May, 17th 2002
Capriati D Mauresmo 6-2, 3-6, 6-4
Q. Was there something in her behavior that disturbed you on court?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, not at all. Just there was something at that -- a
little mix-up when I was serving and I didn't know she was ready. The, you
know, whatever... Just that happened, that little thing there.
Q. Roger just said that you got back to the No. 1 ranking. What does that
mean to you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: That's great. I mean, of course I'm happy about it. And,
I mean, I didn't know - I thought maybe I had to win here or something to
get to No. 1. So, you know, I knew that I really had nothing to defend here,
so this would be a good time. But, you know, I wasn't paying attention to
it. But of course I'm very happy about it because, I mean, it means going
into the French being the No. 1 seed. And, you know, that's a good feeling.
Q. How can you sum up this match?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Sum it up? Well, I played really well throughout the
whole match. Maybe I could have won in two sets. But it was a good test for
me. You know, she played well in the second set. And that third set, I think
I played the important points probably better. And, you know, at 2-love,
when I was down 2-love, I really played well there to get it back. After
that, you know, maybe I gained the momentum back. So it was a little bit
streaky, you know. Like I would have the momentum and maybe then she. But in
the end, I was more consistent.
Q. Did you feel a head drop when the umpire overruled the point that could
have made it 3-1 for her in the final set?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I mean, I don't remember that point.
Q. Your ball was called out. It
would have been 3-1 to Amelie. Then the umpire overruled. You eventually
made it 2-2. Did you see that as a key moment in the match?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I mean, the ball's in, the ball's in, you know? She
didn't, like, lose the point. So, I mean, I had overrules also. And, I mean,
it wasn't like that close of a time where, you know, that would happen. And
I could understand maybe another time but, you know... She was the one that
was ahead, so...
Q. You've been coming here a long time, since age 14, I believe, when much
was made of your Italian heritage. Is this a particularly good feeling to be
finally doing so well in the tournament?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, it's like living up to all the hype now,
finally - about twelve years later (smiling). No, I had some good memories
in the beginning. And just I haven't played so well here in the last couple
years. But it's not about that, you know, because of this particular
tournament. I'm just happy with the way I'm playing and, you know, just glad
to go through and definitely be in this form, you know, going into the
French.
Q. Is it true that you understand when the public cheers in Italian?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Some, yeah.
Q. Like what?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: (Laughing).
Q. Give us one or two in Italian.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: "Forza," "Vai," "Brava."
Q. "Bella ragazza"?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, good play? Is that "good play?"
Q. No, that means beautiful girl.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, (laughing). Sorry.
Q. This week we saw you at least once in each match hitting a backhand and
jumping and hitting it in the air. Is that a new shot for you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, a lot of the guys do it, I think. And, yeah,
I learned it from someone else, too. But it's - I don't know - it feels
natural for me. And sometimes on certain shots, it's easier when the ball
comes high. Plus I, you know, my back. I have a little -- it's tightness. So
it helps. I don't have to use my back so much. So sometimes... I definitely
don't want to do it all the time. But if I can do it, sure. Plus, it's fun
hitting it that way.
Q. After this victory, what are you going to do tonight? Will you practice
or rest? How do you prepare for tomorrow?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I get a massage and go eat and have no trouble
sleeping, I don't think. And, you know, get ready for practice tomorrow,
warm up.
Q. Your opponent tomorrow, your feelings on tomorrow's match?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, well, we don't know yet who I play. They play
tonight. Until I know for sure, I'm not going to think about it or think of
a game plan. But my game plan is just to play my game and to play
aggressive, keep playing aggressive. I think I'm, you know, mixing it up
well and attacking well and even coming to the net or thinking about coming
to the net. So, you know, I just play my game.
Q. Do you feel you play your best when you're threatened, as you did in
Australia? She had enough points in that third set.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah.
Q. Did something happen within you, do you think?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I think I try to raise it up a level, for sure. You
know, I figure, "Can't get much worse, I'm about to lose." So my mentality's
to go for it. And sometimes it doesn't work. But, you know, I guess I do
play better that way, when I realize I have to really -- it's like all or
nothing now. And, you know, I'm trying to work on that from the get-go, to
try to play that kind of way.
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