AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 27, 2001

Jennifer Capriati

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: State of disbelief, so not quite yet. Haven't really had a chance to just have a quiet moment and just think about it. I still actually -- I mean, I just can't believe it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Back then, did I --.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: You know, I think I was just too young to really think about it like that. You know, then I just played every match, you know, took it match by match, and that was it. The only time I really thought about it was just in that semifinal against Monica in The Open that I actually thought, "Wow, I could win a Grand Slam." You know, after that, I didn't have more opportunities.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It was a winner down the line, but it was just the slowest winner (laughter). It just kept, you know, going. I mean, as soon as I saw that, you know, it was clean, I had done it, the reality just hit me then that, you know, "Oh, my God." I just jumped for joy. I mean, that was it. I couldn't believe it just really happened.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I tried not to think about that because, you know, that could make that happen. I knew maybe I just wasn't playing the same. You know, I think because the way she started to play a little bit different, you know, she tried to start hitting the ball deeper, maybe a little bit higher, with more spin. You know, it wasn't how short the ball is to be able to come and hit them hard anyway. That was a strategy on her part. Maybe I got a little bit tired from those points. She was hitting deeper and more to the lines. But just as soon as I would see an opportunity, she couldn't hit them all deep, so any short ball I could get, I tried to get on the offensive. You know, I got away with the first set. Then, you know, my confidence was just -- was just riding so high, so I just kept it going.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't know. I'm just going to, you know, be with my friends and my family, you know, who's here, and just probably I'm going to be real tired later on after everything's kind of settled down. You know, just get ready for the trip home tomorrow and then we'll see what I'm going to do when I get home.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, I think after today and after what's happened, I mean, definitely. You know, I'm no longer going to doubt myself in anything. Now I know anything's possible. I mean, if I could come home with a Grand Slam, you know, then I know for sure that anything is possible.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, it's great. It's tremendous. You know, like I keep saying, I believe it, but then also I can't believe it at the same time. You know, just from here on, I mean, I will always think, have the belief in myself that I can do anything. I will never be afraid in any match that I go in.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I guess it's still -- I mean, it's hard to say about a comeback because I've been back, you know, for a while now, even last year just getting to the semifinals. I've had some good results. So I think I've just been, you know, way past having a comeback at this point.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I have no idea. If it does, it does. I'll just take each moment that comes. You know, I'm not going to let anything change me, change what I do or who I am. You know, I'm always just going to do what I want. You know, no matter how many companies or whatever comes at me, you know, I'll just always stick with what makes me comfortable.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Probably today (laughter).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, of course I'm going to go out there and have the belief that I can win. I mean, what's the point of going out there - right - if I'm just there to be somebody playing against the other player? But I would say as that the match -- you know, I had a good start, my good start, how the match went on, I really started to believe it more and more then, so.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Too long. There was talk about it, but it would -- by the time they got here, it would be over, so.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: To my mom, no. I've spoken to everyone else, but not my mom yet.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Just, you know "Wow, congratulations, couldn't believe it. It was awesome, played great." You know, that's all.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I haven't thought about that, no. I think it's going to be a great year. You know, just keep doing what I'm doing, I'll be up for any of the challenge. You know, it's always been like that anyways, I think. You know, everyone seems to always play their best against me, I think, so.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Never heard that question before (laughter). That's interesting. If I were to do something like that, I would never sell it for anything. I don't know. For now, no. Maybe, who knows down the road in the future, but of course only on my terms, so.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, it was great. I mean, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him really. I don't know with any other coach or anybody else. You know, he's helped me in my game so much. He brought me to this poiint, you know, for my tennis. But I think today he was looking on more as my dad than as my coach.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I guess just being older and wiser, you know. Also I am, you know, stronger than ten years ago. I think I just have more variety in my game now. I guess now it's just about knowing more exactly what I want. You know, just really had the desire. I've had the desire, you know, to do something like this. I don't think any career's complete until you actually win a Grand Slam.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, so? It was one of my best matches, I think, you know, considering the circumstances and the moment and everything. I think I definitely lived up to the moment, yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't know. I mean, I did play pretty good today, and I don't think there was much else I could have done today.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: When I was starting out?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, I just looked at it as a Grand Slam. Any Grand Slam would have been great to win, you know. But, of course, you know, the more famous ones kind of stuck out, you know, like Wimbledon. But that was then, so. Now, any Grand Slam, yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: The next one?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, the next one that comes up (laughter).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Any one would be special.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I would have to say my game I think suits all the surfaces. You know, I think I can play well on any surface. I mean, in the Olympics, that was on red clay. I always thought that was my worst surface. I came out and won that. I mean, I think my chances are as good at any of the Grand Slams.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Just keep winning Grand Slams, I guess (laughter).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't know. I mean, I'm just -- somebody told me now what my ranking is going to be after this. You know, I don't really look at the rankings, you know, I just look at winning tournaments and having the results. You know, that automatically just, you know, brings you into the rankings, into the Top 10, Top 5, whatever. So if I can just keep consistent, you know, keep at this level, I mean, I hope I can keep playing at this level. You know, it will be hard. I mean, from here on in, you know, I'll have to keep working as hard as I was working, just stay as focused and determined, keep working on my game, so that will be tough. But, you know, hopefully with that I'll at least be able to have consistency.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, for sure, the reality, yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I was thinking about that. But I think it's just too far apart. I mean, that actually seems like another life. So this is a new life, a different life. It's actually winning something for the first time again.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: This moment? I mean, playing the game and trying to play for this moment is what brought me back, yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I mean, deep down, yeah. The motivation was just really just to live up to my potential or find what my potential was and just try to be, you know, the best I can be in tennis, whatever that is. You know, I guess I believed that it was more than just winning good matches here and there, winning just a few titles or whatever. You know, I wanted to go for the big ones.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It was okay; not as soundly as I'd been sleeping, of course.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Some weird dreams (laughter). I mean, I think I slept good enough, I guess.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I just looked at him at that moment like, you know, "This could be it, the moment of truth right now." Just looked at him for support at that moment.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: For support, yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I've been getting it.