May, 31st 2002
Capriati D Dominikovic 6-3, 6-1
Q. It seems fairly straightforward, but
quite a good workout, especially that first set, she had a chance to be 4-1
up. Are you pleased with that kind of a workout for you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, definitely I'm pleased with the way I played today.
It was tough in the beginning. After I didn't allow myself to get down that
4-1, I definitely got into a better groove and stepped it up a little bit,
you know, just consistently played well through the match.
Q. Some players like to take their time between points, look at three or
four different balls, walk around. You like to play quickly. What is your
thinking there?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: We've gone over this many times. I do like to play quick.
I really don't think about it, what pace I'm going. I don't think I rush
every point. I mean, I'm not the only one that plays fast. Look at the girl
today. She was playing me and, you know, she was going pretty quick, too. I'm
just so eager, I guess, to play the next point. I don't know.
Q. When you were making this amazing comeback, cracking into the Top 5
again a year and a half ago or so, there seemed to be a big hunger to you,
something to prove, something that you wanted to show yourself and everybody
else. Now that you've done that, now that you've gotten back to the top, is
it hard to keep that hunger and edge, or are you self-motivated now all the
time anyway?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, yeah, I mean, before it was a matter of just breaking
through and getting into the Top 5 or whatever and possibly winning a Grand
Slam or two. Now for me it's just staying on top and winning more, being
consistent at the top of my game. That in itself is the motivation. You know,
before it was just trying to like get back there. But I always thought, you
know, if I ever got back there, I would want to stay there. So now that I've
gotten here, I definitely want to try and stay. I mean, I can't see myself
really dropping out. If I do start dropping out, I would seriously think if
I'm going to keep playing or not, so...
Q. With that in mind, now
that you're halfway through your title defense, can you give us a comparison
on the state of your game and your confidence compared with 12 months ago?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, it's a different time, so I think it's hard to
compare. Everything changes: new players, different opponents. But I think
inside I feel really strong and confident. I think I have a lot of good
tennis that's ready to come out. And hopefully now that the matches are
getting closer, when I really need to step it up, I will. I feel good
inside, confident.
Q. And with those feelings inside, do they bear comparison with this
stage last year? Were you feeling exactly the same sort of emotions?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. It was a little different. I mean, yes, I was. You
know, I won the Australian last year, and was coming into it, you know, I
guess was sort of the favorite, but not really if I was just going to, you
know, come and do it again. I wasn't near No. 1 at this point last year. So
it's a little different. You know, I feel like more I've got to try and hold
my crown here. Last year, I was more like trying to get it. I think just
mentally maybe it's a little different in that area. But as far as
physically and the tennis aspect is concerned, I'm probably feeling better
and playing better than last year. Definitely improved on a lot of things
since last year.
Q. Like you said, if there comes a day when you're not in the Top 5 or
Top 10, is it more your personality not to hang around, to move on with your
life at that point?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Probably. I mean, I don't know if that ever happens, how
I'd feel. Maybe I would just enjoy sticking around. But right now I couldn't
see myself doing that. I mean, it's such a tough, grueling sport and life. I
mean, I don't know if it would be worth it if you're just, you know, kind of
down there once you've been at the top. I think then it's hard.
Q. You've played Evie three times now and beaten her quite easily each
time. Do you see any improvement in her game since last year at the US Open?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I think she came out serving really strong. I mean,
she could definitely use her serve a lot better. I mean, clay is probably
her worst surface. She's more of a hard court, probably coming to the net a
little bit more. I mean, I think I could see improvement on those surfaces,
faster. Sure, on grass she'd be a lot more difficult to play.
Q. Three out of four of your last titles have been at Grand Slams, which
is pretty unusual in tennis. Do you find yourself just naturally peaking at
the Slams, or at the other tournaments don't you have the same level of
concentration or motivation?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Maybe a little bit of both. I mean, if I win 10 smaller
tournaments and not win a Grand Slam, I'd rather win a Grand Slam than no
other tournaments. Like I haven't won a title on clay coming into this, but
I'd rather win this, have this be the title. I don't know. I mean, maybe I
don't play the same kind of way at a Grand Slam, the motivation, the mental.
I mean, I never give up. I always fight till the end. But it's different.
It's like I'm fighting for my life here. I mean, it's the most important for
me. I mean, I don't know how long I will be playing. But, I mean, that's
where I want to do well, is at the Grand Slams, so...
