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FAMILY CIRCLE CUP


April 1, 1994


Arantxa Sanchez Vicario


HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA

Q. Arantxa, what happened there at the end, I think she won like 19 out of the last 23 points of the match?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think that she played pretty good, but I made more mistakes than the normal and I let her have the chances to hit the ball well and come into the match and win it. I think that I have my chances probably to come back in the first set and I played really well in the second, and I tried to keep going the same level, but my shot was not working at all. I think that I make too many unforced errors and too many errors, and she is a player who goes for the ball, goes for the shot, and she did the right thing. She hits hard and I have to be very patient, but I was supposed to play the same way second set. I let her go into the match. I think that I make a lot of mistakes, that's the reason why I lost.

Q. You sort of -- the same thing happened in the second set, you got on a roll at the end of the second set. How did you feel after that; did you feel like you had a lot of momentum going into the third set?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, I was not tired at all. I just thought that I have to keep going and the match can be changed and I played well. I did the right thing. I attacked the ball and I hit very good shots. That is what I am supposed to do since the beginning, but I didn't do the right thing until I was down a set. Then the third set, I have some chances in the 1-All, I was Love-30 and a couple of breakpoints, then I lost that game and she broke me. And then 3-1, she just goes for the shot and made it really good. She played a great match, but I just think that I made more mistakes than the normal, that is why I lost.

Q. Was there anything physically wrong with you? You didn't seem to be moving as well in the third set.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I think that I was going to the ball, but I was not -- especially one side, I was not as good as I could, especially on my forehand. My foot was bad, but that is not the reason I lost. I think you were right, I was not getting as good as normally as getting to the ball, but I was not in position to hit the ball, so I have to hit it back and when you hit the ball short, she just goes for the ball and hit winners. And I just think that I didn't play deep enough in the third set like I did on the second, and that is why I lost.

Q. Did you look past this match at all to the semis and finals; were you looking there or were you really focused on this match?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No, I was focused every match I play. I never look ahead before I have to play a match. I always say that I have to go one by one because that is what I always did since I start playing tennis, and definitely, I was just concentrate first for this match and I tried my best, but seems that I didn't play my best and I lost the match.

Q. Is it anymore disappointing since you were the No. 1 seed to lose this match, than say if you had just been No. 2 or No. 3 seed?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: It is always-- you are a little disappointed because you always want to try your -- play your best, and I just only did it, you know, a couple of games, and during the second set and a little bit in the third set, and normally, you know, on clay I would not make so many mistakes that I did today. You are always normally a little bit disappointed because I lost the match, but I learned a couple of things for next time, and I hope it will not happen again.

Q. Can you tell the difference in the way she is playing? She had a big week in Virginia Slims, then she had lost to -- I think, she lost to you, then she had some good wins here. Is there a difference in the way she is playing now to say back to the Virginia Slims?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No, she is playing exactly the same. You know, she is going to go for the shots; hits the ball really hard and she is just taking her risk, if she making mistake, or lose a point, doesn't matter; next time she is going to do it again. It was indoors, same thing in the Virginia Slims. Here, the ball bounces a little bit higher so she has a better chance of hitting it better. She is playing exactly the same game. That is the way she plays.

Q. Does she hit as hard as Seles or Graf or harder?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No, she hits hard, but I think you know, if she is not in position, she has more trouble than hitting hard. The ball is short and she hits hard. Everybody hits really well, the ball, when it is -- you don't have to move. So I don't think she hits as hard as Graf or Seles.

Q. Arantxa, often she would hit a good shot; you would answer and get the point; she was getting frustrated, but she was bouncing back. Did you find her to be calmer than she used to be a year ago? Do you see a difference that way in her emotional game?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No, I just think that, you know, it doesn't matter if she makes a point or lose a point, she is always the same attitude. I don't think that I look that way. I just try to concentrate my own game. I don't look the other opponent and I don't know what she was doing, if she was -- I just tried to concentrate and you know, tried to do something different, but nothing worked at all today, so I just think that she -- I have to give credit to her because she played a great match but I was hoping to play better than I did today.

Q. Give her a strong chance to win the whole tournament?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: To her?

Q. Yes.

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Who knows? It is hard to say. I am not in the tournament anymore, so I don't care who is going to win now. Sorry.

Q. Arantxa there was controversy with the local umpires being replaced this year with better quality. Seems like there is a lot more complaints. Did you notice anything about the officiating this year? Was it okay? Were there more calls?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: You know, it is always close calls and this is the only surface you can check the mark because, for sure, the ball is bouncing and you can see the mark, but I just think that it has been pretty good. They have been great and nothing that I have to complain about it. I just think that they do a good job and it has been much

Q. Do you think you had a mental let-down just because so many of the top players like Martina and Gaby were upset earlier in the week; did that affect you at all not being able to play those top players?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No, I know that there were not that many seeds left in the tournament, but I didn't put any pressure on myself. I knew that I didn't have easy draw; that I have matches; I just tried to concentrate and played my best, but seems like today I was not in good shape as I was in all the matches and, you know, I lost the match, but I think there is more tournaments to go. I am focused on the French Open. This is like a warmup. I had could have some other good tournaments before I get there and get ready for that one.

Q. Was your foot hurting?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Sometimes, but I try not to think about it. I tape it. When I was moving; especially to the right, to my forehand, it was hurting me a little bit, but that was not the excuse to lose the match, but it was bothering me a little bit.

Q. Your right foot?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: Yeah, but she played a good match, that is the point.

Q. What is your program now, where are you going?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: I have to go to Amelia and then I go home and I played Barcelona.

Q. Italy?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ VICARIO: No. French.

End of FastScripts....

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