U.S. OPEN

September 8, 1995

Conchita Martinez

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: I don't know if she is playing better. She is playing very good.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: Yeah, I feel very good. It is the first time I made the semifinals here, and I feel very good the way I played, and I am very happy about my result.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: I think Monica is playing really, really good. She is hitting the ball very hard from both sides and I don't know, Steffi is going to have to play very good to beat her.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: I think so. I think Steffi can move Monica around because herself is moving very good. And, you know, if she is able to keep Monica in play, I mean, she has a good chance.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: I don't know. I was trying to play hard balls. Apparently, she liked those because she was making the volley really hard. I decided if she is going to win those points like that, and I am going to be running around, I might as well hit the ball too and see what happens out there. I mean, I didn't have any chance at all today.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: Yeah, I think everybody is going to be watching that match. I mean, not only we the players, a lot of people. I mean, Monica it's her second tournament since she is coming back and, you know, everybody is going to look for it, I am sure.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: Yeah, I think I will. I don't know if I am going to watch the whole thing, but I will be interested also to see, to watch something like that.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: No, it hasn't changed at all. She is hitting the ball very hard from both sides; she did that before when she was No. 1. She is hitting the ball as hard and her serve is very good and for me, I mean, I have always trouble playing with lefthanders. So, you know, and Monica was hitting the ball so hard it is very difficult. I mean, I think -- I have to work some more on my -- on everything, trying to get to the ball faster and putting it back with, not only putting it back, but do something with it.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: Yeah, I think so. I mean, when they asked they were going to co-rank her No. 3, they were undecided. I was one of the ones who said I think if you are going to co-rank something why not 1, and we all agreed to that and I think she is playing very good as second round No. 1 or -- I don't know, who knows....

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: I don't know. I mean, I think she is playing exactly the same game, you know, but, you know, for me it was very difficult because playing against her in the semifinals, she has been playing a lot of matches and getting confidence. Maybe before she was missing a little bit more. Today she didn't miss much, and I think, you know, she has improved her serve, maybe, a little bit more, and just hitting the ball very hard from both sides.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: Yeah. Yeah, I have to be impressed because -- well, I don't know, because I never stopped for two years, but coming back I know if I don't play a tournament for a long time, it takes me long to get my confidence back, so -- I think she is very tough mentally and, I think she deserves this comeback. She is playing unbelievable.

CONCHITA MARTINEZ: Yes.