U.S. OPEN

September 3, 1994

Lindsay Davenport

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I didn't feel really physically tired. I have been a little sick, not that had anything to do with it. But, I just didn't really, you know, move well and it was a little hard to catch my breath and, you know, she was, you know, taking every shot. I hit and she came back with one better. That is tough to play against.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, really windy. First set I couldn't really figure it out and second set it was a lot worse on the one side. I'd swing my hardest and the ball would hit the service line, and the other side you'd touch it and it would hit the baseline. So, you know, I just -- I don't think I moved that well. I made so many unforced errors, so many service returns. I just missed in the first set and in the beginning of the second set I should have broken her more than once, but I just made so many unforced errors.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I mean, every loss teaches you something. Today it is just one of those days. I really couldn't get my legs into the balls and really get behind them and I just -- you know, some days you just don't feel that great. I warmed up good and I thought I was playing well. I got out there and it didn't happen.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I guess it is true. Most of the time when I lose, I learn a little bit more about what I need to do and what I need to improve on, so, for me...

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, my leg is fine. My leg didn't hurt at all.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, you know, I think I should come into the net more, but I just don't feel -- I just don't move around very well up at the net. And I don't feel like maybe I am nimble enough to go cover those volleys. I don't feel comfortable going back for overheads yet, so it is hard. Maybe if I can get a little faster, a little more comfortable and confident in myself I will be able to do that a little bit better.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, I think for me it is extremely important. I think today you need -- to beat a player like that by coming in. I just didn't feel comfortable coming in, and covering the passing shots, so. . .

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Not necessarily a serve and volleyer, because I hit good groundstrokes, but to be able to come in when I need to, just pretty much an all-around player.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: He is pretty much a serve and volleyer. Yeah, like Sampras. I think everyone wants to be like him.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, I didn't know, I mean, I was hoping I could take the set and, you know, I held my serve and then I got on that other side and she just toyed with me from that other side, you know, I had tried to hit the ball really hard and it wouldn't go that far and she'd just come there and take it early and put it away. That was really tough for me to read.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, she took them early and normally -- she is very fast and normally she has the person on the run, coming in on the baseline, taking it early, and giving me a lot less time to get to the next ball.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I am sorry.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Desperation. I was trying to do something different; maybe change it up. I was against the wind and it was a good play. I had the forehand and I hit the net, so...

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I don't know about pressure. I was probably putting a little more pressure on myself because I wanted to do well here and I really wanted to get far here. I guess maybe I felt a little bit, but it wasn't like I was saying, oh, my gosh, saying it like there is so much pressure on me, I wanted to do really well here. I didn't play much this summer and this was really my goal all year, and it didn't work out, so...

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, well, I don't know, I mean, I am going to go see a specialist in a couple of weeks and maybe he will tell me what I need to do.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Don Chu. He is a trainer in San Francisco and maybe he can tell me what I need to do. He knows some secret.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Like I said, it is not hurting at all. That was good. I was concerned at the time because you know, I wasn't sure, you know, if I would be able to practice and be able to play here pain free, but I couldn't play for like 13 days, but then I started practicing and normally if I don't practice a lot, it doesn't bother me that much. It healed and I don't think it affected me you know, playingwise. Maybe a little match-tough a little bit. I only played a couple of matches in July, so -- but nothing like practice or you know, not today, running or anything.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, he works with some other players. I think he has worked with -- I have seen him in the past. He has worked with Jonathan Stark and Jim Grabb and couple of players gone up to see him.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Oh, yeah, I think you know, a lot of players been really great. I talked to Mary Joe a lot and you know yesterday she was like I just didn't play well, but that happens, so maybe today I will have to say that to her.