STATE FARM EVERT CUP

March 10, 1998

Steffi Graf

Q. Steffi, you seemed to be having more problem with your cough than you do with the opponents. What is it?

STEFFI GRAF: No, I mean, today was a little more difficult start. I think I was pretty nervous from the beginning on. I made a few more errors maybe than the last two matches. But once I felt more comfortable, I seemed to be hitting the ball well again. She didn't really put me under pressure either. I did have time enough to set up the points.

STEFFI GRAF: With my cough?

STEFFI GRAF: I mean, I've been -- I've got the flu and the sinuses. I've been trying to get rid of it. It's just been taking a little longer than expected.

STEFFI GRAF: No, it's just been sick for the past two weeks. Hopefully this is now the last one or two days. Hopefully I get rid of it.

STEFFI GRAF: It's difficult to say. I mean, right now I feel that I'm playing better than I anticipated playing at that stage. But maybe I haven't had the opponents yet either that maybe push me or put me more under pressure so far. I've been able to play the game that I want to play. We'll see with the next matches coming up, probably going to be a different story. See how I'm going to respond to that. Right now I'm feeling that I'm doing what I'd like to do.

STEFFI GRAF: Yes. I mean, that's what I said after every game so far here, that I've been doing much better than I expected at that stage, no question. I mean, playing like that again today, after playing such a good match last night, yeah. I mean, you can't ask for anything else right now.

STEFFI GRAF: She doesn't know me very well, I guess. No, I mean, that's way off actually. That's very way off. No, I didn't come in here -- I never -- I never thought or never started thinking that I can get to that point, no, not even now.

STEFFI GRAF: No, no. I mean, I spent a lot of time in Austria, on rehab. I spent almost all the time in either Austria or Germany, then came over four months to Florida, trained there. I mean, it was basically all about getting back into walking movements and rehab.

STEFFI GRAF: Oh, many times. I mean, once I knew I had to have that operation, they told me how severe it looked at that point, they could not tell me if I'd be able to play again or not. I mean, from that moment on, I knew there would be a long time of uncertainty if I can go on or not. Even after the operation for quite a few months, I wasn't sure.

STEFFI GRAF: That uncertainty. I mean, I wasn't always sure if I wanted to do it either. At that time, you know, it was just a matter of when the injury was healing. It was an injury. You know, I knew it just took some time and I'd be ready for it again. This time, you know, obviously I had arthroscopic surgery before. The injury started one year before I had the operation. It was a much more difficult thing for me. Obviously, you know, it's not only that six months that I took off after the operation, it started much earlier already. You know, I've had quite a few troubles with my back, other injuries, so I didn't know if I should really try again or not.

STEFFI GRAF: I know. For some reason, my back has been really good. I shouldn't say that right now probably (laughter). My back's been, since then, extremely good. Hopefully, you know, somehow that break even helped my back.

STEFFI GRAF: I don't know. I mean, I've played her a couple times, but I don't know the record.

STEFFI GRAF: 5-1?

STEFFI GRAF: Absolutely. As I mentioned earlier, it will be a different match because she hits a lot harder than the girls I have played against so far. She serves a lot better. Yeah, I mean, it will be interesting to see how I play against her.

STEFFI GRAF: Yes, true, difficult one.

STEFFI GRAF: I don't think -- I think we both like to play on hardcourts. Probably it's one of her best surfaces. I think doesn't really matter too much.

STEFFI GRAF: You know, after the shaky start in the first set action, I really wanted to get my act together and start playing point after point. I did it at the end of the first set, even better in the second set. I went for my shots, made fewer mistakes. That's all I was trying for. I wasn't trying to win 6-Love. I just wanted to play a steady set. That's what I did.