26 maggio 2002
Q. Serena and you have a pretty strong rivalry the last couple of years. She
never really gives players much rhythm to hit. You're a very rhythmic player
out there. What do you need to do against her to excel on the court against
Serena Williams?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, it's been so close every match that we've played.
It almost seems like a few points here, a few points there make a difference.
You know, maybe when I'm ahead or when I have that opportunity to really get
in front and take the lead, maybe I don't play as aggressive or, you know, I
sort of let her dictate the points. If I could just maintain the same kind
of aggression that I start off playing her, to get ahead, you know, that
would help a lot. And, yeah, I mean, it's really -- you can't have any
lapses of concentration, which sometimes, because, you know, the way she
plays, it's difficult to keep that momentum going.
Q. How would you say her game is different this year on clay than Roland
Garros last year when you played her?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I think she moves a little bit better on the clay
and is probably more consistent. But I think the biggest thing is probably
her movement, moving better on the clay. Maybe she doesn't get as off balance.
Q. You trained today with Kim Clijsters. Do you think it's always good to
get into a tournament like you ended it last year, this tournament, and do
you think you will see her again in the final maybe?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I hope so. You know, we practice a lot together, and we
practice at other tournaments. And, you know, she's a good friend. We always
have fun practicing together. So, you know, it doesn't matter if it was just
last year in the finals or if we're on the opposite sides this year. She's
a, you know, good practice for me ,and I think vice versa. It's relaxing
playing with her.
Q. If you compare your, how to say in English, I don't know, your shape,
your form now to last year when you came here to Roland Garros, what is your
opinion of it?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, I think I'm feeling very good. You know, I feel like
I'm about the same or better in some ways. But I think I've been playing a
lot more. It seems like I've been playing a lot more tennis leading up to
this. But I mean physically, I feel good. I feel rested. I'm very eager to
play. I mean, more or less, I mean, I think my game's pretty much the same.
Q. How much easier is it coming in here now having defended a Grand Slam
title in Australia?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, no matter what, I want to do well here. So,
I mean, there's always going to be that pressure that I want to perform well
and do well. It's not about defending or anything like that. So, I mean, if
you add that on top of it, it could be a -- maybe more difficult. But really,
it's just I'm not thinking about whether, you know, defending or -- I know
it's a tough field so I wouldn't say, you know, it's not like it's gonna be
easy, for sure.
Q. Have you looked back at all at the match last year with Kim and that
final set just to get you fired up a bit more?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. I really haven't seen it again. I only remember
playing it. And...So I'm sure maybe they'll play it a couple times on TV or
something, some highlights. But I think I have a few things to really look
at to get me inspired for myself to play some good tennis.
Q. Does it seem strange to see a Grand Slam draw with no Hingis in the draw?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: A little bit, yeah, but, I mean, a Grand Slam. But I've
been used to not seeing her at some other tournaments. It just seems like a
lot of players are injured. So, you know, you get used to them not all being
there. And, you know, it took a while, you know, to get used to kind of
Lindsay not being there, and then Venus sometimes. This is the first time
she's really missed a Grand Slam I guess, so...I guess so.
Q. Just about the fitness question, you said a lot of players obviously
are not around. Do you think that what you've been able to do fitness-wise
has really kept you out there? You've played tournament after tournament
this year without getting hurt.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, not hurt to the point, I guess, where I
can't play. There's always some pain (smiling).
It's -- yeah, but everyone, I think, plays with pain. But fitness is a big
part of why I've had no major injuries or anything to keep me really out.
Q. Has the Ferrari become a weekend toy, or do you drive it when you're at home?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Another tennis question (smiling). Well, since I got it,
I really have been traveling a lot. So I wasn't home that much. But I don't
take it out that much, no, 'cause I don't know...Have to get used to the
area where I live at, you don't see many of those cars. So don't want to be
an attention-getter.
Q. Can you make a comparison between playing against players like Steffi
Graf and Navratilova and Seles when you're a teenager and playing against
the Williams sisters today in terms of power and speed?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I never really played against Navratilova that much,
so I can't comment on her. But Steffi, she was one of the hardest hitters
that I played against -- and not only hard-hitting, but the way she moved.
It was just consistently -- I mean, every time you'd play against her, you
know, "What's gonna come?" I mean, maybe the Williams sisters you really
don't know. So it's hard to really compare. I mean, it's different. You know,
I would have been -- Steffi would have been a very hard force, you know. If
she would have been playing now, not retired quite yet, this would be her
time.
Q. You said everybody plays with pain. Is it too bad that it's come to
that in tennis? And why do you think it has come to that, that people have
to play with pain, and injuries have become such a big factor now?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I think that's just sport in general. It's not
just tennis. I mean, I think it's with everything. So if it really does get
bad, I mean, I don't think there's a reason why you can't take time off and
take a break. But it's just -- you know, it depends how far you want to go.
If you want to keep playing and you want to be really close there in
rankings and everything, it's going to be close and you have to keep playing.
It's a matter of how far you want to go. Some players can choose, you know,
to kind of take it more easy. But, I mean, there's so many tournaments and
it's spread out throughout the year, so it's not like you have an
off-season. So there's really no time to just recuperate and, you know, the
off-time is still you have to practice and train. So maybe if they changed
it around that way, you know, the kind of schedule, make it shorter, maybe
that would be easier. But, I mean, everything has become more powerful. And
fitness is a big key. I mean, that's the nature of the game right now.
Q. Have you played any matches this season where you haven't felt
something nagging at you, something bothering you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Where I felt completely, like, free?
Q. Injury-free?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: There's not too many matches where that happens, no.
Q. Four, five, six in a year so far? Less, or more?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: About that maybe, yeah.
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