ACURA CLASSIC

August 16, 1998

Lindsay Davenport

Q. Good match today.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, it was a lot of different conditions than what I have been used to, I think the last three matches I have been playing at night. In the daytime - it was a little bit windier actually and a little bit the ball travels a little bit faster, I thought. I thought some of my balls were maybe sailing in the beginning, but I really kind of just clicked it on, I guess. And, all of a sudden I was reading her shots better. I was hitting the ball deeper and I just felt like they were all going in for a while there.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, kind of. I was up that break, 4-2 in the first; then I lost four games in a row or whatever, three games, five games in a row. And I thought she started to pick her up her game a little bit more and not make any errors. But I felt like if I kept attacking the ball and was in position, I'd have a good chance. She gets so many balls back and kind of doesn't make too many errors at times.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, I thought I served well. My serves really, really almost won me the last three tournaments, I think, because I have been able to hold serve and not struggle too much on too many service games. Therefore, you have more energy and you can be a little bit more relaxed when you are returning. So I am really happy with the way that has come along. Against Seles, against Hingis, you have to serve well because they return well.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think actually not until the second set was over, you are never really sure; especially when I was up in the first set and was up a break, I wanted to make sure I really got that second set in; not get broken back like I did in the first. Of course getting up the first break in the third helped, only getting broken once, I think, in the whole match was really the key and just staying on top of her at the end.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I am not playing Montreal. I am supposed to play New Haven the week after, but everyone has been saying (inaudible) -- you can't really control when your best tennis comes out and with three wins in a row, it is just great. I mean, it is so exciting and it means a lot to me, especially in California. I am going to take it easy this week. Work out a lot; probably not hit as many balls; get ready for the US Open; play a few matches hopefully in New Haven and get used to the heat. That is the most important thing, the humidity on the east coast; just hope that my game is still there in a couple of weeks.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, I mean, last fall I felt pretty good; won a few tournaments in a row. Really on the hard court it is a little bit more grueling than indoors, you have to run down some more balls because it is slower. I just feel so calm and in control out there on the court. I don't feel ever rushed. I don't feel -- I am not getting upset like I used to get. And I just feel very -- I think that is just confidence, very at ease and just knowing that I can do it and it doesn't matter.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: They were definitely on my side today. A lot of times they cheer for the underdog always and they probably wanted to see maybe upsetting the No. 1. But it was great when I won the second set. I think a lot of them stood up and was really applauding. That made me feel really good. They wanted to see more tennis and it is great. I mean, you live -- this is why we practice so hard, to get in a moment like this, win or lose, when the crowd is in it and an exciting match, you always have to be happy to be a part of it.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, I mean, we get along great. Before the match we were in the same waiting room for 20 minutes just talking about other stuff. We kid each other on the court and stuff like that, but I mean, she is, to me, I think a great role model and a tremendous player and we like joking with each other, but it is nothing serious.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Maybe, I mean, I got up the early break and I wanted to keep it going and I just wasn't able to do that. I guess I did get broken twice there to lose the set, so, you know, I think I was able to turn it around early in the second set and get my confidence back by holding serve; then breaking her fairly early and just winning some more points and I think that is just from winning a lot of matches this year and last couple of weeks. And just knowing that you are never out of a match. Just to hang in there.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: (Laughter) I know. I think everyone thought I had won it before I won it (Inaudible.) Lob went over my head and bounced back in the court. It is great. I mean, getting burned on drop shots used to be a big problem of mine the last year or six years of my career, and the last couple of days I have been really able to get to them. And, you know, it is great to win some matches on some winners.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Maybe. I feel like I was a little bit faster and sometimes being faster is also just realizing what is going on the court; where the ball might go. But, you know, I didn't feel I wasn't tired at all. Fairly quick three-set match, but I felt like I was in the points trying to run some balls down, but trying to also be aggressive and my body held up for the last three weeks playing a ton of matches.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, she served well. I think people always underestimated her serve. She might not hit it 110, but she places it where she wants it to go. She was going for her second serve, I think, a little bit more today because she knew I was going to maybe try and take advantage of that. You can't really read where her serve is going. She hits everyone pretty good and, you know, I have never thought her serve was, you know, big as a weapon as people right - I mean, as big a liability as people write about it.