U.S. OPEN

August 30, 1994

Lindsay Davenport

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, I'm happy, that first match was a little, you know, a little easy because I was pretty nervous to go out there today, and had to wait a while, but I felt good once I got out there. It was just getting there that took a while. I was a little nervous. I'm getting that at home. It's really nice to play a huge tournament in front of the -- your fans in the U.S.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, I mean it's nice to have people cheering for you and you feel a little bit more at home.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Coming to this tournament I just really wanted to start off and win the first couple rounds because I haven't been able to play this summer because I had an injury, then I got sick and I was a little nervous out there playing for a while. Now I have to look on. I'm playing well right now and keep going through the rounds and obviously, I'd Love to play Graf in the quarters.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I pulled my calf muscles.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It was in San Diego. Yeah, both, which was kind of rare.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I was about to play the quarterfinals in San Diego and I pulled out, then I pulled out of L.A. and I wanted to play Canada, but I couldn't play Canada, so, now I'm here.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Once I couldn't play L.A., I was hoping to go get in there, but then I couldn't play there.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, I just had the flu a couple weeks ago, but I'm getting better.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yes. Well, I was actually just doing normal stuff, went to the beach. You can't really do much. You can't run with a calf, you can't -- so I just kind of had a normal summer which was very weird.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think -- I feel like, you know, I'm the highest American seed, so it is a little bit more pressure than before because last year I wasn't even seeded here. So, I don't think the public necessarily expects me to win because I'm still pretty new and they know more about Mary Joe who also has a good chance to do well and win. So, for myself, I think I can do really well and get through the first couple rounds.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It's very nice, obviously. If Martina had been playing, she would be, but it's great. It makes me think because I wasn't even seeded and I got here and found out, wow. I was really happy how far I've come in a year or two. It felt really good. It was a nice personal achievement, so...

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think playing well. When you play well and win you have to feel nice about yourself -- actually, I take that back. When you don't play your best and can still win, there's a pretty good feeling. But when you beat a higher ranked player, especially where I'm at now, where the players who are above me are really good, then, you know, I haven't beaten many of the top five players. I'm sure that will be a great feeling, but I haven't done that very much.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: The calf muscle is fine. I couldn't play for about 14 days.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Right. All through San Diego and L.A. and couple days of Canada, I couldn't play.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: You know, I don't. I never had a problem with my calf and someone thought I was jumping rope too much and they were really tight when I went out there, but I don't know.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, and I finished that match and won and the next day it was pretty bad.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I definitely think I've come a long way and playing better and getting more experience, and that's a big help. But I know how much -- there's a lot more distance I can cover and still improve on.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Never, I never thought I would break top ten and then six so fast. So, I'm still kind of -- I don't know what to say where I want to be next year because this is a great position to be in. But like I said, if you keep thinking about improving and doing what's best for your game, I think that's how you'll remain happy.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I am -- I'm totally -- it totally helped me. The USTA was great with my years in the juniors and the first year I was pro, and I'm still involved with Lynn Raleigh who is head of the girls and I've had no problems with them. I know some people have in the past, but they've done positive things, and I think they do that for the young players when they first go on the tour to help them.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, it's pretty tough for girls because we're pretty young when we start. I started with Chanda Rubin and Julie Steven and they help us traveling all over, mostly by yourself and making sure you get experience, you meet some other players and you get some friends you can practice with and just trying to make you feel more comfortable.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I can get, obviously, in a little better shape and much faster on the court. You know, if I can really play defense, you know, better than I am now and still be a really good offensive player. I think that will help me further and I think that can be one big step to help me really, you know, be in the top five or whatever and really be a contender.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I do, but maybe like outside one. I think the women have three or four good bets that are going to probably be there and a couple floaters, so. . .

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I consider myself a floater.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I like -- I really enjoyed school and school work. I don't know. Maybe a teacher-- maybe a lawyer. I always said I wanted to be that, but I enjoyed working, but I want to have something to do-- something with school.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It was actually the most difficult when I was about 16 turning pro. You know, because I knew if I turned pro, then it pretty much ended my chances of going to college. And I was fine with it for two years and this past summer all my friends are entering college and three of my friends moved in this week, so, now it's like, well, kind of, I'm here, they're there and so it has its pluses and minuses.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yes, but I turned pro too early before to contact me. They call you in your senior year, and by then I was already pro.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yes.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It's actually illegal to contact -- I had a couple, but I'll keep them quiet.