WIMBLEDON

July 2, 2002

Jennifer Capriati

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It's hard to say. In a way, I'm happy about it. I mean, it's tough to always come back after a rain delay, especially if it takes a day, and to start off like that. You have to be really ready to come out right from the first ball. But it probably was helpful because, I mean, the player today and the player yesterday was completely different. I mean, in that second set, she was playing pretty unbelievable. You know, it would have been very tough to beat her, I think, if we would have kept playing. I really came out strong today.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: The only thing wrong with it was that she was playing some pretty great shots and some pretty good tennis - besides the weather.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I know they never start out the matches first. There's always a match before. I mean, I was a little disappointed to see a whole entire men's match be scheduled on before me. I mean, I'm just happy that, you know, things turned out the way they did.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I'm not really going to comment on it. It's something of the past. All I'm going to say is that it's nice to see him doing well.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I think I'm playing pretty well at the moment. It's tough to kind of see where you're at. Especially, you know, with these conditions, you know, the tennis can get a little bit ugly. You're not really -- I mean, the first week, I thought I was really playing well. I mean, the weather was great, conditions were great. So it's tough to really see where you're at when it gets like this, but I still have one more match tomorrow, I think I play tomorrow, before I would meet whoever. If I can just keep playing the way I'm playing - consistent and being aggressive at the right time - I think I'm feeling more comfortable on the grass. You know, just as you really get used to the grass, the tournament's over. I think I'm close to that point. I'm serving well. I keep firing my shots, even when I'm under pressure. Today was a good test for me to really see, you know, how I was playing - especially under pressure.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Naturally, I don't think I'll ever be like that. But I still think I have pretty good instinct up there, and shy definitely work on it more. And I have been working on it more. I think I did better in the first week, you know, against players where maybe it's an easier match, and that's the time to work on it, to get some confidence. So I definitely proved to myself that I can do that. But on a really big point, I would stay back at the baseline. I definitely think I can mix it up.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Gosh, they're all pretty important. My sleep is the most important thing. If I'm not rested, I definitely can get a bit cranky. I mean, it all goes hand-in-hand. But definitely the sleep part. And physically, making sure that I'm feeling well physically, you know, as far as injuries or tightness or fatigue in the muscles. I mean, that's very important for me.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, I didn't hear anything about that. Random off-site?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, it's news to me. I don't know. I mean, I think that's a bit of an invasion. You know, so, I don't know. Something to think about. I don't know if they're really going to go through with that or not. I guess we'll have to see.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I just don't think they have any right to kind of see what's going on inside your body, whatever, even if you're not doing anything. It's just I've never heard of anything to be concerned about anyways, if anyone for steroids are getting tested for that or getting caught with that. I don't see really what the point would be.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. You mean, like in all sports?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I have no idea.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, the guys is another story.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean maybe, but it's never happened. Maybe if there is a real question or someone was in question, then I could see the point. But until then, no, I don't think that's something you have to get started, you know, kind of dive into that. It's a whole other issue.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't worry about my image. I'm just myself, and I try to be myself, because what I've learned is no matter how you try to be, people of the press and everyone else is going to, you know, interpret it the way they want anyways, regardless - no matter what you say or what you do. I've learned just to be myself. I mean, what's going to be written, what's going to be thought is going to be thought anyways, so... My image is just to try to be myself.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Sure. I mean, maybe there's even a possibility I'll be on the players council.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, that's a possibility. I mean, it depends on how much time it would take. It's very difficult. I'm sure it can't be that bad. You know, constantly I think players are getting involved more and more, and the tour is more interested in what the players think.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, there's so many things. I mean, first, I don't really even know the dynamics of how everything works, so I'd have to get informed and I'd have to get taught about all that, and then just see, put my two cents in.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, we talk about it. But it's important -- it's not enough just one voice, even if it was just me or let's say Venus, it's not enough to really do something or make changes. You know, all the players got to stick together and really say, "We want it this way or that way," then things will get done. Because, without players, there's no tour, so... You know, that's definitely an interesting topic to think about. We'll see. You know, really right now I want to focus on playing and the tournaments coming up, and we'll see closer to maybe when the season ends.