January, 26th 2002
Capriati D Hingis 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2
Craig Gabriel caught up with 2002 Australian Open women's singles champion
Jennifer Capriati, who staged a spectacular comeback on Rod Laver Arena,
Saturday to capture her second consecutive singles title at Melbourne Park.
Capriati triumphed over three-time champion Martina Hingis 4-6 7-6(7) 6-2 in
just over two hours.
Q. Jennifer, congratulations. Second round: how does this feel?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: This feels pretty good. But I don't know which one is
sweeter yet. You know, the first one will always be special; but just, the
way I came and won this one, I didn't know if I was really going to pull it
out, and I did, and it was really the toughest match that I've played, and
the conditions were just ridiculous and just, this feels really good right
now.
Q. Coming into Australia three weeks ago, there were the hip concerns,
lack of match practice; how concerned were you about successfully defending
this Title?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I always felt pretty confident in myself; and maybe
others had doubts but, you know, it goes to show, you just really can't
under-estimate anybody, no matter what. And just, really, I have a lot more
strength, inner strength than, you know, what's on the outside. And even
though I've got these little problems here and there, I just overcame them
and I got stronger as the tournament went on.
Q. Talking about inner strength: you really had to dig very deep today,
didn't you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yes. I mean, that was the hardest I've ever had to fight
and, you know, I thought I was going to die out there a few times. But, you
know, she was also feeling the conditions, and I was just, you know, lucky
to get that second set and, you know, that helped me a lot and that probably,
you know, changed the match round.
Q. Jennifer, what were you having to say to yourself: the heat, down
match point, down 4-0, 6-4, 4-0?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I was just saying that, you know, "It's not that bad",
and "This is it", and just, you know, even if I have to pass out here on the
court or, you know, I have to be carried off the court, just do what I can
and just give it all I've got right now. And I can go home and rest after
this and, you know, just - who knows? You know, maybe she will start missing,
maybe she will, the same thing will happen to her and, you know, and on
those match points I really went for it and when I saved those I just got
more confident.
Q. I would think with all the drama and tension in this match and the
conditions, this is a Final that's going to stick in your memory forever?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, yeah, that will be you up there with probably one
of the greatest matches that I've played - not just for actual tennis-wise,
but just for everything else, everything we had to cope with out there.
Q. What is the bigger deal: winning the Australian Open or retaining the No
1 ranking?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't know. That's a tough one. I mean, they are pretty
hard in comparison and - I don't know. They are both pretty special.
Q. Jennifer, just a couple more: you have told us that last year's
Australian Open trophy is in your entrance hallway. Where is this one going to go?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Probably in my room. No, so I'll have one out there and
one in my room so I can look at it everywhere.
Q. Now it's bring on the French Open and Roland Garros?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I don't want to think about that yet. I just want
to enjoy this one and go for a vacation for the next week, and then just get
back to it again.
Q. Where is the vacation going to be?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't know. I can't tell you.
Q. Jennifer, congratulations and thanks
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Thank you.
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