CHASE CHAMPIONSHIPS OF THE COREL WTA TOUR

November 21, 1998

Steffi Graf

Q. Was it a hamstring?

STEFFI GRAF: A hamstring, yeah.

STEFFI GRAF: I don't know. Maybe a little strained, I don't know. It happened during the long rally at just 30-Love on her serve at 3-2, and when I ran to the backhand, that is when I felt a little pain and from then on, I felt it.

STEFFI GRAF: Just a sharp pain at that moment.

STEFFI GRAF: No, totally different spot and in Philadelphia it was way less than today. But, you know, it has been a long three weeks, and I guess everything feels pretty tired. So I guess it was just a little bit too much today.

STEFFI GRAF: Well, there is nothing you can do about it anymore. It sure is disappointing, but I pulled out some really good wins and three sets the last few days, the last few weeks, actually. And I am taking -- sure I am disappointed right now because I knew I was really close and I don't know what happened if it wouldn't have happened, but there is nothing you can do about it. That is the way it is.

STEFFI GRAF: How did it look?

STEFFI GRAF: Well, yeah, it just wasn't quite the same anymore. But -- it was okay.

STEFFI GRAF: I don't think the quality was very good. I think we both didn't play so good. I mean, she -- I started again really slow in the first set, and I really had difficulties getting myself involved in the match. And again, there weren't a lot of rallies. In the second set I felt that she made a lot of mistakes and really I had myself going to get into the match because I wasn't really playing even the second set so well, that is at least how I felt. I think we both committed a lot of unforced errors, didn't really have too many long rallies. So I think Philadelphia was clearly a better match.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, that is why I am sure after the match I am disappointed right now. I think there would be something wrong if I wouldn't be. But in general, I mean, I gave it everything that I had in the past three weeks and that was a lot. It has been great. It has been exciting. It has been a lot of fun. That is why I can only look back with a very positive attitude.

STEFFI GRAF: Well, honestly I didn't think I would be here, so I kind of had everything planned during that period. So I am actually starting doing commercials on Monday, and I have exhibitions planned and quite a few meetings and stuff back home in Germany. So I don't really have too much time off. I am not playing, but I do some other kind of work.

STEFFI GRAF: I am playing Tuesday in Baltimore. And I am playing in about a week on Monday in Colon, that is it.

STEFFI GRAF: Next week I play against Jana and in Colon I am playing against Kournikova.

STEFFI GRAF: It has been so much talk about it. Nothing has finalized and it doesn't look like it is going to be happening. At least as far as I know right now.

STEFFI GRAF: Caribbean.

STEFFI GRAF: Much better here than there. I don't like the sun anyway.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, it was pretty strange the last few weeks. I mean not even physically also mentally I realized today I felt really -- I mean, already this tournament I felt a little flat during my match. Always took me a little time to get into playing the right shots and adjusting to the opponents and that usually doesn't take me so long, so I think it is going to be fine.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, I hope it is only inspiring; I can only repeat myself. It has been three weeks that I didn't expect to be the way they were coming around and the way things were happening I felt like, you know, once in a while I would like after the wins I would sit there in disbelief so, it has been great. It has been definitely very rewarding for what I have come through.

STEFFI GRAF: Well, I never expect anything than the best out of me. I do not have any other goals than to play well. I have no expectation whatsoever.