Q. With some of the other seeds falling, it's looking like it's between
you and the Williams sisters. Do you agree with that? How difficult a hurdle
would it be to get past them? You probably have to get past both of them to
defend your crown. Do you see those two as your main challenges?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, they're definitely in there. But I think you can't
count out some other players. I mean, you have Seles playing. You have Dokic
playing. She's in my half. But she's tough for me. You know, Hantuchova is
playing. I mean, there's still a lot of contenders out there. Even there's
underdogs that came out and took out the seeds. Obviously, they have to be
playing very well. You never know. Anything can happen. They've had very
easy matches. You know, we'll just have to see when it gets into the tougher
matches really. Right now I don't think you can really tell where anyone's
really at, because no one's really been tested. Now is the time where that's
going to start seeing, you know, where everyone's game is at.
Q. Could you reflect on an interesting comment that John McEnroe recently
made that you need ego to get to the top in tennis, and you need ego to stay
there, that selfishness is a major part of pro tennis.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, I think with ego is pride. I mean, to get
to the top, you have to have a lot of pride. That's not giving up in those
situations. You know, at the Australian, for instance, for me this year, I
mean, that was pride and ego and I didn't want to lose. If you don't have
that, yeah, you're not a champion, you're not a fighter. I think the part
with the ego is being able to fight. The selfish part, I mean, I would have
to say you have to be a little bit selfish just because there's so much that
requires being done. I mean, you really have -- you know, from the time you
get up, at the tournaments, till you go to sleep, I mean, everything has to
be perfect, you have to be feeling right. You know, everyone's kind of
around you making sure that you're feeling up to par. You can't exert
yourself, you know, in other areas and stuff. That's why you've just got to
say, "No, I can't do that." I have to think about me and take care of myself,
you know, to a certain point. But you don't have to walk around and think
you're God's gift to the Earth because of that.
Q. When you say everything needs to be right, you mean all the details
that go into performing?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, when you go to bed, when you get up, how
many hours of sleep you get, when you stretch, when you work out, when you
go to the training room, when you eat, if you eat right. I mean, for me,
anyways, all those things make a difference. Mentally, if I think I haven't
gotten enough sleep, that plays a part if I walk on the court. Maybe I'm not
as confident. You know, just little things I think make a lot of difference.
Q. Do you think this is going to be tougher to win this year than last?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I thought it was pretty tough last year. If you would
have asked me in the middle of the tournament if it was going to be tough, I
would have said, "Yeah." I think it's just going to be as tough.
Q. Yesterday Kim Clijsters went down 6-Love in the second set, came in
here almost blaise about it, frankly, passionless about having lost. If you
went down 6-Love in the second set to someone who wasn't even ranked, seeded
32 in this tournament, how do you suppose you'd be reacting to that publicly?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Publicly? Well, I don't think it matters publicly how you
react. I think it's important what you feel inside. I'm sure she's
disappointed inside. Who knows. I'm sure she was devastated. But maybe it's
to help her not get so down inside, not feel so devastated if she can have a
positive outlook, you know, not kind of show everyone that she's going to go
and cry about it. I mean, that would help me. I would definitely try to just
stay up and positive and not go, you know, and just cry in front of everyone.
Q. The rankings at the end of this tournament, even if you win the
tournament, Venus will be No. 1. Does that at all affect your thinking or
your attitude?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I'm pretty much used to it changing like that. I don't
even pay attention. It goes to show you how bizarre it is if you win a Grand
Slam, you're not even No. 1. If you win two of the year so far, you're not
No. 1, that doesn't make any sense. So, I don't know.
Q. Preview of either Schnyder or Tulyaganova, both which could be tests
for you.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Right, it's going on right now. Yeah, well, I've played
Tulyaganova in Berlin, had a good result, and against Schnyder in Hilton
Head -- not Hilton Head, Charleston. I think I'm playing a lot better than I
was then. Definitely used to the clay now. I've been working kind of against
her game, working on playing against that kind of game. You know, it's a
Grand Slam.
Q. Schnyder's game?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. She's got a different game. It's a Grand Slam for
me. This is where I'm really going to give it everything I've got, my
concentration, I think I'll rise my level up hopefully. You know, I just
want to play my best tennis and expect the best from them, too.
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