US OPEN

September 7, 1998

Amanda Coetzer

Q. Seemed like you kind of lost your way for a bit after her injury time-out. What kind of effect did that have at that time?

AMANDA COETZER: I didn't really think I lost anything, concentration or anything. It was a tough game that we played. It was a very long game. You know, just kind of gets to the point where, you know, it really gets hard. Especially because I had all the ads. I rushed a bit here and there. I don't think the fact that she had an injury time-out affected me.

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah, it's very nice. Definitely, she's been a very tough opponent for me my whole career. It's great, especially because it's at a Grand Slam.

AMANDA COETZER: I think, you know, I just never felt like I really went out with a good game plan. I went out playing her, getting a little bit confused and frustrated. I think today, you know, I really set out to -- even if I lose the match, to not get frustrated, just go out with a specific game plan and stick to it.

AMANDA COETZER: Well, I mean, I'm not going to go into every single detail of it.

AMANDA COETZER: No, not specifically. I mean, it's more based on just my own game and trying to play my own game the best I can. That's pretty much it.

AMANDA COETZER: No. I know she's had something, a chronic neck problem. I mean, I don't really -- I try not to pay too much attention to that kind of thing.

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah.

AMANDA COETZER: I think I'm definitely getting there. I've been feeling very good coming into the tournament. Just every match, feeling a little bit better. I feel like it's all coming together. So, yeah, I think it's the best I've played in a long, long time.

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah, she's -- you know, she just hits the ball so well. She hits her groundstrokes really well and hits them deep and hard. She takes control of the point very quickly. I feel like, you know, she's improved her serve a lot over the last couple years. So, yeah, she's tough to beat.

AMANDA COETZER: Tauziat?

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah, I mean, she's a tough opponent. She comes in very well. She's very effective coming into the net. She serves well. She can really make good shots. She really has very good hands, so she can come up with some amazing shots. She's a dangerous player, I think.

AMANDA COETZER: I mean, I guess, yeah. Her results have shown that. So, yeah, I guess I would go with that.

AMANDA COETZER: Well, I think conditioning today was a key factor. It was hot out there. We were out there for a long time. We had some really long points. It was really a test, you know, physically, whether you can stay with it. I think also concentration-wise, because we have such long points, you really have to make an effort to stay with it, be there on the next point after a very long point. Often you play a long point, then you play a couple easy points. I think, especially in the third set, that was something I really had to concentrate on, and really, really make a commitment to do.

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah, very, very much.

AMANDA COETZER: No, I've changed it a little bit, adapted it with my new coach. I think, yeah, it's working really well. I like the way -- I like his approach. Yeah, I think I'm probably not as fit as I can be yet, but I'm really looking forward to the end of the year, giving it some time to really set in.

AMANDA COETZER: I think, yeah, definitely, at times.

AMANDA COETZER: It's definitely one of my favorites. I love coming here. Especially this new stadium has really made a huge difference. I love the way it plays in there, definitely more than the old stadium.

AMANDA COETZER: Why does it play different? I don't know. It's just a feeling. I think because there's a lot of concrete around you, you really hear the ball very well when you make contact. I think just the way the seats are structured right around the court, it's a little bit more of a friendly atmosphere than the old one.

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah, I'm not sure about that. I did practice on the old stadium. I thought that was pretty quick, too. I didn't really notice the quickness today. But, you know, I was playing somebody who plays a lot of topspin. I think it suited my game today, definitely.