U.S. OPEN

August 28, 1996

Lindsay Davenport

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I played very well the first set. You know, it was going so fast, playing well, she wasn't playing very well. All of a sudden in the beginning, the first couple games were really important. Unfortunately I let her in on them and get more confidence. She did play much better the second set. For some reason, I just kind of stopped going for my shots, just played the way I hadn't played in a long time, just kind of not really like aggressive and feeling confident. I don't know why I picked it up a little bit in the end and was able to win.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think so. It's going so easy, you're cruising, feeling good, then all of a sudden I got broke in the first game. I was like, "Oh, no." The second set, like I said, I didn't play that well and she played a lot better. I was able to win it, move on.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think so. I still felt even if I was down 4-1, I still felt I could win that set. That is a change of thinking probably for me. I was still very confident that I could win. I was able to pull that game out, which was a huge turning point. I was able to go up 5-3. I should have won the match there, served for match point. With more confidence that came. Hopefully it sticks with me.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: For me here, I was so nervous about the first couple rounds because I hadn't really passed them in years past, so I definitely haven't looked very far in this draw. I know now I play Sidot who I don't know much about. I like knowing my opponent and knowing how they play. I'm still taking it one match at a time. Each match I've been very nervous for, which is good. I'm so nervous for each match, not looking ahead, really worrying about each person I play so far.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, I didn't. It's so frustrating. You like to know if they're going to slice or serve and volley, come in. My coach watched a little her play the other day. You kind to like to see them play yourself before.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Right. I never played her. She didn't play well that first set and then she started playing better. Took me a little by surprise, I think.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I was nervous. I found out I didn't pitch from the mound. I thought it was a female thing, they didn't think I could do it (laughter). I asked someone. They said, "No, no. Everyone throws it from there. The Jensens did it there." I said, "I was preparing for 60 feet." The guys were all really nice to me. Hopefully I can go to one of their games. I couldn't stay long because I played early today. They were great. Neat to meet them all.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: They wanted me to fake them out and hit it with a tennis racquet first. I hit a tennis ball with the tennis racquet, then threw it. The guy was literally standing five feet a way. I was like (indicating), barely throwing it.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. He was here today, watched me play. Nice.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. I try not to read too much about me, especially leading up to this tournament. . I think it makes maybe other players a little more intimidated, some. It does give me confidence actually. A lot of people are asking me, "Do you feel more pressure this US Open?" I honestly don't. I feel that I'm playing well and that I have a chance to win. You know, I think I've proven it to myself that I can play and can win. I have a lot of confidence going. You know, you never know what happens here.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Stop, stop right there (laughter). I don't want to hear anymore. I haven't really looked.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I got a tough draw now. Oh, no (laughter). It was going so well, gosh.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I know last December I decided to put a lot more into tennis. I certainly am not about to put everything I ever do or everything in my life towards tennis. I believe that I've dedicated myself a lot more towards tennis, doing well. It's paid off for me. You know, some people like to get away; some people like to do everything for tennis. It's pretty individual. I think the rewards for me have been a lot greater since I've put a lot more into it.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I was so happy when the year ended. I had so many injuries and was never playing that well, never really got going on any kind of training because I was always injured. Kind of in December I just said, "God, you know." And Mary Joe's coach Harold Solomon gave me this coach, "Ten years you don't want to look back and say, what could I have done?" December I said, "I'm going to go for it. I'm out of school. I don't want to go back to school right now. I want to do well in tennis." I just decided I was going to put it all on the line. I've tried to do that. Like I said, so far it's paid off. Down the road it's bound to go bad again and then you just have to work even harder to get it good.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Not really. Always in my thinking was, "I need to get in better shape and get faster." I never said, "I have to get down to this weight or lose this many pounds." I said, "I have to move better on the court and be stronger." That's really the mentality that I took with my coaches and myself.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, not really. Everyone asks me that. I haven't, trust me, cut out anything (laughter). I'm working harder, I don't know.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I hate these. I've lost around 20 pounds. I don't know if that's good or bad.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: A lot of times everyone gets nervous on match point. I remember at the end of that match being so tired. The point at 30-All was really, really long. I remembered at the last point being so tired and not really being able to be nervous because, "I just want this to be over." I was so tired. I hit a good serve, one shot, it was over. I was so happy. I do remember I didn't see where the ball went, but I remember wanting to go to the forehand, to her weaker side, not giving her a chance to hit her best shot, which is her backhand, and it worked out.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Like I said, I was doing so well, it was going so fast. All of a sudden she started hitting some more shots in. I definitely started to miss a lot more. Then you lose your confidence kind of fast when you get broken the first game of the set. She definitely picked it up a level. The difference between her and the first and second set was different, and the same with myself. I was able to get on another roll and get a 5-3 with match point. Probably should have won the match then, but didn't.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No. But now I've figured it out because he said No. 4.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No. I lost that game. I'm confident I can win that game and win the match. You know, it's hard when you start off down a break for sure.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I'm a lot more people's dark horse or pick outside of Graf, Seles, Sanchez, everyone in the top. I feel, like I said, I've had some good wins. I feel if I'm playing well and things work out, that I do have a chance.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I said I think I'm other people's dark horse.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I personally wouldn't choose me to win, if I was going through the draw and betting with someone. I would pick probably Steffi. Like I said, if things work out, I think I could win.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: For her in a Grand Slam, it's kind of hard to bet against her. She's so tough in the Grand Slams, wants these titles more than anything. I beat her in LA. That's only once. She has five wins on me, I believe. I would put my money on Steffi or Monica, covering the bases.