US OPEN

September 6, 1997

Gigi Fernandez

Q. Gigi, in your years on the circuit, what has been the very best thing that you have liked about the sport of tennis, about being a touring professional?

GIGI FERNANDEZ: I think it gave me the opportunity to grow as a human and learn about myself, you know. It's a great arena for that. You really get to know yourself when you're out there in front of all those people. It's a great tool for that.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Just how to handle myself, you know. The difference between me 15 years ago and now, I'm like another person. I was a little spoiled brat when I started. I just learned how to be nice and gracious while competing. That's not an easy thing. It's missing from a lot of the Juniors, something that takes time to learn.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: Who is that for?

NATASHA ZVEREVA: You have to call names. That would be easier.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: Once again. One more time.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: Basically, pretty much outplayed. I felt like they outplayed us. Their returns were the key to the match.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: We had our chances in the first set. We had a lot of break opportunities. Kind of couldn't, I don't know -- we had chances. A couple games we could have broken to get back in the first set, get up a break in the first set. They was a little bit better. Bigger serves, bigger returns from Lindsay. That's tennis.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Me?

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Competing. Actually being out there, trying to come up with the shot when it counts.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Everything else. Everything that goes with it. You know, the traveling, the hotels, the room service, being on the road 40 weeks out of the year.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Do you want me to keep going (laughter)? The last is like (indicating). It's a tough decision. I'm happy that I'm going out on a good year. I feel like I'm -- I don't want to go out losing first and second rounds. I appreciate Natasha having finished this year with me. I'm happy. Get to see my family. I've seen my family three weeks a year for the last 15 years. Need to spend a little time with him.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: Nothing really change except that I'll miss her as a partner. That's it.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: Well, all these years basically. The whole experience, the whole partnership. Be able to work things out and argue, you know. All these things. It's a very good experience.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: It's disappointing enough. It's not really a big deal. I wouldn't really consider, even if I won today, I don't think I would consider myself as a Grand Slam. To me, you're supposed to do it as a team.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: Broke up.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Divorce.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: It was supposed to be a divorce. We broke up after the US Open last year. Then I asked Natasha in April to finish this year with me. She was partnerless. Kind of screwed her out of the other partner. We won the French, won Wimbledon. 15 Grand Slams together. It's been a great thing for both of us.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Very funny.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Do I like it?

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Yes. I think it's very exciting right now, women's tennis, particularly in comparison with the men. You look at who is here in the semifinals, men and women. You have to say the women have a little more to offer at this point. It's funny, because it's very cyclical. Three years ago they were saying women's tennis was dead, saying we can't sell. Now, we've got Venus, Martina, Anna Kournikova, Lindsay coming into her own. I think it's exciting.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: Well, all I want to say is that's her own deal, whatever she wants to do doesn't bother me, so. There you go.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: I think she's very young. Not only is she young, but she didn't have the junior arena to kind of grow in. She kind of was thrown into the pros. You know, I think she has to show a little respect sometimes for her elders.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: No, absolutely not. There's no racism on the women's Tour. We've had Sena and Lori on The Tour. No prejudice that way. I adamantly deny that.

NATASHA ZVEREVA: The best friends on The Tour are Bolle, Katrina, Nicole.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: You have to ask them. That's a possibility. I don't know. I can tell you that it's more her actions, the way she carries herself in the locker room, not so much her appearance or her race.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Finish the year. We're playing Japan and the Championships.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: My last Grand Slam.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: I'm going to have fun. I want to stay involved in tennis somewhat. I've been talking to the USTA about staying involved in their program, expand tennis in the country. I want to work with kids. I'm going to make myself available to different organizations, different clubs, to go play with Juniors, talk to them about their aspirations. I'll get involved in Puerto Rico with the Tourism industry down there, government. Do a little corporate tennis, play a little golf. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it?