U.S. OPEN

September 3, 1995

Steffi Graf

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, absolutely I would say so. I think there wasn't really a lapse in between and very few unforced errors. Much better serve. Just in general, a lot better match than I have done so far.

STEFFI GRAF: I think in general it was going to be -- should have been a lot tougher match and I think that maybe I was focused a lot better because I have had a couple of matches. I think that helped me a lot, just to, you know, to get a better feeling out there. And I felt today -- I mean, I just got into the rhythm right early on. I think that helped me and I think she was a little off on her serve so that helped me to get into the match as well.

STEFFI GRAF: You usually don't really have that kind of feeling. I think, you know, it was a good game today and, you know, I felt great out there, but no, it is not that you feel invincible, no, I don't think that it is like that.

STEFFI GRAF: Not really. I mean, I, myself, said that she has a lot of talent and that is what I have been seeing. I think when she goes back -- knowing her when she was eleven, twelve years old, I think on a National Championships in Florida in Boca Raton, I just walked by and saw her, I said "I think she has a lot of chance," I think I knew even then that she would be a good player. I think that is what she proved. Maybe she was not at her best today, but I think she showed quite a few times this year that she can do it.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, I would definitely say so.

STEFFI GRAF: Not such a big concern.

STEFFI GRAF: I don't tend -- I don't try to think of the old guard, but, you know, it is a nice change to see some new faces out there. And people say -- and even I, at times, believe that they can upset you and they are trying to, you know, make a name for themselves and, you know, they have got a lot of talent. It is just -- maybe it just lacks a little bit of experience at times.

STEFFI GRAF: Did she win already?

STEFFI GRAF: All right. So I think I got to talk about both of them or you just want to talk about Amy?

STEFFI GRAF: Well, I think either of them -- I mean, Amy is probably more of a steadier player from the back and Natasha is somebody that tries to, you know, get you off your rhythm, she tries to come in, tries a lot of different things. And the last few years I have started to have a little bit more problems because I don't really get as much of a rhythm playing against her than some other players. For example, I think against Amy it will be a little bit more comfortable out there because I know know what to expect rather than from Natasha, not knowing what to do.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, I prefer that. Yeah, I prefer to play somebody that plays similar to me, goes for their shots and -- you know, because then I usually know what to expect and usually find a better rhythm.

STEFFI GRAF: I am in the quarters, so I think three more matches to go. I am a lot closer than maybe at times I thought I will be, so I guess I am excited about that, but I am not talking about a title right now.

STEFFI GRAF: For a lot of reasons which I don't really want to get into.

STEFFI GRAF: Yes, a lot of doubts.

STEFFI GRAF: No, none. None at all, actually.

STEFFI GRAF: I think that, you know, it is one week later and/or eight, nine days later since I felt that, you know, it would be difficult for me to play. I think these eight, nine days helped me a lot. The matches helped me a lot and time helped me, so I think I was just -- I am more relaxed from that time on and it is just-I don't know-more at peace with myself.

STEFFI GRAF: I think, definitely, that was a very good match, yeah.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah. I have, maybe not as big of a doubts, but I have had doubts, yeah.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, I mean, that is what I said earlier in the week. I think I just need to play a few matches and that is what really happened. I just needed to get more comfortable on the court and, you know, get more focused and, you know, I needed these couple of matches to get where I am right now.

STEFFI GRAF: A mixture. Mixture of both.

STEFFI GRAF: Not yet.