U.S. OPEN

August 29, 1996

Arantxa Sanchez Vicario

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think she did try to come to the net, that's her game. But I was very consistent. I guess I was be able to hit good passing shots and be able to move well. I do think that that's her game, against an opponent that is hitting the ball well, sometimes you have to try a little more. I think she played very well, served well, too. I was being able to play very well, don't let her give me so much trouble.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, I'm very satisfied. I think I did play better than the first match. I do feel more comfortable. It's a nice win, you know, tonight after a long wait to play. I'm very satisfied with the match.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: It's different to play during the day than night. You have to wait all day, kind of practice in the morning. You have to go back to the hotel, rest a couple hours, then come back here. Still, you just focus and concentrate. I do prefer to play during the day when it's more warm, with the heat. It happens sometimes that you're going to have to be able to play at night. You just try to do the same as you would do every day by being more focused and more patient.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: It was nice. It was the first match I play on center court, first one I played in Grandstand. It was nice. I didn't have a nice experience after last year when I lost the night match. Coming back and winning feels much better. The crowd was, you know, excellent. I think they enjoyed it. It was a good win for me.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I just take it one at a time. Anything can happen in two weeks in a Grand Slam. I'm just thinking the first week, when it will be over, then thinking about the next one. I know everybody has chances. As a matter of fact, I've had a very good season, I'm doing well, I have confidence. That's what counts to come to this event. I just have to play and see what happens. I'm just taking it one at a time and see how it goes.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I just think that I see her the same game as she's been playing, you know, lately. I didn't see probably big changes. She's been off for three months because of injury. It's nice she's come back. She's a very talented player. I think she can make good shots. She has good hands. The kind of way she's playing, I think she's doing probably the same as she's been doing in the past.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No. I think she's doing fine, but there are other players who have improved, too. The game has improved a lot. You have to win a lot of tournaments to be able to play finals to be the top. If you don't do that, I mean, you don't have results, it's normal that you fall. I guess that other players have to give passed her up because they have better results. The game has improved. I don't think it's her fault, but the game has improved.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, a new mode of clothing, so I thought it would be nice to be able to wear it tonight. I do feel comfortable. It's something kind of weird because I have to ask the ball boy, something is missing. I guess it was not so bad. It helped me to concentrate better on my serve. I can tell you it's not easy to make the change after being playing so many years with the hold ball. I mean, for a change one time, it's fine. It's not like a big problem.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah. I mean, I do have different clothing, so I will probably play in the doubles also with that and singles. It all depends. I will use it a couple times.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: That I wear a dress?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yes.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, definitely. I feel good. I don't even think that I have a dress. Normally I have the skirt. I feel very comfortable. I think I just trying to do my job on the court. I think it looks better. It looks more feminine.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No, definitely it's a nice feeling. You know what you did last year, come back and win, so it feels better. I'm not superstitious at all. I think every match is different. It's the matter of fact the way you play. If you do well and play well, you will win. If you don't, you have more chances to lose. I was not thinking that at all tonight, no.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Well, I think the women's game is improved. The women are hitting the ball harder. You can see the results, players win a couple tournaments differently this year. There's been some upsets, too. I guess that's -- it shows the way the game has improved. Players, probably Steffi is the one winning more Grand Slams, but the rest, other tournaments, has been different winners. I guess it's because, you know, like I say, it's getting better, playing better matches. Since the beginning, we have tough matches. It's not like you have easy matches anymore in the past, you know you'll be able to win 6-1, 6-1, but you have to play anyway. I guess it's better, makes you feel more confident because it gives you confidence to know if you did that, you are in a good way to play the next matches.