WIMBLEDON

June 24, 2003

Jennifer Capriati

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Thanks. Yeah, that's what I wanted to do, is just come out and start strong. I knew she was kind of a tough opponent, she could be dangerous. So first time I played her. I just came out swinging, playing my game. The key was in the second set to really not lose concentration and let her back in the match. I'm trying to do that now, to stay on top and stay focused, even if I've won the first set easily, just kind of pretend that, you know, the match is starting from that point now. Because usually it is, you know, after the first set. You give the opponent a chance to really get into it and warm up, so...

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think I am. I think physically I am. Mentally I just feel confident and pretty motivated, and I feel like I'm playing well on the grass. So overall, I feel pretty good about my game, yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, not really. I've had a chance -- I played a tournament last week, and I've had a chance to really get used to it and practice on it for a while. So I feel pretty comfortable on the grass right now.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I have . In practice. I guess when I'm moving well and my timing is on, it just makes my timing better when I'm moving well, and I feel loose, relaxed, just kind of really fresh out there. I notice it, you know, in my weapons. I feel like the forehand side is a weapon. You know, it was really on today.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, thanks.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I hope so. That will be a key. If I can just go out there and just kind of just swing away and just concentrate on my game and not get distracted, you know, I think I should be able to keep it up. But just kind of match by match keep focused.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I think so. I think it's just getting better and better, and I'm getting more confidence in that. I think it just kind of goes with the rest of my game, too. I think maybe that could be the difference of me being, you know, where I am now and where I could be, or back to being really at the top. I'll just keep working on it and getting more and more confident. That's it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Just practice it a lot basically.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Everything. I mean, I'm not going to go into it and really give my practice strategies away. But, yeah, me and my coach work on it, different ways.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I can't (smiling).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: You know, I haven't won a title but I still have played some pretty good tournaments. I mean, I still made last year a couple times the semifinals of a Grand Slam, the French, a lot of tournaments still making the finals. Yeah, I mean, compared to my results before, it seems like it's so bad that I haven't won a tournament. But, you know, just had bad luck, I guess.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Sure, yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I think so (smiling). But, I mean, I'm not going to put too much expectation or pressure on myself. You know, just basically go out there and try to perform to the way I know I can. You know, hopefully do that and just enjoy myself out there, too.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Absolutely.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I still feel like I'm in the game, you know, 100%. I haven't lost any of my ability or my motivation. I was plagued a little bit by some injuries, you know. Obviously my surgery and everything was a setback a little bit. And, you know, I had a great run the last two years. I mean, winning three Grand Slams, coming closer to really the Williams more than anybody. You know, everyone else is just kind of behind. And now just because, you know, I haven't kept up quite the momentum, I mean, it's now given other people a chance to do it. Nobody, I think, can really keep up that kind of momentum. I mean, we see even the Williams sisters now. Everyone has a good run, you know, once in a while. You know, then they kind of get set back and they'll have it again. Can't elaborate more.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Thanks (smiling).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I think the English people have really been behind me and supported me well here. I've always felt that.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It's good. I mean, at that point you're really trying to block out the crowd because you never know when they could be kind of against you. You know, you just have to have that ability to block it out. Because even if they're so much for you, too, it could sort of add a little bit of pressure also in the match. You know, to not miss a shot or something, you know, you don't want to let the crowd down. I think it's just important to just kind of block everything out.