June, 29th 2004
Wimbledon
Jennifer Capriati, who, at 28 years of age will be making her
seventh quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon, looks in confident mood as
she prepares to take on the defending champion, Serena Williams, an opponent
who seemingly has yet to break into a sweat at this year's Championships.
It will be their 15th meeting, third on grass and, whilst Miss Williams
leads Miss Capriati with nine victories to six, they are one each on the
surface which matters - grass. The last time they met at SW19 was at the
same stage last year when Serena took the honours over three sets en-route
to the title.
A rivalry has
certainly been chalked up between the two, who have always provided great
entertainment whenever they have met, irrespective of surface. However,
Capriati was quick to point out that there was no animosity between them,
despite what the press may have reported.
"We're not like the best of friends, but we're not enemies either. I get
along with everybody," Capriati said with a broad smile.
"We come to the same work environment where we see each other all the
time," she continued. "There's really no need to be hostile or have
any animosity towards each other – I think she respects my game; I respect
her game and that is it basically."
Of greater interest perhaps is how is she going to deal with her rival when
they meet again, and whether she can raise her game up a notch or two.
Whilst her serve was consistent during her 6-4, 6-4 victory over Nadia
Petrova today, it will need to be firing well to beat the Williams returns,
as will her forehand.
"I think I can and I'm going to try – it's not like I've not done it
before," she said. "Those things are automatic for me."
Their meetings have always been close and Capriati admits that she has
ridden her luck recently as she emerged the victor at their last meeting
earlier this month in Paris, when she beat Williams 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, again at
the quarter-final stage.
"I guess
the last couple of times I have taken advantage of her not having played
that much tennis, maybe not playing that well and with me being more focused
I've been able to execute my game plan a bit better," said Capriati.
"I also believe in myself a little bit more," she added, but refused
to reveal, with a grin, what her game plan would be for tomorrow. "Grass
is a completely different surface. You have more time on clay so it will be
just a matter of who gets the initiative first and who is more aggressive on
the day. Serving and volleying will be a huge factor."
Playing the ball and the point rather than the person is also important.
There is no mystique surrounding Serena Williams as far as Capriati is
concerned. "But she has a great serve, one of the best and hardest in the
women's game," Capriati went on.
"She also hits the ball big off both sides, probably harder than most.
She is a tremendous athlete who brings a great physical presence on court."
Both of course like to dictate the points in much the same way, so it isn't
surprising that when the two do meet, their matches attract attention. There
is very little finesse in either game, a fact that Capriati is conscious of.
"I can't change my game and that is her game and as a result we just feed
off each other. It's hard to suddenly introduce finesse and if you don't hit
it right, then she puts it away. Boom, it's a winner! If it is not good
enough you get punished."
A Capriati-Williams match is certain to produce fireworks. Their
quarter-final encounter at this year's Championships will certainly be
another exciting encounter between two powerful athletes.
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