TELECOM ITALIA MASTERS

May 14, 2003

Jennifer Capriati

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Absolutely, especially against someone who you think you're going to have a tough match against and who's been playing well. Yeah, to get the first match out of the way in a new tournament, new atmosphere, new court...It's always a little different everywhere you go. I think I played pretty well.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: In this match?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think I served pretty well. I didn't give up too many double-faults. Also, I was aggressive when I needed to be, especially on the forehand. I just was consistent enough and basically just won the last point so...

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think I have a few matches before that I need to concentrate on first.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I played really well, you know . First red clay tournament, first few matches, I think I played really well. Everything, you know, was going as I planned. The last match even against Kim I played well - maybe not as good as I had been the previous matches, but definitely it was a good experience for me to start off that way and get some confidence on the clay.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think she's just playing with a lot more confidence these days, and she's definitely more consistent, not as erratic as she used to be. She's definitely improved there. You know, she's always been quick, getting a lot of balls back. Maybe now she seems like even a bigger wall sometimes so...

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't think anything can match that type of heat that's like in Australia. Even though it's, like, not very humid, it's just -- I mean, you just can't even breathe in that kind of heat. Here is more like it's hot, but it's not that hot, you know (smiling). You can get used to it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think we have a good relationship. He gives me my space when I need it and he's a good support. He's just there to help me, and that's it. You know, if it's not working out -- I mean, he's there for me, so he's there to help me. He's not someone who's, you know, trying to hurt me. I have no reason to be in conflict with him.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Probably the food is good here (smiling), the shopping. I love, you know, just the buildings, the way everything -- the architecture, they're so old and have so much history. Very different. It's a beautiful city. The way they drive here (smiling)...

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I'd have to agree with that because the more time that kind of elapses, you know, you get kind of bored with just training all the time. And, you know, you're playing to compete, you're practicing to compete. That's where the real drive comes and, you know, the motivation. That's what we live for. So I look forward to this time because it's maybe all together, but it's one after the other and you have a real sense of purpose.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think plenty will come later in the matches in the week. It's enough. I mean, there is still quite a good enough crowd. To me, I am just trying to stay focused on the match and it doesn't matter how many people are there.