U.S. OPEN

September 8, 1995

Steffi Graf

STEFFI GRAF: Was I happy? Afterwards, yes.

STEFFI GRAF: During? I think, I mean, other than maybe my return which was sometimes a little off, I felt pretty good out there; especially, I think, from being down 4-2 and breakpoints in the second set, I think I played a few very good game at that stage and tried to come in force the points. I think I played really well then.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, I am. I definitely am.

STEFFI GRAF: Well, I mean, how much ? How much can you expect to be there? I mean, obviously I knew I would have my chances against her, but I sort of didn't feel all the odds were for me. So I just relaxed out there, but I mean, I cannot really say how I expected it, but it is there.

STEFFI GRAF: I have a little bone irritation.

STEFFI GRAF: It was a little problem.

STEFFI GRAF: Left foot.

STEFFI GRAF: Otherwise, I wouldn't be here, you know, if I wouldn't feel it means something to me or if I wouldn't feel like it is important to me, and otherwise, I don't think I would have gone through all the emotions that I have gone through these past two weeks if I had the impression that it is nothing special.

STEFFI GRAF: It is difficult to say, but right now what I have achieved already means so much -- more than what I have achieved during Wimbledon or Paris. So not thinking about the outcome tomorrow or anything like that at all. I mean, just what I have done these past two weeks, I think that definitely means a lot more.

STEFFI GRAF: No, I mean, I focus pretty well out there. I try to, you know, to concentrate on what I am doing; concentrate on my breathing; try to really stay on the court. I have been pretty successful with that.

STEFFI GRAF: You can't really compare it. I think it has been definitely the most demanding time -- the most demanding inside of me. I really -- it takes -- it took a lot out of me the last few weeks, and so it is definitely much more than any other stage in my life.

STEFFI GRAF: I mean, in a way, obviously experience helps you. There is no doubt about it. I think that knowing you have been so many times on the court and been through a lot of things, I think it also is a little bit of a routine too, absolutely.

STEFFI GRAF: We will see. But already I think everybody is looking so much forward to that match and talking so much about it that I think, obviously, will create a lot more excitement.

STEFFI GRAF: Ooh... When was that? I think, the best prepared was Australian Open about two years ago. I think, I was in physical -- one of the best shapes that I have been in, worked out greatly. Physically, I had no injuries, no problems. I think at that time, I definitely played the best tennis of my life.

STEFFI GRAF: It is impossible to really tell that. I think, it is really too tough to tell me.

STEFFI GRAF: No.

STEFFI GRAF: No.

STEFFI GRAF: Yes, absolutely. Right now, I will, you know, -- I really haven't focused too much on that match because I didn't really know if it is going to happen; didn't really think it is going to happen,. So I think I will take time to focus maybe a little bit harder, but, obviously, I am excited to be in the finals and play against her. I don't think it could get any better than that.

STEFFI GRAF: It is too far behind. I mean, I am here and I played and, you know, if there were any doubts or not, I don't think it really matters right now.

STEFFI GRAF: No, it is not because otherwise, it wouldn't mean so much to me to win this match today. I think a lot of emotions come through after the match, and I don't think, you know, if you don't enjoy it and don't look forward to it as much as I have been, I don't think it would be worth being there.

STEFFI GRAF: I think, I am playing for a lot of people at the moment. I am playing for a lot of people.

STEFFI GRAF: No, it was a bad mistake by me, actually. I kind of looked at the banners and it kind went a different way as it was on the court. When I was walking up the side, I was, "why on earth am I trying to serve with the wind" which doesn't make sense because you got to play the next two games against it. It was a tactical mistake.

STEFFI GRAF: I think it was a combination of both of these things. Obviously at 4-All, 5-4 we both were really tight. You could feel quite a few points, the tension there was in both of our tennis. I think obviously at the end of the second set, it got to a mental state, yeah.

STEFFI GRAF: No.

STEFFI GRAF: Not even a little bit.

STEFFI GRAF: Well, what I have seen here this tournament she has -- she really improved her left-hand serve which really serves out wide and she has got a winning edge there because she is placing her serve really well, and even if there are close stages in the match, she really goes for her shots and she -- she is not really getting tense. She seems to be really going for everything and doing that very well. She has a lot of control in her strokes.

STEFFI GRAF: Absolutely. No doubt about it.

STEFFI GRAF: Win or lose.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, I think so. Yep.

STEFFI GRAF: No, just occurred a couple of days ago.

STEFFI GRAF: After tomorrow?

STEFFI GRAF: I will take my rest after tomorrow.

STEFFI GRAF: No, I don't have that in my mind. Not at all. But I do, like I said before, I do need to rest up a little bit and then start playing again and getting different therapies and I don't intend to retire the rest of the year - not at all.

GRAF: Combination.