SANEX CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 3, 2001

Sandrine Testud

MODERATOR: Questions for Sandrine.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Maybe a little bit. I had my opportunities in the first set. It wasn't too bad at all. I may have hit the ball better than during my last two matches. There were two or three good breakpoints on her serve. If I can take one of these opportunities and have a breakpoint, then maybe the set would have gone my way. In the second, I think I was too frightened. My play wasn't great really. But the first set was tight.

SANDRINE TESTUD: No, I couldn't have done anything about it. I would have been forced to play two matches in a row. No, I don't think this would have changed a lot.

SANDRINE TESTUD: No, not more than normally. My impression is that if you can keep her at the baseline, she makes quite a few mistakes. You must not let her play angles. Her return was very good. The same roughly as with Davenport. I don't think she plays better than her.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Yeah. I suppose I let down in the second set. The first, I didn't feel so well. I didn't hit the ball well. But then I had my two or three breakpoints and she only had one. That made the difference, unfortunately. My serve wasn't good. She took the break. It's hard to get back into the match afterwards.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Except this one famous game. I think my serve wasn't that bad in the first set. That made the difference. That's why I had my breakpoints, my opportunities. But one second serve, I made a mistake on my return. It's hard to lose the first. Mentally, it's difficult.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Well, if you would have said I could go to the semis in the Masters, it was a good week. I'm ending a very good season, I suppose.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Yes, I think so. I think it was -- yeah, certainly it was the best in my career, the best in years. I was very consistent. I played well. I beat very good players.

SANDRINE TESTUD: It's not too bad. It's my best ranking. It's my best season-ending ranking in years.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Total rest. I am going to rest at least ten days.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Maybe more. In terms of tennis, maybe more. But physically I have to get my bum up and do my work because otherwise it's hard to start again at my age, you know. It takes a few days more. I'm not 18 anymore, unfortunately (laughter). If I take a break too long, I'm not going to get started again.

SANDRINE TESTUD: No, not really. It starts earlier. In fact, it starts, the first tournament, Gold Coast, starts the 30th of December. Christmas will be at home. It's going to do me well.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Well, had she won, she would be No. 1. Now, Capriati - but she was injured two months. She had an incredible end of season. Even since the US Open, she didn't lose a match. Jennifer had two Grand Slam wins. Maybe she would deserve being No. 1, but she isn't. She lost at the beginning of this week. This is what the ranking is. It may be fair or unfair, but the Grand Slam tournaments count most. That's what Davenport said anyway. She said she would have loved winning two of the big ones. If you win two of the big ones, it's easier to end No. 1. But that's the way it went. Of course, it would be more logical to see Jennifer No. 1. That's for sure.

SANDRINE TESTUD: Yes, but she has two major Grand Slam wins. She only plays five events a year. She'll never be No. 1 if she doesn't play a bit more. This is a purely theoretical question.