28 giugno 2002
Capriati D Bedanova 6-4, 6-2
Q. Did you expect such a tight first set today?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I knew she was a good player. I knew she'd be a difficult
opponent so I was really, I think, just ready for anything today. And she
played exactly like I thought she'd play except I didn't think she'd serve
and volley as much as she did. But I knew it was going to be a tough
opponent.
Q. Do you think you lost your concentration a bit in the fourth game? What
happened in the fourth game of the second set? There were a couple of
double-faults, it went back and forth then you lost the game.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. Well, that just kind of happens sometimes. You know,
she played a couple good points, maybe I lost my concentration just a little
bit. And, you know, maybe the wind picked up a little bit at that time and
just different things. And I kind of was ahead and maybe I kind of thought
things maybe were just going to keep going on a roll. And so I just kind of
backed off a little bit and, you know, realized that I can't do that because
she's just a consistent player. So I think I got it back right away.
Q. Is your game on course the way you want it to be for grass?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I think I'm playing pretty well on the grass, and
I'm returning, serving well. I think I'm coming to net at the right times -
most of the right times I think. And, you know, the more I play, I think the
more I get better on the grass. It's so tough to really just see where you're
at and see what, you know, rhythm . It's such a different style of play than
what you're used to. So it's so hard to really evaluate your game.
Q.
As the grass gets browner and browner, how does your game have to change?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, maybe it picks up a little bit I think. And the
only -- I guess the toughest thing is the movement, especially at the
baseline, it's pretty much dirt there and there's no grass left. So it's
just you have to be careful moving, and you really -- I mean, I don't feel
as comfortable or as graceful moving back there when it's so chopped up,
so...
Q. Through the years it can be argued that you're really one of the great
fighters in the women's game. Could you take a moment and describe what
inside you gives you that fighting spirit, if you can try and put that into
words.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, it's something that's always been a part of me.
And especially the last few years of my life, I've really had to fight on
and off the court. So I just, I don't know, on the tennis court I look at it
as a battle I know maybe I'm in control of and where I have the best chance
and I can really, you know, dictate what I do out there and what I feel. So,
the rest, I think it's just something you just have or you don't have. I
mean, I'm certainly not the only one. I mean, there's a lot of great
fighters out there, so...
Q. But in all the twists and turns in your pretty incredible career, what
was a time when you felt you really had to fight the most either on court or
off?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think both. I mean, they were just related in a lot of
ways. I mean, what was going on off court was, you know, showing on the
court. Even when I was just trying to come back, I didn't feel the most
confident and definitely had a lot of fear, you know, I just wasn't
comfortable and confident on the court, so then that would make me struggle
off the court because, you know, obviously I wanted to do well. And the
thing I had grown up doing and felt like I was born to play, I felt like I
couldn't play anymore. So that was definitely a hard struggle for me and I
think I overcame that. I definitely overcame that.
Q.
You called on your pride?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. I mean, I wasn't going to let whatever it was that
was kind of bringing me down, I wasn't going to let it defeat me. And, you
know, I was going to be the one to come out on top and I knew that, that I
just wasn't going to let that happen.
Q. At the French when Venus and Serena became the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked
players, you shared your thoughts on their road to that level. Now that
they've been in the final at the French, as they have been at other Grand
Slams, what are your observations on their head-to-head matchups and the
perception among many people that it's almost pre-ordained how things are
going to go?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I'm not going to really comment on that anymore. I mean,
I think they definitely deserved -- deserve being where they are now. I mean,
they're great players. But, you know, what I said about the No. 1, the No. 2
and all the players not being in it, I mean, even for myself, I'd rather be
No. 1 when everyone's in the group just so I really can show to myself and
show to everybody. And, I mean, I have no idea, you know. It's just on what
they do, if they plan their matches. I mean, I'm not going to comment on it
anymore. I mean, I don't think that's really what I said anyways.
Q. No, I wasn't saying that you had discussed.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah.
Q. Just what are your observations of what happens on the court when they
have head-to-head matchups?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I don't know. Maybe it's like a sibling rivalry
there. I mean, I couldn't imagine playing against my own brother, you know,
or sister, if it was my brother in that case. You know, the nerves, and I
don't know how mentally you can just go out there and play against your
blood, you know. And so it just seems like they're not playing their best
tennis at the same time. And maybe that's nerves or I really don't know. But
it just -- the way they play in other matches, they don't really play that
way against each other. That's what it seems like.
Q. Do you give any credence to the notion that there might be discussion
beforehand, that their father might influence what's going to happen on the
court, when they play each other, not in any other matches?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I have no idea. I have no comment.
Q. When did you realize in your childhood that you wanted to be a
professional tennis player?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't think I can remember a time where I thought I was
not going to be a professional tennis player.
Q. Do you remember how old you were when you started?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, three. Yeah.
Q. When you said it doesn't seem to be the same when they're playing each
other versus other matches, can you describe that? Is that intensity or fire
or...?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, seems like a little bit intensity. I mean, I didn't
see the French Open final, so I don't know. I didn't see that match. But it's
just, you know, maybe the other Grand Slam final, the US Open, the only
other one I saw was the Nasdaq this year, it just seems, you know, either
the intensity or just one is on and one is off, you know. So...
Q. Not to be rude, but just to follow through on your comments about them
becoming 1 and 2 when the others were injured, the counter-argument is
obviously you can only play who is there. How would you respond to that,
firstly? And do you think it diminishes Steffi's incredible record that
Monica was hurt for so long during her run?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, I mean, no. I think they're -- I mean, there's been a
lot of good players. Even though we're missing some, the rest are in there.
And so I think they definitely have played unbelievable tennis to get to
this point and they definitely deserve where they're at. I mean, it's so
close, we're all so close anyways. So it's just going back and forth. I mean,
with Steffi, I have no idea. We can all say that, go back, and how would it
have been if it was this way or that way and it's not. So what's the point
of even talking about it?
Q. When Venus and Serena were very young, Richard made a lot of bold
predictions. Some have come true now. What were your thoughts about the
predictions back then and how do you look upon them today as they've
achieved this 1 and 2?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think they've achieved 1 and 2 because of the players
that they are; I don't think it's what the father said. The father could
have been wrong, could have been right. It's definitely -- he's not the
Nostradamus of tennis who can just predict everything. I mean, they're good
players and that's it. I mean, you know...
Q. Did you see the signs held up by their supporters behind the umpire's chair?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah.
Q. I think one of them said, "Your loss, Billie Jean." Do you agree with this?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Of course.
Q. I mean, how are you feeling about that now?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, basically I've just moved on from it, and I'm not
even thinking about it, and I don't see any point to think about it anymore.
Q. It's not affecting your game at the moment?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, not at all.
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