22 agosto 1998
Capriati D Gagliardi 0-6, 7-6(7), 6-2
Q. That had to be a heck of a match. You staved off three matchpoints there in
the second set?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Three. Was that it? Yeah.
Q. Did it seem like more?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, it did because I thought -- well, in the game and
then in the tiebreaker too, but I guess whatever, you know. (Laughs) It was
just tough. I just was able to play well. I was playing there -- I fought
for everything and it just went my way. It paid off.
Q. Must be good for your confidence to be able to fight your way out of
trouble like that?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, it is. Finally I came out on top in one of the
close matches. It has been -- every match that has been close, I have always
been the loser, so this feels really good.
Q. How much did it help you having the fans really behind you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, they helped tremendously. I mean, they were great. I
mean, they really got me back into that match, yeah. They were great.
Q. Why was it so tough?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I don't know. I mean, she came out on fire -- she
was playing really well. I never played this girl. I didn't really know
anything about her and I didn't know what to expect, but she played well and
so, I mean, she kind of caught me off guard and then I just-- I started
playing better in the second set. I think I got more groove, warmed up a
little bit more. And then just winning that set, I mean, gave me so much
confidence that third set, you know I really played the way I like to play.
Q. Any lapses of confidence today?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, not really. Even in the first set, a lot of games I
still had game points and stuff like that and I was still, you know, I mean,
I can't win those games like as much as I would have, you know, the chances
I had, but I don't think that is so much lack of just concentration.
Q. Having played a three-set match in the first round match of a qualifier,
may be more evidence of how strong this field is for the overall tournament?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I mean, you know, it is not that big of a draw and
the tournament, obviously it is just going to be, you know, even the
qualifying draw still a lot of good players.
Q. Do you really enjoy -- (Inaudible.)
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I do. Especially if I win.
Q. In the match, as the match progressed seemed like you were getting
stronger and stronger mentally more than physically. You started to play
more aggressive. One point you won 12 straight points late in the third set.
Can you try to recapitulate for us what was going on in your head? Were you
saying to yourself: I have got to play tougher, I have got to be more
aggressive or what?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I just -- I knew kind of the whole match, I knew the way
-- before going into the match I knew the way I wanted to play. I mean, just
the way I have been practicing and everything just I have been practicing
real aggressive and stuff and I felt I have been moving better. I think I
just had a little slow start and then after that first set was over I was
just like: Okay, forget about -- you know, the match will start right now
and I still had to fight pretty hard and so just after that second set I --
just my confidence gained. I was just -- I felt more -- just everything was
just starting to, you know, be on for me.
Q. How do you feel your game is now? Compare it with four years ago.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't know. It is just -- I feel probably just I am
stronger and just because I have grown a little bit or just gotten stronger,
you get strong with age, I guess. Also I mean, I am able to work out the
points a little more now. I think a little better out there.
Q. Is it a fact that you become stronger mentally? I mean, if this was a
match you played, say, twelve months ago, do you think you would have been
able to come back and win or because like you said you have grown and gotten
stronger mentally that this was -- you knew even down 6-0 you could come
back and win it?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I think I am a different player than like twelve
months ago, completely different. Really twelve months ago I just-- I really
didn't know what was going on on the court. Now I just -- I feel a lot
better, stronger and just like I feel like I have got a little bit of my
tennis back.
Q. What are you going to do to keep your head into the tennis for the next
match?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I just look forward to the next one and that is it, not
going to think, you know, it is only the second round of qualifying, I am
just going to look at it as just a match. Just try to play my best and do
all the things that I have been working on and stuff and just even if I lose
or whatever the outcome is, just keep doing what I have been practicing and
training on.
Q. Do you have any idea who you might be playing tomorrow yet or --
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No.
Q. It doesn't matter?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, it does. I just don't know.
Q. When you travel the circuit, do you travel by yourself now or do you take
somebody with you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Usually I take somebody with me. I am not by myself. My
family travels with me. My brother has been travelling with me a lot and,
you know, my mom and my mad or whatever, both or whatever.
Q. It will stay that way for the time being?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Sure. Yeah. I mean, I have gone to a few tournaments by
myself, but just right now I really like to have them around and I really
like the support.
Q. What is it like when you are on your own?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, I haven't been to too many tournaments on
my own lately. But just it is kind of like boring. (Laughs)
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