if you try it once, you win the point. If you do it once, you lose the match point. That's tennis. It's not like that I didn't fight or anything. I just kept going for my shots.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I didn't really expect to be here. So it's just a great thing to be here, to have been here once, so I can tell my children when I am old that I played here.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, this is like a present for me for having -- from a good season this year. Yeah, it's just great to be here. It's great that I played well at the end of the year that I am allowed to be here.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I get a lot out of my matches. I think it was a very tough match. I think it was a high-level match. I think that I can -- that I can start aiming to, like, high positions now like on the Tour. And I can beat better players as well, because I think she is a good player, Elena.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I'm feeling that I'm -- that I'm a lot more confident on the court and I'm a lot more consistent on the court. Like a year ago or a few months ago, I still used to have like a very good -- I used -- my level used to go up and down, and now I can keep my level at consistent. So I think that's a very good thing that I learned in the last few tournaments and the last few months, yeah.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Practicing in Las Vegas for the Fed Cup.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. First thing that I'm playing next year is the Hopman Cup, and then I play Sydney and Australia. I might be seeded now at the Australian Open now. But I'm looking forward to going to Australia. It's a good tournament. I really love it there. I hope to do well there.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, a lot of time to rest, especially. But I did some shopping yesterday, and, yeah, well -- and the day before, I just visit New York a little bit.