15 maggio 2000
Sidot D Capriati 6-3, 7-5
Q. Tough one, Jennifer, I'm sure. The serve seemed to be the key in many ways.
What was happening out there?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, it's been a while since I played a match so, you
know, maybe I just didn't feel as comfortable out there. You know, actually,
it wasn't that bad, you know. I was actually serving more double-faults
before. I mean, I don't think that was the key. The most important thing, I
mean, she played really well. I have to give her a lot of credit. She played
really well.
Q. Sorry for the ignorance, but why has it been such a while since you've
played? Have you been injured?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I was injured since Miami and I had to skip Hilton
Head, so I hadn't played there for a couple of weeks. So I just started
training, like about, I don't know, a few weeks ago and not, you know, until
recent like training hard. And so -- but I mean I felt fine out there
anyways, and physically I felt fine. There was no problems there.
Q. Jennifer, I was here for your debut ten years ago, you played here in '90.
So what memory do you have of this first tournament you played in Rome?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, just coming here, and of course my dad's Italian so
it was a big deal to come and, you know, the first time I'd been here. And
so, you know, just everything, playing on center court, and I think I lost
to Sabatini.
Q. Yes, correct.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, so, I mean it was very exciting playing, I think a
night match, full crowd. So... You know, that's what I remember.
Q. You were 14 at that time. Don't you think perhaps that it was too early?
I don't know, do you think that your career would have changed if you would
have waited a little bit more to get into the jungle?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, I think it's, you know, not really important to
discuss, you know, that kind of thing anymore.
Q. No, no, no, not personal. I mean tennis. Just tennis.
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah. No, because I think I've come back. I mean who
knows, you know, what could have happened, where my career could have gone.
I don't know, and I just don't see any point to go back and think about it.
Q. Jennifer, you and Harold did such good things together. Why the change now,
and how do you feel about that?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I needed a
full-time coach, somebody who was going to be there all the time, and that's
what I wanted. And obviously, I mean, he can't really do that, you know,
unless I move down to where he is or he moves up to where I am. And, you
know, we just decided to part just because of that. And, you know, to
possibly look for somebody who could always be with me all the time because
that's what I need.
Q. How do you feel about it, just the fact that it happened?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean it's fine. We parted on good terms. Everything's
fine. You know, I mean I still am confident about my tennis, about my game,
just keep going on.
Q. What is the name of the new coach, what was the injuries that you had in
Miami, and how do you feel, your form, physically right now?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, no new coach. Just, I mean, my father's here with
me and a few people from Saddle Brook are with me. But I haven't hired, like,
another coach, you know, full-time coach. And I guess I had tendinitis in my
Achilles. I mean now I've been able, the last couple weeks, you know, to
train normal. It's just sore more than anything, but it's fine. I mean, I
feel in good shape and still, you know, want to be in better shape. So...
You know. It's just the first tournament of the season so far, so it's all right.
Q. Is Harold going to stay involved at all as a counselor in any way or
helping you out?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, I don't know about that. Maybe. We haven't, like,
discussed that or anything. I don't know about that.
Q. Are you worried that this leaves you a bit short of match practice going
into Roland Garros?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I still have a tournament next week, so, I mean at
least -- I mean, I don't know what I'm going to do right now. But at least
I'm, you know, where other players are and I can still get practice with
other girls. But at least I have that tournament next week.
Q. Every athlete has his own perfect weight. Are you on your weight, or are
you one kilo more, one kilo less?
Q. Speak for yourself. (Laughter.)
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: You know, I don't measure my weight. (Laughing.) I don't
know. I just go by how I feel. Yeah, you know, there's, like I said, I think
I have to work more on my shape and physical because I haven't been able to
train full. So I'm not there at that point of being perfect, you know.
Q. This is a pretty important choice to pick a coach at this stage in your
career, I would think. Are you going to make it soon, are you going to take
your time, what kind of person are you looking for when you pick somebody else?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I mean, right now I think it's going to be difficult, I
mean, I just have to see who's out there, who's available. But right now, I
mean, I think I have a pretty good team, you know, for these upcoming
tournaments or until I find somebody. And, you know, it's just you want to
wait until you find the right person, someone that you click with and, you
know, you're going to trust your game with and whatever. So, I mean, that's
the kind of person that I want, someone that I'm going to trust and, you
know, is going to be very knowledgeable and, you know, they're hard to come
by. I mean especially for me; I want somebody full, full-time. So that's
hard to find.
Q. What's your reservations still playing these tournaments? What are the
sacrifices? Do you like doing other tournaments? How do you feel about doing
Rome tournaments?
JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I still love to travel. You know, I've made a
commitment to playing because, you know, it's something that I really love
to do and, you know, right now at this point in my life this, you know, is
what I just want to devote a lot of my life to. Not everything, I still have
a life off the court. But, you know, it can be a very fun job, very easy,
and, you know, and of course it's disappointing having losses here and there,
but you have to learn to take the bad along with the good.
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