THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 24, 1997

Martina Hingis

VERONIQUE MARCHAL: Questions for Martina in English.

MARTINA HINGIS: I played her only once in Fed Cup. That was one year ago. There was a tough match there already. I won it easily 6-3, 6-Love, I think, but it was a hard match anyway because she's a very consistent player. As you saw today, she never gives anything away. You have to make the points by yourself. She is in a very good condition. She's a hard player for everybody.

MARTINA HINGIS: Sorry?

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, I wasn't so tired after yesterday's match. Maybe more mentally than physically, actually. It was tougher that way. But today it was just very hot out there, much different conditions. I'm happy I won it. I mean, I have to play another doubles. It's not very easy if you play a player like Elena because she never gives a point away easily. I think it was a very good match.

MARTINA HINGIS: I'm shaking already (laughter). It doesn't make any difference for me. I mean, can I change a little bit in that way? You just become the next No. 1. As the youngest player in the world, that's a great honor for me, too, that I really made it to the top. But I think for me right now, it's easier because I've got so much motivation right now. I've never enjoyed playing tennis as I do right now.

MARTINA HINGIS: Well, everybody's kind of waiting. "When is she going to lose her first match?" I just try not to lose any of them.

MARTINA HINGIS: I think matches like today helps you a lot mentally that you know you're in good shape or you're getting better, that you made a tough match and you won it. That helps your self-confidence to do.

MARTINA HINGIS: I went roller-blading three times already before I started to play this tournament. Just relax. The first match I had to wait so long because it was a rainy day. Just can't do anything because you never know when you're going to go on the court. I missed the Miami Heat game, I missed the Panthers game because it was late. Maybe I go to the cinema tonight. We'll see.

MARTINA HINGIS: I always have music.

MARTINA HINGIS: I mix it up. Alanis Morisette, Celine Dione, sometimes Michael Jackson, No Doubt, Don't speak. Jewel, that's good.

MARTINA HINGIS: Just along the beach, along the street. I make it almost from one to the other side.

MARTINA HINGIS: No, here on the island.

MARTINA HINGIS: It depends where I am. If it's closer to the courts, they do, yeah.

MARTINA HINGIS: It happen a couple times already, yes. Not before the tournament started, but right now I think everybody would recognize me, most of the people which came and watched me.

MARTINA HINGIS: It depends. I can't be all the time here at the courts. It would just get crazy if you would spend all the time on the site. For me it's important to do something else. Sometimes a little faster, but just for fun. My hitting partner is always with me, my mom, she does that, too. Sometimes we make kind of little races, but it's more fun, also a little speed.

MARTINA HINGIS: No, I didn't. The transport is to complicated. I would just give away 10,000 for the transport and I would get a horse in Germany and Switzerland for that money, too. Maybe next year or whatever.

MARTINA HINGIS: No, not yet.

MARTINA HINGIS: I don't think so. Hilton Head where I'm going to play the next tournament, it's a good facility to go. It's just across the street they have some horses there, just can have a ride. But I always have my boots and pants with me.

MARTINA HINGIS: I think today, most of the points, that I won this match today, it was a lot of my willpower today that I went over what I really can play right now. I improved after every set, after every game. I improved a lot, every match.

MARTINA HINGIS: Yeah, it was hard, hot. It's together.

MARTINA HINGIS: In Australia was it hot, too, at the Olympics. That affects both players, who plays better or who is in better shape, that girl is going to win. Today it was me for a change.

MARTINA HINGIS: Not really, no. I like the indoor tournaments. You just kind of hit the balls and make a lot more winners. In very hot conditions, you have to run a lot more. It's not so fun all the time.