US OPEN

September 3, 1999

Martina Hingis

WTA: Martina wants to say something before we start.

MARTINA HINGIS: I heard this morning that a certain person always asking for my autograph over and over at every tournament. I'd like to give something to that certain person, it's important to me, to Richard.

RICHARD WILLIAMS: Thank you, very much.

MARTINA HINGIS: It's pretty big, huh? I'm sure it's going to fit you. It's extra large. You don't have to ask me anymore.

RICHARD WILLIAMS: Thank you, very much. God bless you.

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't have any education (laughter)? I mean, I chose something else, education, going every day into the school. I think I learned still enough on traveling. I don't think I'm that dumb (laughter). I'd like to see some other people talking in three languages. It's not always easy. It's a little misunderstanding sometimes what I say. I don't always mean like to hurt anybody.

MARTINA HINGIS: Never missed that. I was always very happy about, you know, the thing I'm doing right now. I don't think the money's too bad either (laughter).

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, basically every single tournament when I saw him when the girls were playing, yeah.

MARTINA HINGIS: He was always showing his arm. I was like, "Why waste it? If you take a shower, it's going to go off anyway," so....

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, he wanted me to sign his arm, yeah. I never do that (laughter).

MARTINA HINGIS: I think it's perfect timing, yeah.

MARTINA HINGIS: Somebody, like the players, told me, then I got the newspaper. I just really quickly, you know. Serena came in before I had to go on court, and we both were kind of laughing about it. She came like straight at me. She was like, Did you read that? The people, they always blow it up. They just try to make something big out of nothing really. You know, it was just things happen. Between us, I mean, there is great relationship basically. I mean, we have fun when we played Arthur Ashe Day. We talk normally.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I think just the whole family... I mean, the girls, they play great tennis. They bring a lot to women's tennis, athleticism, the whole thing. People talk about them. They talk about women's tennis, so in that thing, I think it's a great deal having them on Tour. They're also playing great tennis. Also you can't really say it's boring right now.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, if it's going to happen, it's not too good for us, for me. But, I mean, he said it once. In Key Biscayne it happened. You know, I mean, people are free. I mean, this is a free country, so they basically can say whatever you want. You know, I still am going to try to beat them.

MARTINA HINGIS: No, it wasn't them. It was like him. He always has his comments. You know, it's fun. Because I'm better than them so far, I'm the No. 1, and not them.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I mean, I know -- I saw her. She was watching my match today. Kind of surprised me how she beat Patty. I thought it's going to be a lot harder for her to play her. You know, I guess Arantxa always gets there, where she's supposed to get. Especially on the younger players, she lectures them almost like sometimes. You know, just go into that match, you have to take her serious. But I know I won the last matches quite easily, so that's why I kind of can't go out there and think, "Yeah, it's going to just happen."

MARTINA HINGIS: Not really in the beginning. I was a bit nervous. Also like the long waiting around. I didn't know. We were already ready to go on court. You know, fourth set, fifth set. Didn't happen. I was like trying to get my rhythm. Like I missed a couple shots, so I was a little bit, you know scared - well, not scared, but tried to make the points and the shots. Then the second set, I was getting better.

MARTINA HINGIS: That's fine with me. If they have better matches out there, of course. I don't care where I play. It's just you get a warm-up by just walking down there.

MARTINA HINGIS: Today? I saw her, the tournament director. She wants to take a picture first with the boots.

MARTINA HINGIS: That was in Toronto that I saw them at the ceremony. They both were standing there, and their uniform. Actually, I saw like two or three days before on TV when they had their parade with the horses. I thought they're going to present the most special horse to the queen and all that. I find that interesting. I'm also a passionate rider, so they're going to find their place in my collection.

MARTINA HINGIS: I love it. I like their clothes. I feel comfortable playing with Adidas. I also think it suits me better. I just feel better.

MARTINA HINGIS: It's just the shape of the T-shirt or the skirt. It's different material. The sweat, it takes it off, takes it away. It's younger also.

MARTINA HINGIS: Today I saw him for the first time. I saw Serena, though. I mean, I don't take it that serious, though. It goes back and forth sometimes. But I don't want to become this is the main thing. It's still tennis. That should still be the No. 1 thing people should interest about.

MARTINA HINGIS: That's not what he said after I beat Venus. He said, "Why did you beat my girl so badly?" In one way, he's also responding, you know, that he appreciates or he respects me, the way I am and the way I play tennis. You know, next week I lost to Serena. So it's like they're great competition.

MARTINA HINGIS: I got it, yeah, here from Adidas (laughter).

MARTINA HINGIS: I think they're pretty strong, but still you can't forget about Lindsay, you know, Monica, Mary. There are a few players which play some good tennis out there.

MARTINA HINGIS: She's not that old, I think. She's still No. 2.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, round by round, you know, just we have to try to feel better the court, just the atmosphere by going out there. You know, maybe the last two rounds were kind of easier, so just have to get through the first week, as I always say, you know, then taking on the better opponents like in the tougher matches.

MARTINA HINGIS: It's nice. It's a great area. I mean, especially the resort. The area around I don't know that much about. It's a little bit, you know, boring. But getting out there and playing the tournaments, the more you appreciate being, you know, away. But I love going back there. It's great for me to work out and practice. It's perfect conditions for me.

MARTINA HINGIS: I would hit with her a few times. There's no other girls.

MARTINA HINGIS: I think she improved a lot. I mean, she gained the level she probably had before. It's just sometimes believing in it takes a little while. You have to win certain matches to gain a confidence. I think she's picking up on that.