U.S. OPEN

September 2, 1995

Zina Garrison

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: No, I mean, that is just going to give me confidence beating a player in the top 10, so, but I was really, you know, I really wanted to win this match because sometimes you beat a top player; you come; you don't play as well, so I really tried to really focus. I played well in the first set, second set gave up an opportunity in the first game, and, you know, I gutsed it out at the end.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: I mean, I would sure Love it to be. But I am just taking one match at a time. I am enjoying the moment. I mean, it has been great, the people are really been behind me. And, you know, I am just enjoying it while I am out there. I am having a great time. It is really nice to like feel the crowd really behind you, and so I guess they kind of think it is my tournament as well, so --

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: I don't understand.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: I probably would just be the average person.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: I think it was put into peoples' mind there so I think they wanted to come out and watch me play, but I have been really fortunate enough when I have come to New York, people have always stuck behind me and enjoyed my tennis, so I think, you know, it is a little bit of both, but I think overall they have always enjoyed what I have done.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: Well, I have beaten Conchita once so I believe that I can beat her again. I have the game to. I mean, she has been playing well, but I think right now I am playing well. I will be looking forward to playing her if I play her. You never know.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: I am really excited for Chanda. I think she is playing great. I told her a couple of months ago, I mean, I believe she can be in the top 10. She is a great player. She has all that it takes. It is just a matter of working for it. And I think her coach has done a good job with her. I think she is coming into her own.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: I mean, she is going to play her. By no means, I don't think anyone can take that match like it is a joke or something. Because of the fact that Chanda has been beating some top players; she is getting confidence; she is believing that she should be on the court, whoever it is. She hits such a big ball. Her forehand is a weapon and to be a great player you have to have a weapon. She does have the shots to be a great player.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: Yeah, I was like --

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: Yeah, I mean, so many of them come up to me and go, oh, really glad you are going to stay around for a while. Even people, I mean, you know, it is just like my brother said to me when I called him and told him that I wasn't retiring, "I knew it was a matter of time," so it is like, I don't know, people -- I guess until you do it, you know, they don't really believe you, but I have been really shocked with the players because they have been like all saying, you know, they are really happy that I am not.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: Angel keeps me calm. He is like really mellow and I am like, you know, kind of really emotional, but he is just basically been telling me to just stay in my own, just taking one match at a time, just playing it and enjoying it.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: Everyone that I have gone through touched my career; all of the coaches that I have had, they are one part within me. I think myself, just getting older and wiser, I mean, has had a lot to do with it. Just me maturing and wanting to play, so, I think that is kind of where I am now.

ZINA GARRISON JACKSON: Yeah, I mean, basically, being the role model being a black American and playing tennis, naturally is a natural role model, but he always basically was the one that really inspired me to get the backspin backhands when I used to hit topspin all the time, but there were things that I did that he would just kind of go by and help me.

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