24 giugno 2002
Capriati D Husarova 6-1, 6-4
Q. Quite a tough workout today.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, it was a good match, especially in the second set.
It was very close. She really started playing better. I'm glad to have
gotten a match like that where it wasn't too easy. You know, it was good to
have some rallies. I really had to concentrate. I think it was really a good match.
Q. She seemed to loop a lot of backhands, plenty of dropshots. That is going
to help you going for the title this year, mixing up the game a little bit?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, yeah. Not too many players play like her. You
don't know what to expect. She kind of plays like that dinky kind of tennis.
You never know, then she can come and hit hard. It's not the usual game, how
the other players play. Sure, I mean, if you can handle that type of game, I
think that makes it better, makes it easier for, then, playing against the
other types of games that are just kind of straight on.
Q. Do you think you're better prepared this year to go to the final?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I want to take it match by match. I'm feeling well.
Physically I feel well. I've been playing well the last two weeks, I think
in my practices. Yeah, maybe I have -- my game's a little better this year.
I've had better preparation maybe.
Q. Have you had a chance to talk to Billie Jean about the Fed Cup situation? Is
there any desire on your part to get that smoothed over so you can possibly play again?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I haven't talked to her. Right now, my career is more
important. So right now it's not even something I'm thinking about.
Q. No regrets about that situation or how it's kind of played out?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I think it's pretty much put to rest. I mean, it
was something that happened just in a couple days, and kind of, you know,
got blown out of proportion, and then it just died down. So really, I'm fine
with moving on. I mean, I have no regrets. I totally believe I, you know,
did the right thing. Basically I didn't do anything wrong. I mean, I have no
regrets. I think anyone that should have regrets is their side, so... You
know, they lost one of their top players. That's all I have to say.
Q. Do you agree with most pundits that the title is between yourself and the
Williams sisters?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I can't agree with that. As a tennis player, you can't
ever agree, because you never know what's going to happen. You know, they
can look on the outside, but on the inside, you know, we just know that
anything can happen, especially on this surface. You know, we're just
favored to win. But I think there's a lot of other good players that have a
chance and that are -- you know, especially are going to be more determined.
And they don't want to see the Williams sisters or me up there just
dominating the sport. So I think, you know, we're not even close to that.
You know, so I think there's a lot of players that are just very determined
out there, and you've got to watch out for everybody.
Q.
Do you think it's good for the sport or not good for the sport to have the
same couple players winning all the tournaments?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't think it's good. I think it would just get boring,
especially I think for the public to watch the same players over and over.
But I don't think it's been the same players. It hasn't gotten to that.
Maybe, you know, the last couple tournaments. But really it's just been --
at least in the Top 10, you know, there's still a number of players that
have won tournaments. You know, it's been different winners here and there.
Really, it's not dominating to -- dominating to me is like Steffi in her
days and Hingis was there dominating for a while. It's not that anymore, for
sure.
Q. How would you describe your relationship with the Williams sisters off
the court? Is it cordial? Friendly? How would you describe it?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I think we just respect each other in a
professional atmosphere, and that's it. I mean, that's all I know them as.
No, we don't go and have tea together, that's for sure. But there's not too
many players that are friends with each other. There's only a few. There's
only a few that I know, that I'm friends with. So the rest, it's a mutual
respect, I think, and that's it.
Q. Is it a genuine rivalry between you and them?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I mean, I think so. You know, we've had very close
matches. I haven't played Venus too much. But definitely I've played Serena
a lot, and it's all been close matches. You know, I was winning before, now
she's winning. So I think we're just going back and forth. So, I mean, that's
a good rivalry. You know, but I still think there's other players out there.
Q. Any bad blood between you and them?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I wouldn't say that at all. I mean, I just play them,
that's all. Other than that, I mean, I have nothing to say.
Q. Your commercial for Florida Tourism Industry is airing back home. You've
been selective with endorsements. Do you anticipate doing more things along
those lines?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It depends on what it is. I mean, that was for a good
cause, for my home state, didn't take too much of my time. So as long as it's
easy and I don't have to talk a lot on the commercial, then it's fine. I
don't mind (laughter).
Q. You say there's other players out there. Who are you nominating?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, well the Belgian girls, Lindsay, she's yet to come
back. I know when she'll come back, she'll be very eager since she's been
out of the game. You know, there's still -- Monica you have to watch out for.
There's just, you know, a lot of different players. Hantuchova, when she
really comes into her own. All these girls are young. I think the older they
get, the more experience and the better they're going to get.
Q. Where would you place Jelena Dokic about the girls, most likely?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: She's definitely a threat also. You never know, you know,
what can come out of her. When she's playing really well and she's on a roll,
she's very difficult to beat.
Q. Do you take pride in the fact that American women have won the last eight
Grand Slam titles?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Sure.
Q. Is this something you pay attention to, kind of look at it as an American
takeover of women's tennis right now?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't really look at it like that. I mean, I guess it's
a good thing since I'm happy that I'm part of the group. Other than that, I
mean, I think the States has always been the strongest in that regard. You
know, even the men. I don't know, maybe not so much the men anymore. But
there's just a lot more players coming from the States.
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