AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2004

Kim Clijsters

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I felt really good out there today. I felt very sharp and, you know, I felt like I was -- you know, like I said on the court, really doing with the ball whatever I wanted to do with it. You know, it doesn't happen every day that you can have matches like this. Especially with my foot and everything, you know, I think it's great to have short matches and recover. And I have enough time to recover for my next match.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, maybe -- I mean, definitely today I felt better again than my first match. You know, as long as I keep improving, I think that's a good sign. But, you know, I still wouldn't say -- although today I played really good, I still wouldn't say that it's perfect. There's still a lot of things that I can work on and that I would like to see better throughout the tournament.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, no. That's probably, you know, the key thing. Once I passed that first match, that was sort of a little bit of a relief, I think also in my mind. And mentally, you know, it's a relief just not having to worry about it as much, knowing that I'm capable of, you know, doing the running that I would like to.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I can. It's got nothing to do with the left ankle.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, no. Everything I do with the splits is on my right foot. So there's nothing wrong with the right one.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yes.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, it doesn't. I think, you know, I was really seeing the ball very well. Even when we were warming up, I had a really good feeling. You know, the rhythm, as well. Like I played really good today. But I think we had a lot of good rallies. You know, she was playing aggressively. You know, a few times she tried to mix it up. You know, I was very, you know, coming in and not giving her a chance I think to try to mix it up too much. So I was, you know, very happy with, you know, the way I played.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No, no, not at all. Not at all. It's definitely -- it's, you know, like I said, it's a little bit of a relief, after winning that first match. And I think that's also why I felt, you know, a little bit more relaxed I think out there as well today. The first match is always -- you know, I was definitely a little bit scared going out there in that first match because you don't know, you know, how it's going -- what's going to happen, if I want to, you know, give myself a chance of running to shots and, you know, sometimes that I maybe don't have to. No, so it was -- after that match -- you know, yesterday it felt a little bit stiff and just irritated from the tape, as well. So not really a problem, but the whole foot in general was feeling very tight. But, yeah, no, but it felt good today. And it still feels a little bit stiff. But I think I'm getting used to playing with the tape, as well, which, you know, is definitely not something that is fun to play with.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm getting used to that, as well. In the beginning, it was very cold, but it's okay now.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. You know, not really. I watched a little bit I think when she played Ashley, because I was in the room then just preparing for my night match that day. And I watched a little bit, but not that much.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah. I mean, she's obviously playing well. I mean, she looked -- you know, I mean, she must have been working hard. She looks very fit and she looks very strong. You know, I saw her serving really well. That's, you know, probably the thing -- I think her second serve was, you know, maybe not as good the first day. But I mean, she's, yeah, she's still Venus. You know, she still is so quick and she still probably is the best mover out there.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah. Like, you know, I take Gatorade powder.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Yup, yup, definitely.

KIM CLIJSTERS: I do. I do, actually. You know, I know all the rules now. I've been -- no, we've made a lot of friends, you know, from the Adelaide Crows. Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards, those guys. I definitely, you know, whenever I'm over here, there's not that many -- they're always practicing. You know, it's their off-season. But I can't wait to come here and watch a few of their games. You know, it's really the kind of sport that I, you know, really enjoy watching. It's always busy and it's always, you know, a lot of stuff going on. You know, I mean, I do like soccer, as well. But you can have nil-nil matches and not really have seen that much. I think in the AFL football, there's always something going on. You know, so I really enjoy that, yeah.

KIM CLIJSTERS: No. Because I know so many guys now, that's why I go for them.

KIM CLIJSTERS: Sure. I've got my own leanings, too (laughter).