U.S. OPEN

September 4, 1994

Gigi Fernandez

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Can I?

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Under the circumstances, probably not. It was pretty windy and difficult to play today, so I was happy with that.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Wind player? Yeah, there was one year in Eastbourne about four years ago and I had a week of practice in the wind, it was a week before, and since that, I mean, I handled the wind pretty well in all the situations. It was three times worse than this at Eastbourne.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: About four years ago. I don't remember exactly the year.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: How?

GIGI FERNANDEZ: You have to change your game a little bit. You can't go for the big first serve because the toss is all over the place. You have to be a little more safe, just -- when you're with the wind you have to shorten your backswing, and when you're with the wind, you have to hit out more. So it is a little tactical -- you have to make some tactical changes and fortunately I'm able to do that. Some players play the same way in the wind and when it's still and that's why they have trouble.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Yeah, well that's my game plan against anybody pretty much. So, you know, it was to come into her forehand, short to her forehand as much as I could and it was difficult because of the wind, or come to her backhand because her favorite shot is a run-around forehand.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: I don't know, I just know that I play Gaby and I've played some close matches against her when she was ranked a lot higher. And I feel good about my chances. I think it is a good quarter final for me. Last time I made the quarters here I played Seles, so it was more difficult.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: I think it was 90, 1990 -- actually it was '91, actually. I don't know, ask them.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Yes, much better, and I've had a semifinal in Wimbledon to sort of lean on that I didn't have the last -- first quarterfinal Grand Slam I didn't play very well. Performed well in the semifinals at Wimbledon, so I think I can be relaxed and when I can be relaxed. I can play my best tennis.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: How old is she?

GIGI FERNANDEZ: She's great player. She's fit, she has a great game, she comes in, which few players are doing these days.

GIGI FERNANDEZ: She didn't?

GIGI FERNANDEZ: Well, it's hard against me, because I come in so much, I totally overwhelm most players. I'm serving and volleying first and sometimes second serve and coming in off the first serve, so, you know, it's tough to serve and volley in the wind but -- when she played Conchita and she beat her, she came in a little bit. So -- more, more than she did today.