TENNIS MASTERS SERIES - ROMA

May 18, 2002

Jennifer Capriati

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't know if I would say that was like the turning point. I think if I would have won that game, I would have, I think, definitely had a better chance. But, I mean, who knows? You know. It was a very important game. But, you know, kind of things turned around. You know, she took the injury timeout and, you know, things kind of shifted a little bit after that.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I guess I stiffened up a little bit also. And, you know, things just -- I had a momentum going. And maybe, you know, that kind of shifted it a little bit. I mean, you know, but mainly for me, I guess, you know, it's -- especially the time of the day and everything, it's getting cold. I just maybe stiffened up a little bit. But, I mean, it was close anyways. I mean, I still came back and was able to break at - what was it - I was up 5-4. So it was, you know, pretty much until the end. It wasn't like it changed things dramatically.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I would say that I didn't play nearly as well today as I have been playing, especially the way I came out in the first set. I mean, I struggled to get going, you know? Just get moving. And in the end I did play a lot better. So I think it's good for me that, you know, to know I still wasn't playing my best tennis and I still had a good chance of winning. And, you know, I don't want to peak too early now. I mean, everything is for next week. So, you know, it's good in a way to, you know -- now I can have the extra time to work harder and go into the French.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I mean, it's not a lot of difference in the women's game, I mean, like men. So I think it maybe changes it a little bit. But basically, I mean, she's a good player and she can adapt on any surface - I mean, on the clay. And she moved well. I think she plays a lot better now than like let's say last year or other times I've played her on clay or seen her play on clay.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I can't say. I don't know, I mean, if she's really injured, but you want to give people the benefit of the doubt. You have to take the timeout. If I'm really injured and need it, you need it. I mean, one has to make the personal choice the time they want to do it. You know, if it's a real emergency, then, you know, you have to do it. But if it's not so bad, then maybe, you know, you have to think about the time and when it's the best time to do it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. Just a little tension difference and, you know...

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Less tense. Because the balls were a little bit heavier today, so... I guess it worked a little bit.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I am going to Spain for a few days before there.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, just about. This week, you know, I have - like last year - I took the week off and I just -- I worked really hard. You know, my trainer came over, so she's here. And did the same thing last year. So I think it will give me a little extra edge - hopefully. But as far as the clay, I think, yeah, I'm playing just about the same.