US OPEN

August 26, 1997

Lindsay Davenport

Q. Lindsay, things started so well for you in the first set, then you seemed to drift a little in the second, forced into a tiebreak. What happened?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think, you know, I got broken early in the second set. I definitely lost my concentration in that game. I was up 40-15, didn't really close it out. You know, I think that was -- it what got me started down. She started serving better in the second set. I was able to break back. I served for it at 5-4, should have put it away there. She came back that game. I played a great tiebreaker to close it out.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think she was coming in a lot. I passed her a lot of times, which is sometimes tough to do when it gets really close. I was able to hit a lot of passing shots and serve well. I was able to close it out easily, luckily.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, I think serving 6-5, 30-Love, I lose four straight points, I think a lot of times in the past I would have gotten really upset, you know, maybe not have thought too clearly in the tiebreak. But, you know, I was able to keep my composure, stay really calm, start attacking her again. Just like I said, it was good for me. I hit a lot of good passing shots in the tiebreak, was able to come up with the big shots at the right time.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Definitely. I think that comes with confidence maybe. Maybe if I didn't come in winning a lot of matches, maybe you don't really feel like going for it when it's close, maybe you'd rather just get the ball in. I don't know. I think it's mainly how you feel about your own play.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I have a fair bit. I'm feeling pretty good. You know, this is the first Grand Slam I'm going to try not to look at the draw. Hopefully, you know. I got a little caught up with myself at Wimbledon, a lot of seeds were out. But I'm feeling very confident. I think I'm striking the ball really well. I have a really good hardcourt record this year. I'm thinking about that before I go on. I know I'm one of the best players on hardcourts. I just am going to show people here.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think I can win.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think this is the most ready that I've been to perform well at a Grand Slam, I think physically and mentally. I played a lot of matches this summer. I'm feeling good. You know, it's not to say I'm going to win it, that I believe I'm the favorite, by no question. I believe if I play well, I can win.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, I think there's a lot of good parts. I think traveling, competing, meeting a lot of people, playing in front of a crowd.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: That's what everyone says. Losing.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I don't think so. I was very nervous coming into this match. Even though she needed a wildcard, I know what a great player she's been over the last ten or so years, what great tennis she can play. So I was very nervous. I expected a very tough match. I think I had a tough match, but I was able to pull it out.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think it's everything. I don't want to sound cocky like I think I'm going to win the tournament. I don't mean that with "confidence." I think I believe in myself a lot more. I believe winning that match against Hingis obviously was a huge match for me this summer. You know, playing Monica, we played a great match. I lost 6-4 in the third, but it was a good match. In Atlanta last week, being able to win there again, same site where we played the Olympics, not lose a set, was very exciting also.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Last year I lost in the Round of 16 to Linda Wild who played an unbelievable match. I didn't fight her off very well. I think this year I have a few more shots, a few more ways to maybe combat when someone is playing very well, I hope. I think I'm a little bit in better shape than last year. I feel a little stronger. Maybe all of that combined will help me this year. You never know, though. Grand Slams are so tough. You know, you never know who you play, who's playing well at that time.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Not really. I think all of our rise was unique and different in their own ways. I came very quietly, little fanfare, playing qualifying. I was able to work my way up relatively fast actually after I turned pro to get into the Top 10. But I'm very happy right now. No one bothers me too much. I'm able to walk around, watch matches at tournaments. I like that. It just seems like definitely all of them are so unique in their own way. The public absolutely loves those three probably the most. I'm playing good tennis. That's what I'm concentrating on. Like I said, everything else is relatively easy probably compared to everything they have to deal with.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Everything I've ever had to do with the USTA has been positive. They've helped me since I've been 11. Lynne Rolley, who has been a major influence in my life as well as my tennis, and they've been great to me. For me, you know, everything was perfect. They were pushy, but stayed back sometimes and let me go to school, let me do all of that. Whenever I needed to go to Florida and needed a coach, they always opened the doors. You know, I think it's a tough job. I think they can maybe go in a better direction. I'm not a big fan of the national team. I don't think there's really fair, a lot of players in the States. I think they try hard. They've always done great things with me.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think there can be. First of all, I don't think it's fair to have a national team at your own nationals. You have certain players, they're all Americans, at the nationals. It doesn't really make sense there. It does seem sometimes politics get in the way. I think they try pretty hard to make every group happy, try to help as many players as they can.