VIRGINIA SLIMS CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 16, 1993

Zina Garrison

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: I know, I mean, I never won on my birthday. I kind of wish I played Monday or Wednesday, but, you know, I thought I played well, had some opportunities, I didn't take advantage of them, you know, but I've been playing really well to get here and I played so many tournaments to get here and I was so focused because, about a month ago, I was just barely out of this tournament, so...

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Yes, definitely missed opportunities. I had chance to break, I was -- I would just miss by a couple of inches. I kept missing my forehand return by inches every time and, you know, just kind of caught up with me, and then she would have the opportunity, she would miss. I mean, it was like a back and forth match.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: I don't think-- I didn't get one call-- I was really upset more than anything on a let cord because the lady has her hand on the net, she can feel it before he can hear it and I was like--

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Yeah, he called it. He said that he heard it and someone else, one of the other linesmen heard it but it can be strings, it can be anything, I mean, that's like-- that's too close for him to really try to call especially when you have a net cord judge.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: I thought? I knew it was a doublefault. I just didn't get the breaks, I mean, that's the way the match goes sometimes.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Yeah, I think, I just-- I played so hard to get here especially I know this year-- I played so well, I think I peaked too soon, because, you know, couple weeks ago I was knifing my forehand and I started to miss it last week and it cost me some points here off the return of serve, I think I was so focused into getting here you know, I still played well, but I think there I just peaked a little too soon.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Yeah.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: No. Each tournament is too tough to be thinking about the next person. So, even Arantxa, she should be thinking about Helena because Helena may be beating her.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Very much so.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Thank you.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Yes.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Yes, I'm going to play a couple more years definitely and then I'm just going-- I would like to have a family, so, I've thought about it. Me and my husband we've talked about it, I've talked about it with my coach and I'm going to give the next couple of years a really good shot and take it from there.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: I think he gets scared. Willard is so relaxed you'd never know but next year he will, he'll travel a little bit less, but, that's just to get ready for when I do finish.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Not miss the vollies when they're there. I think it's much more strenuous to play this kind of game. You constantly have to -- you move constantly, have to think and react and you're going to play great sometimes and sometimes you're not, that's what is so remarkable about Martina, that she's still playing this level of a game. And for me, I need more strength, my serves are just way too weak. I can see two weeks in a row very strong and the third week it's like my arm is very weak, so, when I think 94 a serve and volley player, you have to stay mentally tough definitely, all the time.

ZINA GARRISON-JACKSON: Oh, no, it's too much trouble. I mean, I look at Liz Smylie and take my hat off to her and I don't know how she can even go out there and play and even though Laura is a great kid, but for me it's hard, especially, I just couldn't see myself doing it because I hear the baby cry I think I would be just out of here.