US OPEN

September 5, 1998

Lindsay Davenport

Q. Do you subscribe to the theory the quicker the match the better?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: For me right now, yeah. You know, I think through the summer, I've played enough matches. I feel like, you know, physically I'm kind of in need of not too long of matches. You know, I'm pretty happy with it. I couldn't be happier, actually, with the way it's gone.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I've played her so many times in my career. Both times I lost to her have been on grass. Every other surface, I've always won. But I know it's going to be tough. These courts are playing fast, which she likes. She's going to be trying to come in all the time. I think it really depends on how she serves, because she can get really, really hot with her serve. You know, I'm going to be able -- I'm going to need to return well, hopefully see a lot of second serves. But hopefully if I'm hitting my groundies well, I'm attacking the ball, hopefully can I get some revenge for Wimbledon.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. I think last year here, you know, I pulled out some really tight matches. In the third round I played Patty Schnyder 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, then (inaudible). You know, once I think I kind of got through humps and got through those close matches here last year, my performance at the Grand Slams have gone way up. I feel a lot -- I guess I don't feel so much pressure anymore now that I reached the semifinals once. Of course, I'd love to get to the finals now and win one. I don't feel the pressure on me that "I can't play well in Grand Slams" is the label on me anymore. So I kind of just -- I think I'm playing a lot better every Grand Slam, kind of more relaxed about it. You know, just trying to go all the way now.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Kind of. I mean, I never played well in Grand Slams. It wasn't necessarily a label so much as I knew it was true. You know, in Grand Slams, you have to get through the days where you don't play well. Inevitably in those 14 days, you're not going to play well. That's what I kind of had to learn to do. Last year here, I kind of got through some close matches, got through when I wasn't playing so great. You know, when the US Open was over, I was really happy, I got to the semis, I didn't get through to the finals, but I thought that was one big step for myself. Now I'm back here again, and hopefully the next step is to get to the finals.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: What do I take away?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, you know, I take away -- I think this girl is a good player. I think the court suited me a lot because it was fast. I played very solid tennis. I didn't play great. I did what I had to do. I played -- didn't make too many errors, and I got off the court fast. To me, that was the biggest thing.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think so. I mean, I feel very happy with my game. I feel like I'm doing everything well. I don't think I have any major flaws right now in it. Just trying to stay relaxed, trying to be healthy, trying to win -- I've played a lot of matches this summer, trying to win, keep winning. Try not to spend too many more minutes than I have to on the court. The matches are obviously going to get a lot tougher now that the second week starts. I'm just going to hope to continue playing as well as I have.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. I drive myself, though. That's one different thing.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: You know, so far I've been pretty lucky. But I really like being able to drive yourself. You know, you feel like you're in control and you can just talk amongst yourselves with your family. Relaxes me I think.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, I'm driving. A couple times I let my coach drive, but about 85% of the time I'm driving.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: You know, I did. I actually stayed out there one year with Mary Joe. She used to stay at this place called Glen Cove, at a resort there. I tried that. But it can be pretty far also. I like the city. My family's there. I've got some friends in the city now, so I like it.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: This is my third year.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Normally I take the Triboro Bridge. But if I hear there's traffic on the radio, which I listen, to I take the Midtown Tunnel.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It's not much better. But I swear, so far we've been -- especially this weekend, it's great. It only takes 15 minutes on Labor Day weekend, no traffic. You know, it's been lucky this year. So far so good.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I just think of it a lot as I love to drive. I mean, it's stupid, but I like to drive. Sometimes you get -- sometimes you get a little nervous when someone takes the way you don't like. This way it's just really relaxing.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. My coach has a hard time when I drive, a little aggressive. I like it a lot more. I don't know.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I'm not driving cross town, though. You've got to understand. I've just getting on F.D.R. and I'm out.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I've heard that story. I leave at 10:15, so I give myself so much time before, it's ridiculous.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It's been weird because the other Grand Slams, there's been a lot of upsets, a lot of seeds that haven't made it, a lot of girls that have come through the draw unseeded. I think here, you know, I really don't know what it is. I think top players are playing well. I think players like Novotna, Hingis, they had very tough draws, they've pulled through them, Spirlea had a tough draw from Round 1. I don't know what the reason is, but it just seems like the players who are expected to win so far are winning. Maybe some of the players that used to be floaters are now seeded.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: This is the best I felt obviously coming into the US Open. With winning those tournaments, I also won a lot of close matches, beat a lot of top players. That gives you a lot of confidence, especially going into this big tournament. But pretty much when the tournament starts, no one kind of remembers what's gone on. You have to just start over again. I think my game is there. My game has been very solid now for a couple months in a row. You just kind of look to keep going through the tournament, play some great matches the second week.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, I hope not. You can't really control too much when you peak. If you're playing well, you kind of just have to go with it. I think I've played well the whole summer. I don't want to ever take that back. I think what I did, I was very happy with what I've done. You know, I'm going to keep trying to go here. Inevitably there's going to be a bad day. Hopefully you play through it. Hopefully, you know, next week will be my best week.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Really (laughter). It should be played in LA. No. I think just because I grew up there, with everything, from the weather, to the courts, everything, I feel very comfortable there. But I'm getting better here on the east coast.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I've always said if I'd ever win one, I'd want to win it here. Growing up, I've always watched this one, for whatever reason. You know, my family only comes to this one every year. You know, I like playing here. It's difficult, but it's exciting. It's a challenge. You can never really control which one you'd win. If I had my choice, it would definitely be here in New York, if I could win one.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It's so much easier. I think that's also what helped me last year. I mean, the facilities are so great now. It's so easy on a player. The transportation is right here. You used to have to walk 200 yards before you got out of the tennis center. So that does make it easier. It's a little tough sometimes with the crowd. Sometimes you think they're just there to have dinner and to talk and not really watch tennis. But definitely the new facilities have made it easier on everybody.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, that front lot. But I don't understand. That parking lot is always full. I always have to park on that dirt lot, and there's no way all those are for players. It's ridiculous.