US OPEN

September 3, 2001

Jennifer Capriati

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I thought that was kind of how the match was going to go, it was going to be tough like that. I was just hoping it wasn't going to be that tough every game. But I think we were just both feeling it out. You know, it's good to get the first game especially, you know, to hold serve. But it's not real important I think in the women's game like it is in the men's game. You know, I think we were just, first match, trying to get warmed up out there.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It's almost like I play better on those points, you know. Maybe I just handle the pressure well or like the pressure. You know, it makes me play better. It's just playing. For as long as I've been playing, you just get used to it. You automatically condition yourself. You try not to think of, you know, that being breakpoint or whatever, set point. You just try to think of it as just any other point that you would just play.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think that probably has a lot to do with it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Maybe a little overanxious. But, you know, the crowd was just quiet the whole match, and then all of a sudden they start like clapping there. You know, just made me think about it a little bit. So maybe, yeah, I did get a little nervous there. You know, I was on the tougher side, too, the sunny side. You know, it was okay that I lost the serve there. Just try to put it behind me and get the next one.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think she just played unbelievable that match. Especially in the third set, she didn't make any errors at all. She was just making incredible shots. It wasn't that I played badly at all. There's nothing you can do if someone's going to play like that. They just deserve the win. You know, this time I'll be ready for her to play so well, because I know she's definitely capable of it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It's pretty good. I mean, I think she is more consistent. I think she makes more winners on the forehand side.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I stayed up till the fourth set. I just turned off the TV. I was just tired.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I think for the moment, it was the finals, you know, her first finals. She was playing pretty loose. She was just really going for it. You know, I don't think that day I was playing my best tennis. I was just fighting out there. Just kind of retrieving a lot. You know, it was kind of an up-and-down match. You know, I look back. It's like the third set, you know, I was two points away from losing it a couple times. It's like, "How did I just pull it out?" It was just a matter of staying in there and fighting for each point. That's really what happened. I think I just, you know, outlasted her in that.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I think I'm playing pretty well. You know, for the opponents that I've played, I've maintained an even balance of everything, just moving well, being consistent. You know, we'll see now as the second week comes, playing the top players, the higher-ranked players. You know, hopefully my level -- I think there's just a lot of tennis waiting to come out still.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I think it's there right now. I feel pretty confident. I feel like I'm getting better and peaking as each match goes on.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Definitely I'm not afraid to do that. Why not? I mean, I feel pretty comfortable out there. I've been playing some good doubles this week. I mean, it's been working for me. It worked for me the last singles match. You know, I feel pretty confident up there.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I think definitely. You know, she's one of the best doubles players in the world, so I'm learning a lot from that, from playing with her. Yeah, it's just making me feel more comfortable at the net.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Maybe because it was just a struggle and I just didn't put like one first serve in, you know (laughter).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think it's totally different, even more so now, but in a different way. You know, I'm ranked No. 2, seeded No. 2. I mean, they give that attention to the top-ranked players. You know, it's kind of in a different way. Before, I mean, I just wasn't that high ranked. I had good results, but not like the results I have coming into it this year. I think it's definitely higher profile now.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, it's just pretty big. It's hard not to look at it (smiling).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, no. Keep doing what I've been doing.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: In the zone?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It's pretty hard to explain. I mean, it's making, I mean, shots that you don't even know that you're going to make, and you just make. They just go in. It's like nothing can go wrong. I mean, it's a pretty cool feeling. It's like a rush. You know, it's hard to stay in that zone completely. But, you know, just sometimes, it's like (inaudible), like when somebody else is doing it, too. It's like, "Okay, it's not going to last forever."

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: You know, a couple things, you can start getting distracted, something can happen, a bad line call or something like that can sort of like, you know, mess up the rhythm.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think I hit some zone shots today, you know (laughter).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: There was a couple patches there, zone shots.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Sometimes. That can happen sometimes. But really, I mean, you can even feel it like when you start off from the first point. You can keep it till the end of the match. Especially if the other player's in the zone, too, it's like you're both feeding off each other.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Sometimes. Sometimes you do feel that way. I mean, it's kind of a hard feeling to explain. Yeah, I mean, you look at like some other players like Pete or Rafter. I mean, you know, you can tell right away when they're in a zone, like from the first ball. Yeah, the way they walk onto the court.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I'm pretty happy about it. It's been a while since I made it past the fourth round here at The Open especially. You know, I'm happy about it. I'm just really eager to get farther, you know, just try to really do well here.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, it's different because, well, Tauziat, I've played her so many times. I mean, I know her game, but you get no rhythm against her. In another way, you know, you get more of a target because, you know, she's coming to net. Just pick your shots, you just try to hit them. It's easier, sometimes points are short. Mauresmo, it's like baseline rallies. You've got to be more consistent. It's more work. But then I get more rhythm. I mean, both are tough, equally tough.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, it doesn't matter to me. Whoever.