TMS - THE ERICSSON OPEN

March 28, 2001

Jennifer Capriati

Q. Looked like in the tiebreak the last two or three points you will were a little bit more aggressive. Talk about the tiebreak and secondly the extent of her injury.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Really the injury, I wasn't paying any attention to it. I didn't notice anything until maybe towards the end when she was just making some faces, grimacing, things like that. Just like slowing down. I mean, she was doing that from the beginning, I think just slowing down and just trying to play really slow. I don't know, throw off my rhythm a little bit, but I didn't notice anything and just the tiebreaker I just basically didn't want to go into a third set and, you know, just -- really just gave it all I got there and just decided to just go for it. It worked for me.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I wanted to be aggressive but I also just reacted because she just threw it in there, so, yeah, I saw that as an opportunity and I just went for it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, not really. She is a difficult player to play. She has a big serve and, you know, she can just, you know, play shots, rally; then all of a sudden come up with an outright win; just hits the ball hard. So it is just not a lot of rhythm. But I mean, I am up for the challenge especially, you know, we have only really played here. We played one time on clay a long time ago. But this is the only place I have played her. Who knows how it would be like in other places.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It was my foot. I was feeling a little blister come up.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Not a retape. She just had to tape it for the first time because it was starting.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: A little bit. It is just on hard courts and it being hot, yeah, I felt it a little bit in like the previous match. Just the more running I do, the worst it gets. I especially was doing a lot of running.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I remember even last year also they were very behind me and, you know, I mean, I definitely felt the support from them. I think they definitely helped me today and got me pumped up and definitely helped me win today.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't think it is like "Sympathy." It is just more like support and they can just maybe relate to me in some way and just, you know, they'd like to see underdogs and I guess people come back and win and do well and try and -- maybe it helps them in their own lives, so.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. Everyone has gone through their fair share of stuff. It is -- maybe they can relate in that way, yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. Well, I think I was playing so well in the first set and even the first two games and I just, you know, started to get thrown off there because I don't know, you know, just her injury and stuff she was taking more time and just, you know, certain -- the wind picked up there and things like that, so just kind of got out of the rhythm there, I think. It was tough. She also started to play better. She had an injury and she started to play better, though, so I think it was just definitely more difficult in the second set.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I am just very determined. I guess it is because I put a lot of work in off the court and just basically, you know, that is what I am working for. When I am out there I am not going to like let it go. I am not going to waste it on the work I have been doing, so that is just what I have in my mind. It is just a real like belief in myself.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Basically just, I don't know, I am living proof that just when you think it is like the worst ever, it is not the worst. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel and that you are in control of everything, just believe in yourself, yeah, you make or break yourself.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I mean, I think that that is just my level of fitness there that you know, that is what I have been working on. Of course, anybody I think would get tired at the end of those long points, but really the difference is just being able to bounce back and play the next point. So I mean, it is just -- I enjoy it. I thrive on those kind of points.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, yeah, it just proves to myself that it does work and just, you know, just to keep going. It pays there. Really it is just kind of a natural thing. That is what being in shape is, it is just automatic.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: First time around. Which first time around?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. Well, I have like a trainer, a couple of trainers actually and I just -- they know their stuff and I just do what they tell me to do and it consists of a lot of different things the way it is running. All that kind of stuff. Basically I also think, you know, I have gotten stronger just because I have grown and I am just, you know, not like this little, you know, baby-body anymore. Just I am a lot stronger.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think in that match I was just really focused and I was just in good shape and maybe other times that I have played her I haven't quite been in that shape. I just was able to serve well and return well. So I think those are the key things, but we will just wait to see how she does.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yes. It was a close match. I think she played well that match. I think she was definitely eager to get a revenge there. So I think she played really well in that match. It was close.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I haven't played her in a match but I do practice with her a lot and I think she just is a powerful baseliner and she moves well. So it is tough to say. I have never played her, but from what I have seen her play in other matches -- I saw her beat Lindsay in Chase and she is just -- I think she is a strong girl that can move around the court.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. It is the same one still. It is just principles.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I was just, you know, the first time I beat her in a Grand Slam and I think, you know, I was really close to losing that match and just for me to come out the winner in that match I was like, wow, I couldn't believe it and I thought if I could beat her then I could beat Lindsay. If could I beat Lindsay than I could beat Martina.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, just myself.