U.S. OPEN

September 6, 1992

Gabriela Sabatini

Q. Gaby, was the wind any kind of a factor out there today?

GABRIELA SABATINI: The wind?

Q. The wind.

GABRIELA SABATINI: A little bit, some moments, but not really much. I think it was more at the beginning, then, it was better to play.

Q. Gaby, her serve was consistently twenty miles an hour harder than yours. Was that a problem for you?

GABRIELA SABATINI: No. I don't think so. She serves pretty well. Very hard, and I just tried to put the first serve in and make sure that it was -- hit the ball in play. Just try to put it in.

Q. She started playing much better in the second set. Did it take you a while to react to that, because she had such an easy time in the first set?

GABRIELA SABATINI: Yeah, she changed a little bit, her game. She started to beat the ball, just go for it. In the first set she was a little conservative, and in the second, she started to do something different. Sometimes it is hard to play someone when just -- she just goes for the shots and, you know, it is hard to do something. But I think I kept fighting very much there, hanging in there, and that is -- that is what happened.

Q. Gaby, you didn't seem to come in behind your shots for volley as much as you did when you were winning a couple of years ago. Do you think you could have been more aggressive?

GABRIELA SABATINI: Yeah. In the second, I started to come to the net a little bit more. You know, I started to do that when I need it. In the second, I thought, you know, she had problems making passing shots, so that is something I feel more comfortable, sure, and probably I am going to have to do that a little bit more the next matches.

Q. Where do you think your game is right now? Getting through the first week without too much problem?

GABRIELA SABATINI: I am playing very good tennis. I am hitting the ball very well, and mentally I feel very good. That I -- that was my concern before the tournament, and I feel focusing on the tournament and physically I feel very good too. It is good that I had some tough matches; especially the one before this one. I am ready to have big matches.

Q. Gaby, are you a better player now than when you won it a couple of years ago; do you think?

GABRIELA SABATINI: Yeah, I am a better player, completely. Not different, but I improve very much, especially mentally. I am like more mature on the court. That makes a difference.

Q. You say you were concerned about your mental approach before the tournament.

GABRIELA SABATINI: Yes.

Q. Why would that be?

GABRIELA SABATINI: Well, because I think I played too many tournaments before coming to the Open. I only played one. It was in San Diego and I lost the second round, so I didn't get to play too many matches. You know, I was playing good tennis. I wasn't worried about that, but mentally, I wasn't sure about that. But after the first two matches, I feel like I was in the tournament.

Q. With Jennifer out and Martina out, do you think you have an easier road to the finals now?

GABRIELA SABATINI: Well, I didn't have to play them, not before the semis. I think I have a very tough round. That has nothing to do with the matches getting to the -- (pause) I think I have to think about each match and the next one is going to be a tough one. That is how I want to do it. It doesn't make any difference.

Q. Thank you.

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