WIMBLEDON

June 25, 2005

Jill Craybas

THE MODERATOR: Jill Craybas. Who would like to ask the first question.

JILL CRAYBAS: Thank you.

JILL CRAYBAS: It feels great. I'm not sure if it's hit me yet, but it feels really good, yeah.

JILL CRAYBAS: No. I mean, I felt that way in the past a little bit but today actually I felt calm during the entire match, even -- I mean, even at close points, that I felt like maybe I could have stepped up a little bit more. But I pretty much felt calm and confident the whole time.

JILL CRAYBAS: No, I mean, I was just trying to focus on what I needed to do. I wasn't trying to figure out her strategy. I mean, I did notice, obviously, that a couple serves were slower.

JILL CRAYBAS: But, I mean, I can only guess. I mean, maybe because she was missing a few first serves earlier in the match. But I was just trying to focus on what I was doing.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah.

JILL CRAYBAS: I didn't, no. Again, I was just trying to like stay within myself and just focus on what I needed to do, and really just, you know, stay focused on my game.

JILL CRAYBAS: The atmosphere was actually great out there. I know in the beginning there weren't many people out there. But I think once people knew our court had been changed, as you saw, the stands were completely full. It was a great atmosphere. As far as the waiting around, I mean, we're used to that, just from tournaments like every week, we're used to waiting around. Sometimes we're just -- we go on right away. With the rain delays here, we're kind of used to that.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah, I mean, I think every year it's getting -- I mean the depth of women's tennis is getting stronger and stronger. You see it every day. There aren't many matches anymore where girls are winning 1 and 1, 1 and 0. It's close all the time. I think the depth of women's game has gotten really strong.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah, I thought they had missed a few calls on her serve. I thought a few of them were out. I was just -- we weren't arguing, I was just discussing, because I thought that particular serve that happened, I thought it was a little bit long. She was explaining to me that the machine didn't go off. She can't overrule the machine. Then I asked her, Even if you see it long? And she said yeah, she couldn't overrule the machine. The machine didn't go off, so...

JILL CRAYBAS: Uhm, I mean, not -- I mean, the win, the win is absolutely fantastic. But it means more to me because of what I've been working on in my game for the last six or seven months. More, I mean more for winning myself, more mentally. I was able to come through today, more mentally -- I mean, mentally just what I've been working on, on court with my coach, it just -- that means a lot to me because I know what I did and that's what I was supposed to do on the court. I mean, not supposed to, but that's what -- that's what -- it was a sense of accomplishment for me, for what we've been working on.

JILL CRAYBAS: Basically, more believing in yourself and trusting yourself, and, you know, going after your shots and not backing down and just really, really trusting yourself and going after each particular shot no matter what situation you're in.

JILL CRAYBAS: I'd like to think it's just the beginning (smiling).

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah.

JILL CRAYBAS: If it's okay, I'd rather just talk about how I've changed.

JILL CRAYBAS: Because she, obviously, does her own thing. I mean, it's not -- I don't know really what she's up to off the court, on the court, because I'm just trying to focus on myself and what I need to do. But I think I'm a really different player from when I played her two years ago in Wimbledon and Miami last year. Uhm, and again, it goes back to what I said before about just, you know, believing that you belong on the court. And the two previous meetings when I played her, I don't think I believed that I could actually win the match, no matter how well I was playing. Because even if you're playing great, if you don't believe it, then it's usually doesn't happen. That's changed a lot for me.

JILL CRAYBAS: I was a little -- I was okay with it. I mean, I wanted to play on Centre Court. I played her two years ago on Centre Court, so I was able to play then. But Centre Court is just, you know, that's what everyone dreams of, is playing Wimbledon Centre Court. So -- but I was okay with that. I just wanted to play.

JILL CRAYBAS: I did, actually. I think one thing I had going for me is that I love playing tiebreakers (laughing). I do, I just really love it. I don't know why. So I was really excited when it got to a tiebreaker. But, again, usually at that point I was serving at 5-4, and I usually, when I'm serving, I can feel my hands shaking as I'm serving. But for some reason, I felt great. I just felt really calm and ready for each point.

JILL CRAYBAS: Where do we work out, is that what you said?

