US OPEN

September 3, 2000

Jennifer Capriati

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I really don't think about that much anymore. I mean, I think it's kind of annoying a little bit, to tell you the truth. You know, we played last year, played a few times. It's all part of the hype, the media's hype.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: That angry? I thought it was wide. I mean, it wasn't because of that ball, you know, that I lost that game, you know, and then lost the match. Of course, it's a little frustrating, yeah. You've got to let it out a little bit.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I think just from the beginning, she came out really strong, you know, just from the first ball. She was just hitting them like full speed. You know, she served really well. It was tough for me to break every time. Of course, that put a little more pressure on my serve. I mean, I think it was pretty close. We had a lot of close games there. Could have gone either way. You know, it just wasn't till the second set, I think, that I started just to get in a little bit of a groove. I mean, the first set, I couldn't really even get a rhythm because it was either just like a winner, a mistake or a good serve or whatever. You know, I just couldn't really get in a rhythm.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I think I only got broken once in the first set, so.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, if I just -- I was up 40-Love in my service game the second game of the match. You know, I was holding my serve pretty good there in the first set.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I mean, it's kind of really the same. She always seems the same to me.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, not really. There's lots of other players that are tough to play that are like thorns in my side, you know. Nobody's easy. I mean, that's part of the game.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, yeah. I felt like I was playing really well. This match, I just didn't have any like time to really get into it and play I think the way I've been playing the last few rounds.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, I think mostly, you know, the way she played. And then also, you know, all the hype I think, you know, kind of revolving around this match, being a night match. Of course, there's going to be more nerves. I was just made to think about it more than maybe I usually would.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Playing in Europe.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Probably Zurich and Filderstadt and Philadelphia, and maybe The Championships.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, you know, it's just kind of like everyone kind of expecting it to be like an epic match, you know, of '91. I mean, that's history. That's long ago. Now it's a new day and age. I mean, it's just completely different now. Maybe in that sense, you know, I would think, "Oh, maybe it's not good enough now like it was back then." Of course, it's just going to be automatically something that's blocking me. Just those kind of things.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I haven't really. I'm perfectly happy with my dad. I haven't really thought about it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I think I still just have to keep working hard. I mean, no really changes in my game, that's for sure, you know, just doing a lot just to improve it. Just being aggressive, serving good, better, returning.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I just did that this year. It wasn't that long ago. No, I don't really think it's difficult. I think it's difficult when you've got a few injuries, to do it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I think of course, you know, happiness is better than focusing on scores and all that. I think that would be for anybody. That also makes me happy, too.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I haven't really seen her play against the other like top players, so I don't really know what happens then. I mean, if she can serve well, like she did tonight, I mean, she has a good shot. I can't really say much else. Yeah, it would be nice to see her win it.