THE LIPTON CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 21, 1996

Jennifer Capriati

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I was just trying to concentrate about my game and just think about that and, you know, not rush into things and just take it slow and, you know, it was going -- I started missing, I just had to adjust a little bit. I was just trying to stay focused.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, yeah, I was a little nervous.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, how come?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I haven't been playing and I haven't been playing in front of a lot of people and just, I mean, you can't just go right into that and, you know, like it is nothing. I think every human has feelings and gets those jitters and I am only human.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, it was good. It turned out to be good. Yeah, I was having a great time out there. Especially the way the crowd was supporting me and just they were cheering for me and I liked it. It felt good.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, yeah, I knew I was in South Florida. It is Lipton.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I guess it is sort of my hometown, so, yeah, I guess they supported me more just because of that.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I was just like, all right, come on, you know, start -- stop missing and just go for it and just go for it. Just let yourself go and that is it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think all of it just has to do with playing more and getting back the feeling and the experience, you know, the situations where it is close and, you know, that takes, you know, getting used to again, but I am very pleased with my game. I felt good. I mean, I felt I was really on and I have been-- I played good, you know, when you are hitting the ball well, so I feel really good about it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I just thought it would be a great time to start and I have been on, you know, I started in Germany -- I mean, in Europe, and then just decided to play California and this is where I wanted to play next, so.....

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, it never -- I mean, I have always had it in my head. I mean, I never thought I was just done, completely done with tennis, and, you know, I just start feeling the desire again, you know, for some time and, you know, I just knew that it was inside me and it is what I do best and I wasn't -- I was looking ahead in my life and I wasn't real -- realized I wasn't ready like what am I doing, I am giving up tennis for the rest of my life or I am not ready to give it up and, you know, got a long ways to go.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I went through a lot of emotions and feelings and, you know, pretty fun, crazy time, I mean, just being a teenager.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I am getting old, yeah (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER).

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It was just -- I mean, of course there was the good times when I played the Olympics; when I won the gold medal and just when I had some -- I mean, that was just a great time.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, nothing specifically. I just -- I just got to the point where I just -- it is what I wanted and I wanted to do what I do and come back and play tennis. It feels great.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Not a whole lot, no. Just -- I mean, I wasn't like, you know, didn't watch every time it came on, just when I happened to see it.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: The satisfaction of working really hard at something and seeing the results of what you have been working at. You know, it is an expression. It is a release of yourself. It is just -- I mean, there is nothing like ripping a backhand down the line. I mean, it is -- you know, it is-- I'm a competitive person. It feels good to be in that competitive situation.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I am going -- it will be great to play and go for it. If I play enough tournaments and I guess, you know, I need a ranking and all that. If I do well and I would be able to play, I'd love to play.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yes. Of course.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: This is just what I want to do now. This is where I am at in my life. This is the stage I am at, and, you know, I can have fun with anything I do and, of course, this can be a great life and very fun.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: What do you mean? Like, from --

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, I can't really say. I mean, I didn't, you know, then -- I mean, now -- I don't know, just happy to be back and just --

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I don't know. You can't always look back in the past. I mean, you can't look at what you should have done or what would have been better. Just got to live in the now.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I was just, you know, I didn't really think about that. I wasn't nervous about that or just, you know, I felt the vibes were good, so.....

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I got to take it point by point and not look ahead really.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I think there is a private life and there is the side that you guys, you know, should know I should talk about. So I mean, what is there to tell about my private life?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I was just nervous and just I just, you know, I was still wanted to stay confident and I was just pumped up and psyched to play and, you know, I knew that I could do it and that I can play. Then I was just -- I was fine. I just got into the groove.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Just my family. Family and friends.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, my whole family.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I felt, you know, the support from them a lot.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, it has to do all -- it is one, isn't it?