May, 27th 2003
Capriati D Kruger 6-2, 6-1
Q. A little bit of a slow start. After that, you kind of flew through the match.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I didn't really feel that nervous in the beginning.
I was just surprised I was making errors. But, you know, even though you
don't feel it, I just think automatically, you know, first round of the Grand Slam, you just feel tight, tighter than usual. The balls
were a little bit heavy. They didn't seem that way in practice. But just
came out and it felt that way.
Then I just started to loosen up. I definitely played better.
Q. A lot of players have been talking about how heavy the balls are. Does
that mean in order to win the tournament, whoever is going to have to play a
lot more balls and points?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, we can make little adjustments maybe, go
down in the tension a little in your racquets. But usually you can't change
things just like that. So, just got to get it in your head that that's what
it's going to take. If you're used to making winners, it's not happening as
much because the balls are heavier, you have to play a few more balls.
Q. Talk about your preparation this year as opposed to last year, how you feel mentally coming in.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, last year, you know, defending champion. I just
maybe had a little more pressure on myself. You know, of course, I always
want to do well. I feel like I'm still working just the same, you know,
fitness-wise. The difference, the last few tournaments, I've had someone on
the road with me the whole time, so that will help. I just feel fresher
coming into this tournament this year than last year. Maybe I was a little
bit tired last year.
I just feel like I'm a little bit the underdog again. You know, take it
match by match. That's all I can do.
Q. And you like that position a little more, don't you, being the underdog?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I guess, you know, my record shows that. You know,
I guess automatically I just put more pressure on myself. I don't like so
much attention. You know, everyone's all eyes on me, sort of like, "What is
she going to do now? Can she keep it up?" Blah, blah, blah. So I like it
better when things are more quiet.
But if I get to that position again, I think I'll, you know, handle it a
little differently, you know, not really care, but enjoy being at the top position.
Q. You've been talking about this for a year, but the
matches you're losing for the most part are really close, long three-setters
against good players. What's happening at the end of matches that prevents
you from pulling through?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I've said before that maybe I just don't play as
aggressively. Instead of moving forward, I back up. I just don't take the
opportunities when I have them. Maybe it's the part of, I don't know, being
on top, taking that next step makes me, you know, get nervous, you know,
fall back again.
You know, I can't think about it. You know, I can't think about that
situation. I have to believe that I can really do it. Maybe sometimes I don't
believe that I'm -- that I, you know, can win it, which is a little bit
ridiculous, you know, at this stage of my career.
You know, it's all about confidence.
Q. Do you need to be a bit more carefree with your
personality than when you're on court saying, "It's not such a bad thing. I
win this title and everyone will say , 'Jennifer is one of the best
prayers in the world,'" get all the attention, all the things that go along
with that. Because if you lose in the semis, every couple weeks, the
attention will be a little less, right?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Right. I mean, I definitely want to be winning. I'm not,
you know, kind of losing on purpose. But, yeah, I just -- it's worse to just
almost be close and not get there. You know, it's starting to really
irritate me.
I'm going to do my best to try to do something about it.
Q. Is both your dad and Stephen here with you this time?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: My dad is. Stephen is not here this tournament.
Q. Did that work out okay for you, the tournaments where he was sort of
in the quasi coaching role?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yes. You mean Stephen?
Q. Yes.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yes. He's a great supporter. You know, he tells it like
it is. He sees things how they are. There's no -- you know, he doesn't get
too psychological with things. Me, I'm the opposite, I think too much. He
just helps me to stay grounded, stay more carefree.
Q. I know it's hard for you to look at women's tennis from the outside,
but for some of us it appears that this Grand Slam is maybe more open
for a winner than the others have been. Do you see it that way?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I definitely think it's very open this year. You
know, the Williams sisters have seemed a little more
vulnerable, and the other players have been playing a lot better, too. I
mean, Kim is on a roll. She's playing some great tennis. She's
No. 2 in the world. The others, Henin, Mauresmo,
I think everyone, they're maturing also. They're still quite young, so I
think they're maturing into great players, coming into their own. The fear
factor is really not there anymore.
Q. It was a fantastic semifinal here last year. Can you draw a bit of a
positive from that, that you were able to play tennis at that high a level
in that important of a match?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, maybe I played well, but I think I played
well in spurts. I couldn't keep it up. I think I'm fitter this year at this
time than I was last year. I think in the third set, once I lost that second,
I think mentally and physically I was just so drained that, you know, she
ran away with it.
I'll be very happy if I make it to the semifinals this year. But, you know,
I'll just take it match by match.
Q. I don't know how closely you follow the men's game, but do you
remember when Michael Chang won in '89? Do you remember that match? Did it
make any impression on you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think I was playing -- was I here in the Juniors maybe
that year? I was here.
Q. Do you remember that at all?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. Just the finals against Lendl, right?
Q. No.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I remember that match. I remember him being so young also and winning it.
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