02 settembre 1999
Capriati D Noorlander 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
Q. What changed in the second set?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I think I just raised the level of my game a little
bit. And I think I came out there, and I really knew how she was going to
play because I had just played her not too long ago. So I was expecting her
to just come out the way she did. But I guess my game was off, you know, I
was missing a lot of shots, making a lot of errors. And then I just -- I
raised the level of my game. I just started playing better and she started
making some errors. I just got more confident, as the match went on.
Q. There was a little exchange between, I think, the fifth -- at 6-5 or
something, about the pace of the serve. Did that make you angry?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No. Not -- you know, I was just pretty much pumped up
before that, and, you know, I just tried to like, I mean, I try to thrive
off anything, anything that will just get my adrenaline going more. And,
yeah, I guess that did, you know.
Q. In that first set, you got down, and then you came back and then you got
down set and came back. In the third game of that second set, you were down
15-40, and you came back and you held, and then you sort of were on your
way. Something about perseverence, can you talk a little bit about
perseverence in your game, in your life, what it means?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think I've just always had that, that, like,
determination, just -- I've just always had that. I guess what's changed is
maybe in the past -- the last few years, the last couple matches before I
started doing better, I just maybe didn't have that, didn't fight as much,
or just sort of, you know, after I would lose the first set, just see it as
a losing battle. But now, you know, I got myself in much better shape, and
that really has a lot to do with it because I feel like I can run all day.
Then, you know, there's -- I enjoy being out there and hitting the ball. So
even though there's no -- there's no reason for me to give up.
Q. What memories do you have of your last meeting -- (inaudible.)
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: The memories?
Q. Yes.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Just that I won.
Q. How was the match?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It was a good match. I lost the first set. She came out
and played strong, played better. But, you know, I just know at least -- I
mean, I know her game pretty well, I think, now. And I think she's going
play the same way. You know, she has a good serve, and it would be different
than the girl I played today, that's for sure. I think I'll be hitting a lot
more passing shots, or trying to, whatever.
Q. How do you feel about your tennis now? Do you feel like you're starting
to play really, really well again?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I do. I feel more comfortable and confident out
there and have a lot more trust in my game that, you know, it was more like
before I didn't really know whether I would hit the ball and it would go in
or out, you know. And now, I just have the confidence where I, like, know
where I'm hitting it and know what I want to do, and believe that they're
just going to go where I want them to.
Q. How difficult was it for you to be patient when you first came back to
tennis? Did you have any insecurities that you might not come back?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: You know, maybe I had those doubts, but I just -- just
kept going, and just kept trying not to give up on it. And, you know, I got
a coach, and, you know, I put my mind to it. So now it's like I see that:
Hey, I can do well, you know, better anyways, and just see where I go from
here now.
Q. How did you get hooked up with Harold?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: It just came about that he wasn't working with anybody,
and I was looking for somebody. And I've always known him from travelling
with Mary Joe. I saw him all the time. So I knew him that way, and he's just
nice. And, you know, somebody just mentioned it. Maybe even just my dad. I
was like, "Well, why not?"
Q. So you contacted him?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah.
Q. What has he helped you with most?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Just everything. Just that he's my -- I have a coach, you
know, and that he's my coach. I feel better just having that because it's
like more structure, more discipline, and I feel like professional again.
And he just helps with every part of the game, you know, technical, the
strategic part, the mental. I mean, he was a great player himself. I think
he really knows the game, and more than anything, I guess, just confidence.
Q. Do you feel like you can make a run here? Do you feel like your game has
come back to such a level that you can turn some heads and upset a couple
people and get far?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I really am not looking at it like that. I'm just going
to take it one match at a time.
Q. You looked very happy and relaxed after the match. The crowd cheered you
on. Is this kind of a new chapter in your career, more enjoyment, more
excitement is coming back? Is this a new stage of your career right now?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, definitely. This is the best results I've had in a
long time, tennis results. And I think the New York crowd, they really love
to cheer for the underdog, you know, they've just always been like that.
Because I'm American, you know, just -- they're very supportive.
Q. What kind of preparation, mental and physical, did you do for this
tournament?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, physical, just the stuff that I do with my trainer,
and just practicing and working hard at home. And the mental, just, you know,
just looking really looking forward to this tournament, to play in this
tournament. Not putting any pressure on myself. I mean, you know, just
really being eager, and just thinking to myself: "Whatever happens, happens,
you just have to go for it."
Q. Is this your favorite tournament?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: One of my favorites, yes.
Q. How does the atmosphere here, particularly at night, compare to other
tournaments when you play, say, a night match?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, I think this is the only tournament that
really, like, has so many people come out. That's where -- that's when the
stuff really happens, is at night. So it's, I mean, very special.
Q. Any memorable matches that you've played here at night? Maybe you played
Sabatini.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, at night.
Q. Anything you remember from that experience, just what it was like?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, yeah. I remember, it was just a great match. And
maybe the first time -- I don't know if I had beaten her, was that the first
time? It was the second time. It was a Grand Slam I won to get into the
semis. So it was just a great memory.
Q. Did getting a coach mean that you were willing to put more pressure on
yourself to do more, better?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I wouldn't really call it pressure. I would just call it
determination, really.
Q. Did it take a while to get there, to get to that point where you wanted a
coach?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, it did. For a while there I thought, you know, I
could be my own coach, you know. I didn't need anything, anybody. (Laughter.)
But I guess it really wasn't working that way. So I got Harold.
Q. What was the last straw in making you decide to go to Harold?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Just I was just sick of losing, or just not knowing why I
was losing, or just feeling just lost out there and not knowing really what
to do, where to go, anything, you know. And I just needed an outside
perspective, you know, someone from the outside looking in to help me to see
what's going on. Because I guess I couldn't really see, you know, I was just
in the middle of my own stuff, and so that was it.
Q. As a 14-year-old girl, the victories came pretty easy for you. Do they
mean that much more to you now than they did then? Was it all kind of a
whirlwind then?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: You know, I'm just -- I don't really want to go back to
the past anymore and talk about it. I just want to talk about the now, and
what I am now.
Q. I saw a little film clip of you on television. They asked you about the
crowd and you said, "I really want to win for them." Who do you really want
to win for? Do you really want to win for them? Or is it for you?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I think obviously it's for me, yeah. I mean, really no
one knows other than me how hard it's been, or how much work it's been to
get here. And, you know, I'm not expecting myself to win. Just by winning is
not going to be a thing that makes me happy. But I just, I feel their want
for me to win, the crowd. Just so it would be like, you know, giving
something to them. And, in turn, it would also be like for me, too.
Q. What is the goal now? Is there something out there that you want to reach?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: You know, I'm just enjoying myself. Enjoying my life,
just living. And that's really it. You know.
Q. They're talking about Jennifer Capriati from today, from now. Did you
change a lot? What is your life now all about, besides tennis? Do you have a
lot of hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Now you're getting personal. (Laughter.)
Q. That's even worse.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I'd go on forever, you know. So, I mean I enjoy many
things, whatever: Music, movies, friends, you know, family, love, whatever, you know.
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