PILOT PEN INTERNATIONAL

August 27, 1998

Steffi Graf

Q. That I was probably your first win over a named player since the comeback. It was a pretty incredible performance on your part out there tonight.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, I thought I didn't make many mistakes. Like you said, she is definitely a tough player usually tough to play. Maybe she made more mistakes today than she usually would do. At least I know her, but I think my backhand really worked well altogether. I just felt that I was much more consistent and stronger.

STEFFI GRAF: It is very important, especially in the early stage of the first set. I mean, maybe in the beginning I was a little tentative on some shots, but it was a good game, a very close game. From then on, it seemed like I started to, I don't know, just cut down and then played a little deeper and little bit longer. From then on, I just felt much better. But I think it was very important to break back and lead 4-3 and to get a comfortable service game at that moment.

STEFFI GRAF: I think I had much better, positive attitude. I just, you know -- I don't know, I just really basically looked at every point. I didn't really try for anything crazy. I really was trying to find the rhythm. I did that very well. I was patient enough, seemed to make the right decisions at the right times.

STEFFI GRAF: Tiring?

STEFFI GRAF: It's more tiring for the other one (laughter). No, but it was very important, as it was in the first match. I think I won a lot of points because I felt I could go backhand crosscourt with her. I kept them pretty low. She didn't really know what to do off it. She just had to play at my forehand so I think it was vital today.

STEFFI GRAF: No, I think I have played better. But not probably against somebody that high ranked.

STEFFI GRAF: No, every time you go out there it is a different match and no, I didn't really -- I mean, I know -- we know each other's game very well. We have had some very close matches, like you said, she won a few times and I think that just make me, who more than anything else.

STEFFI GRAF: I haven't played there for two years I have no idea.

STEFFI GRAF: I think they are pretty similar. I haven't played there for two years. It is difficult you go from one tournament to another, I wouldn't be able to judge until I get there. I think, but they are probably pretty close.

STEFFI GRAF: Lindsay has been having an incredible summer right now. I have played her in Stanford. It was very close three-setter. She has been really playing extremely well. She won all three of the tournaments there. Definitely she is on a hot streak, so, I definitely have to do play another consistent game and, you know, go for my shots probably a little more than today.

STEFFI GRAF: Pretty well, I guess. Physically I am holding up very well. Mentally I sometimes not the patient kind of person, so I always like things to progress faster, but I am doing really fine. I am enjoying myself.

STEFFI GRAF: Who?

STEFFI GRAF: Probably not, no, not that I can remember.

STEFFI GRAF: She didn't play her best either. That is one part I played well, but we all know or probably it was obvious that she can play better. I guess it seemed like she lost a little control of what to do. She didn't seem like she had a game plan at all anymore and she just made more mistakes than she usually would. I mean, that is -- as I would say, I didn't really had any let-downs. It is not like I had -- sometimes after playing so well for a couple of games, you get -- you maybe start to be a little bit unconcentrated, but I wasn't at all today.

STEFFI GRAF: I hope that I keep on doing that. (Laughs), but it is difficult to get to the point, I mean, I guess that happens if you know, usually I have something to attack, you know, with me playing my backhand a little more consistent last few days I think it gets more difficult because my forehand is -- if the backhand gets difficult for them to do something with, that leaves them guessing more, what to do.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, I think I need to show the kind of tennis for a more consistent time.

STEFFI GRAF: No, what happened a little bit in the beginning of the first set, that, you know, it was a little bit of a waiting game what the other one would do, what I would do. I really didn't go as much as for my shots as I usually would like more in the second set. I really went more for my forehands. I really didn't do that too much in the first set. That was something that I wanted to focus right on in the beginning of the essential set because I felt that I needed to do that.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah. Yeah, I just -- you know, it wasn't consciously in the first set, I didn't wanted to do it, but I just didn't take as much risk as I would take in the second set and in the first set I didn't play my forehand as well as I usually could do and so I just wanted to -- so I concentrate add little more on the second set.

STEFFI GRAF: I felt already during the match much better. It seemed like, you know, I was able to just get my mind straight out there and I knew it would be a difficult match, but like you said, I bad a better attitude and what really worked well is what we have been working on is my backhand. It is something that I was hoping it will happen during my matches as well and it is finally coming there.

STEFFI GRAF: Yes! That is what you wanted to hear, yes (laughter). Yeah, I think it will. Absolutely. You don't -- you don't win against a player like that, that kind of score if you are not playing well.

STEFFI GRAF: I was upset because I felt it was -- I mean, they were close calls when you are not quite sure, but this one I felt very obvious because I was standing in front of it, still I should have played it anyway. But, I just told myself to just play the next point. I mean, yeah, I got upset, but then served a good point and she kind of made a mistake off the next one. So I just wanted to finish it the right way.

STEFFI GRAF: I have always done it for myself. Not that I mean, you know, I have always been the one out there, you know, nobody else -- not for anybody else. I mean, other than for myself.

STEFFI GRAF: It has always been for my enjoyment, not that I don't enjoy it when people get into it, not to leave that out. I mean, it is great to see the others having fun watching me. But I have always been the one that decided I wanted to be out there and I do enjoy myself very much. But I have always done it. Maybe a little more now.

STEFFI GRAF: Urgency for what?

STEFFI GRAF: I think I have done it already. But, yeah, I could -- I wouldn't mind doing it again.

STEFFI GRAF: (LOOKS AT HER WATCH) No, I don't feel that way. I really don't. I mean, no, once I am out there I don't think about these things. And like I said, my goal has never been to win a certain amount of Grand Slams or certain amount of tournaments. I have never been somebody that worries about numbers, but I certainly worry about or I care about what I am doing out there if I like it or not.

STEFFI GRAF: That is not true. I think I have now -- I think I have always been like that after matches.

STEFFI GRAF: Well, yeah, but that is definitely -- yeah, I mean, but that is a totally different thing. Yeah, I appreciate probably more the way things are going especially right now because I know how hard they have come about and how long of a road it has been to get to the point where I am right, but I mean, what I do -- I have been able to say that luckily for the last few weeks or the last few months how people responded towards me playing and, you know, that is something I think I have always done after matches, to give autographs and take my time. I think I have always done that. That hasn't been any different. Just people coming up more and more.

STEFFI GRAF: Yeah, no different. Yeah, I am not getting used to them yet. (Laughs) I hope I never will. And I wouldn't because they are always special to me.