FAMILY CIRCLE CUP

April 3, 1994

Natalia Zvereva

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Well, it seems like every time I play her there is very a tight first set and then, like, I am always leading in the game, like whatever, 30-Love or 40-15, and for some reason, I can't finish it. It is just -- it has been quite windy today, so that had been a big factor, and that is what happened. She played very good. She basically outplayed me in the second set, very tough.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Not really. I wouldn't say I have lost my concentration, but it was like she got better and better with every game, and it was only me that could have, you know, done something, and I have tried. I mean, like, I knew I had to be the one that would be more aggressive at the beginning because she was spinning me -- she was trying to top spin a lot, and I knew that I wouldn't do the same thing; I wouldn't just lay back and try to topspin again. So I was trying to be aggressive at the beginning and pretty much in the end did really click at the end of the first set. In the second, as I said, she pretty much outplayed me. I tried to do the same thing. I knew I had to come in anyway if she was going to pass me. I knew I had to come in anyways, so --

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Yeah, 40-15, double game point.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: 45? I am sorry.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: What is 45?

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Oh, 40-15. What I was thinking there? I was just hoping I could close that game so it could be 5-All. It would be a very even situation and just see what happens then, but I couldn't close it out. She won the set.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Not really, no. I was still pretty much into the match, and that first game of the match was really tight too. I think I had some game points there, which I didn't convert. And she was moving me around very well this match, and I had to struggle a little bit. And she uses the wind very good. She uses it very well and she moves the player around, so it was just my job trying to get all those balls back.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Not necessarily. She is a far more, better-- more like going forward than Mary, so that might have been not a very good idea, which I thought it wasn't.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Already three this year, so --

NATALIA ZVEREVA: No, I think it does me good. It is just you know, gets me in better physical shape, for sure. It might be tough mentally. It is tough mentally more than physically, but I think I have done a pretty good job coping with it, so as far as I am concerned I am okay.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: "No. I am so unhappy. I have been to three finals and I won only one." (Player laughing) What kind of a question is that?

NATALIA ZVEREVA: I am in Seventh Heaven right now. Right now, I am. I am flying somewhere there.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: I would not consider a full-time coach.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: I have thought about it for a few years and I don't think it is a good idea for me. I mean, I'd hate to pay somebody to push me. So I just -- I don't like to be pushed by other people; especially doing physical work, whoa, I do that a lot myself, so it is just about enough. I always do push myself to do things, either it is a workout or practice. Matches are easy. Matches are like, well -- but practice, that is what, you know, what is tough, you got too tough it out when you practice.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Well, you know, Gigi played an amazing match yesterday, she did. She -- I had some little hangups, little things, she was just great. I hope she will do the same. It doesn't matter if we win or lose, but it is always a matter of staying together in doubles; staying together and communicating and just be good people to each other and good human beings and good partners.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: No. I can't recall that right now.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: No. -- Yeah. Now that you made me recall it, I recall. I recall. I recall.

NATALIA ZVEREVA: Yeah, I will make sure I won't play tennis for two weeks or so when I get back home.