JILL CRAYBAS: His name is Raj Choudry (phonetic), is his last name. We actually work out in California in Newport Beach.

JILL CRAYBAS: Oh, at the Newport Beach Tennis Club. And we just -- yeah, we train there mostly all the year when we're home. I mean, we're not home very often. But when we're there, that's where we train. And we've just -- we've been working together for probably six and a half years now, and it's just been great. And he -- when I first met him, I was ready to stop playing because I just wasn't enjoying myself anymore. And then he came along and he really, you know, brought fun back into the game for me and made me enjoy myself more and appreciate the game more. He's just been a huge asset to my tennis and my personal life.

JILL CRAYBAS: (Laughing).

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah, it's the first year Wimbledon doesn't fall on my birthday (smiling). Yeah, I haven't thought about Venus yet, actually. I know I play her next.

JILL CRAYBAS: I'm just trying to savor the moment right now.

JILL CRAYBAS: Previously, when I played her, when I saw her across the court, I was probably thinking to myself, "Oh, my God, I'm playing the No. 1 player in the world." It was kind of a shock to me because I had never played her before, the first time. Last year in Miami it was a little bit better, but still wasn't feeling confident that I could win the match. And today, as soon as I walked on the court, I just felt like we were equals. And I think that made a big difference to me.

JILL CRAYBAS: I think the same way, just because I've gotten to a different place for myself, as far as mentally where I am and as far as how I view my tennis now.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah, I went to the University of Florida. I graduated, but I was still there training. And he came, he came in the year - I can't remember what year it was - but he came and he was assistant coach at Florida. I didn't play for him but I was still training.

JILL CRAYBAS: My brothers lived there for a while, and I like California a lot better than Florida. So my brother and I decided to buy a house together and we live together now.

JILL CRAYBAS: In Huntington Beach.

JILL CRAYBAS: At the Newport Plaza?

JILL CRAYBAS: At the club?

JILL CRAYBAS: Oh, no, I'm not recognized. No.

JILL CRAYBAS: Pretty much work with me and my coach. He majored in psychology, so... (smiling).

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah, I hit with Corina. I've hit with Corina before. There's a couple players at the Home Depot Center up in Carson, and I hit up there a lot, too, with a lot of different players.

JILL CRAYBAS: My coach was here, yeah. My sister and her husband live here.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah. My sister married an English gentleman and they've been living here for I think two and a half years now. They come every year.

JILL CRAYBAS: Jody.

JILL CRAYBAS: I'm trying to think who would be the highest. I've beaten Dementieva and Zvonareva and Suarez.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah. I think it's just a great accomplishment for myself, I think, just because of all the work that my coach and I have been through, you know, just trying to -- just him trying to get through to me how much I need to trust myself again. And I think -- I mean, the outward praise is great, but I think more what's -- the accomplishment what we've achieved.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah. Maybe more girls will go to school now (laughing).

JILL CRAYBAS: My degree?

JILL CRAYBAS: In telecommunications.

JILL CRAYBAS: Oh, '96.

JILL CRAYBAS: Scott Davis is here, too. I've hit with him, too. And Rick Leach sometimes hits there were Brian MacPhie. And Justin Gimelstob has hit there before. There's a lot of good players.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah, yeah.

JILL CRAYBAS: I thought about turning pro since I was in high school, yeah. But I still decided to go to school.

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah, yeah. I can't remember why I chose to. I mean, I always wanted to go to school, and then once I was in school, I wanted to finish.

JILL CRAYBAS: Two years ago.

JILL CRAYBAS: I haven't talked to them yet, but I do have like 10 messages on my phone right now that I haven't looked at.

JILL CRAYBAS: I would have probably wanted it to be June really fast (laughing).

JILL CRAYBAS: Yeah, well... (laughing). I don't get back too often, yeah. But I'm from Rhode Island, for those people that don't know. I used to go back for Christmas every year, and then sometimes I go back during the US Open because it's only a two and a half hour drive, but I haven't gone back in a couple years now because my family now flies out to California for Christmas.

JILL CRAYBAS: Lincoln School in Providence.

JILL CRAYBAS: Uh-hmm.