THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 24, 1998

Martina Hingis

VERONIQUE MARCHAL: Questions for Martina in English first, please.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, in yesterday's match, I was already cramping a little bit at the end when I played Testud. Today it started also a little bit, like the quad strain. I thought, well, it's a tough match, a lot of running. She put some cream on that. I just, you know, on both sides. I didn't want to get into cramping again. I was a little bit actually on my serve. It was hurting a little bit. Like both legs are pretty heavy from yesterday's match. Today was a lot of running.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I guess I needed the trainer because I had a good reason. I mean, I told you why. I needed the trainer. Probably should have done it before already like at 3-2 or 4-3.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I kind of -- you know, I was up a set, 1-0. I broke her, then I lost like six games in a row. I guess I had already different plans in my mind. I was just -- you know, there were some pretty close calls, like on my serve and everything. Such a little miss. Well, I'm playing in the US, so I guess if I'm going to play Williams or anybody else, it's going to be always like close calls. We'll see.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, definitely. The wind was like in the beginning pretty heavy. Well, it was just a tough match. I'm happy to came back -- that I could come back from two match points. Wasn't probably my best match. I was pretty nervous. I never played her before. I only played like five times, her sister, already. But she's going to be a tough opponent in the future.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, Venus did it also. But I kind of was in better shape at the other tournament. Now it's the second tournament already. I'm almost a month here. Well, you just can feel it in your whole body. Something is a little hurting. Actually, I had a week off. But I was in LA doing a commercial. Everybody always goes like, "Do this," put me there. It's a long week.

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, I said, Lindsay or Venus, they can do it, too. Today I wasn't just in best shape. I couldn't hold it for the whole match.

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't know.

MARTINA HINGIS: Yes, Hilton Head against Monica. Actually, you normally have a good memory.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I was aggressive. But I just kind of couldn't put the ball away. She always hit everything back. The ball was always just on the let (indicating). I was like, "No way." She was also pretty aggressive. She served very well. I think she played a great match. But I kind of came back from 5-3, down 40-15. I didn't feel very well in my skin, though.

MARTINA HINGIS: I served pretty well in the beginning, and also at the end. But in the middle of the match, it was not the greatest.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I wasn't thinking actually I could lose this match. I was just pretty relaxed, probably too much after I won the first set and was up 1-0. When she was up 4-1, kind of just let it go, I wanted to concentrate to the third set. Just kind of was -- we kept kind of holding our serves. It was a tough match. She could break me. I never really thought I could lose. But I was down 5-3, 30-15. It wasn't the best points to play.

MARTINA HINGIS: I had so many chances there. I mean, I was up 1-Love. I lost two bad games. Normally I win games like that. If it's like 30-All or I had advantage or just have games, I usually win. But I lost two in a row. I wasn't very happy with myself because I had the chances to make the points, and I didn't do them.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I think they both are pretty tough. But for me, it's hard to say. I wasn't playing my best match. I played much better against Venus because I was in better shape. They both have such a different game. They both are pretty good and dangerous for everybody. Venus has a better serve, hits the balls much harder. Serena is more controlled, better mind, but Venus is very confident.

MARTINA HINGIS: I guess everybody could think that.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, yeah, my legs were hurting. But you also think a little bit about that. I guess it was a good decision.

MARTINA HINGIS: Gamesmanship? That I would call the trainer at 5-4?

MARTINA HINGIS: Me?

MARTINA HINGIS: I lost 6-4, 6-2. A couple players called the trainer, like Venus. We were playing in Sydney and she called the trainer. She was limping on the court, but she still could run pretty well. I guess there are little games, everybody's playing games.

MARTINA HINGIS: Either you play the games on the court, you play dropshot lob, or you play other games.