August, 30th 2000
Capriati D Nagyova 6-2, 6-2
Q. Things rolling merrily along, Jennifer? You feel pretty good?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I was happy with the way I played today. I knew it
would be a tough match; she's a good player. So I was happy that I got
through that.
Q. You've been here as such a young person and then in last year you had
emotional issues you were dealing with. Are you having more fun this year at
the US Open?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I was having fun last year, too. I mean of course playing
well and doing good, that makes you have more fun also. So I mean I'm just,
you know, having fun all around anyways. So... I wouldn't say more.
Q. I think last year in Mahwah, New Jersey, you won that tournament. Few
people expected you to do that. Would you say that was a turning point? Do
you look at that tournament as a comeback?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Mahwah?
Q. Yeah.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Not really. I mean I had won a tournament already before
that in Strasbourg. So I mean if you look at it as far as like
tournament-wise, doing well, I mean I would have to say it started there.
Yeah, so I don't think it was just like Mahwah.
Q. I guess the fact it was in the United States, people said, "Hey, Capriati
can still play."
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, but it was also an exhibition, too. So it didn't
really count also. I mean it was good, even though it is an exhibition. But
it didn't start from there.
Q. How do you like Armstrong Stadium, the crowds?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It's good. Last year I remember I was on that court a lot
and so far I've been on this court. I mean I'm really used to the court.
And, you know, I still see it as the real stadium sometimes.
Q. You can still see the upper deck?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, yeah. If you can just picture that there. But I
remember, yeah, I mean they still crowd in and they're not quiet until like
the first few points are over from the changeover.
Q. Is it a distraction? The changeovers, people are coming, going, crowding
the aisles. Is it a distraction to you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Not really. I'm pretty much used to it. So... I mean I
guess the tighter it would be, maybe. You know, I'd rather be the one
receiving than serving at that point.
Q. Do you hear what people are calling to you in that place? It's so crowded
and relatively intimate. Do you hear people calling to you and being
supportive?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah.
Q. As opposed to other places?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I mean if people want to call out, I'm gonna hear
it. So it's just maybe they call out a lot more here. I don't know.
Q. Jennifer, you've probably heard Jelena Dokic's dad was kicked out for the
duration of the tournament because of an incident. You know her a little
bit. How much do you think this series of control issues with the father is
hampering her progress?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I have no comment about it.
Q. Was there talk about it in the locker room?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No.
Q. George had mentioned the intimacy of the crowd here. Have you ever heard
a fan say something that broke you up laughing? You just thought it was kind
of witty, it stood out in your mind?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I can't really think of anything. I mean just, you
know, "I love you," or something like that.
Q. Here?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Here? No, not here.
Q. Nice thing to yell out.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I guess.
Q. They yell out a lot worse in this town.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: (Laughing.) It's always a good feeling. At least they're
not saying something else.
Q. What do you think you need to work on over the next two weeks to really
keep you going into the second week?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I'm still looking at it match-by-match, you know,
one match at a time. The next one is probably going to be Friday, and, you
know, I think I've been playing -- doing everything that I've been working
on. I've been doing it well in these last two matches, and hopefully, you
know, it'll just get better as you get more into the tournament, get some
matches under your belt. So get out all the kinks and everything. But, you
know, if I can just, you know, maintain the consistency, you know, serve
well and return well.
Q. Is that what you've been specifically working on over the last...?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. Well not specifically, that's part of what I've
been working on. I've been working on a lot of things.
Q. Were you following Lisa Raymond's battle at all to get on the Olympic team?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: To tell you the truth, no. I really had no idea what was
going on with that whole thing. So I can't really answer that.
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