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Probably not. I mean, I just -- even with the doubles, the first two weeks was great. To win two tournaments in a row, back-to-back singles and doubles, and to be able to really keep my concentration and my focus and really, you know, not get tired and not get cranky and just stay calm out there was, you know, whether you win or lose, it was just -- I thought I handled this whole situation great and, you know, I just feel really confident and calm.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, I kept thinking because we are having this party at my sister's house, she lives like two hours away from here. I kept thinking so glad I am not playing doubles because the whole family has to leave. It is great to be out there on a Sunday, you know, it is great to be in the finals. To get to the finals, that means you played well all week regardless of what the scores were and you are there and I was really happy. My whole family has been here all week. I have had just a great time with them, hanging out with them at night and now we all get to go and have fun the rest of the day.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, I think I have beaten just about -- just about; not every one, but all the top players the last couple of weeks and when I won Stanford, to be Graf and Williams was really exciting. Last week to beat Monica for the first time in San Diego - even to play Pierce, she was hurt, I can't do anything about that. But, here again, to beat the No. 1 player in the world, where I used to come and watch as a little girl and to win three in a row, I mean, this is a great just ending for the whole month.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, it never hurts a player. She got a default one round. She didn't have to play too long yesterday either. I did that the last two weeks. For me, it was great because I played about 20 matches in two weeks and I didn't want to play Monday or Tuesday of this week. But I never think that will hurt unless you are playing just too much.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Not really. I think my serve has just been really relaxed and been going in. First set I served a lot of doubles faults. I think -- I knew she was going to try and attack. I was a bit nervous on my second serve, but once I started holding serve again, I relaxed a bit and got my second serves in and hit them a little bit better. No, I was going for them against her. It was a little bit more windy today, so you had to be a little bit more careful with your top. Like I said, I think my serve really held up the last few weeks.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I mean, I guess yes because she is losing more, but when you go out there, you are not thinking: Oh, this is going to be, easy she is beatable. You just think she is No. 1. She is going to play tough, and, you know you are going to have to play well to win that match no matter what surface it is, where it is, you know, I never -- I think Martina Hingis is a great player and every time I played her you know you have to play well.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, No. 1 is 52 weeks of the player's result. I have had three great weeks, but Martina has had about 40 greater weeks than I have had. I feel like I am playing great tennis. I feel like I can beat anybody now, but the rankings are a reflection of a whole year's work. Maybe I will start in July and maybe, you know, pick it up now for the next six months I will be No. 1, I don't know.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: This is the only car I have ever won in my whole career.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Gosh, I am going to keep it. It has not even come out yet. They are not releasing it until September the guy said, so, you know, it is great -- I mean, I have always wanted to win. Last year -- I mean, Monica got the care, I was so bummed because I wanted it, but I don't know, I can't wait to see it and bring it home. I don't know when I can.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It is just amazing, phenomenal how -- I mean, she is such a role model to players like myself and every player who plays who, you know, this game is so selfish and this game is so, you know, just one-dimensional and to give up, you know, everything to just help these kids that have cancer and to do everything she can for them, I have always donated a lot of money all throughout the year and, you know, those are items I really wanted to get so I thought this is great. Then I heard my mom bought another item later that night. We talk about the charity we want to give to and that is the No. 1 charity I always want to give to. I am trying to go up there in December to go to Aspen to her new ranch and see the kids.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I have never done it. I am a little bit sensitive -- certain things upset me a lot. One of my best friends works in a hospital for kids. She is going to take me up there with Andrea the other counselors. I am going to have another good time. Monica went and she told me it was the best thing she ever did.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I mean, I think it is harder to be 1. What Pete Sampras has done for the last six years is probably the hardest thing a player ever has to do. It is tough to always stay up there and to always be -- I am guessing, to always be motivated to win every tournament, but it is fun now. I mean, it is closes the gap, but it is still a little bit ways away. For me, the chase is there, but I am not playing and winning these tournaments to become No. 1. I am playing these tournaments to win these tournaments. I am going to play the US Open to win my first Grand Slam not to possibly be 1, but, you know, you kind of have to see when you get there.