US OPEN

September 7, 1998

Lindsay Davenport

Q. Is this special in light of Wimbledon?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Let me think about that. I guess so. I mean, you know, I didn't -- I wasn't happy when I lost to her at Wimbledon. But I've played her a lot of times before, and I know she's a great, great player. Hard courts is a different story for myself. I didn't want to go out in the Round of 16 at the US Open quite yet.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: For sure, yeah. I think, you know, if you look at my record against her, the only two times I've lost to her have been on grass. I feel like I'm a little bit more comfortable on the hard courts against Tauziat. I felt like I'm playing well. So I was -- I didn't want to be in any danger out there. You know, I had a few chances in the second set that I didn't take advantage of, but I really closed it out in the last game. I'm pretty happy with, you know, closing out the match the way I did it.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: A couple times. I mean, when she starts serving well, you have to really concentrate to hold your serve. A couple times I think I was down a lot of breakpoints, only got broken once, which is great. Yeah, the second set definitely got a little closer: Up 3-1, let it get back to 3-All. Like I said, the last game was really great. I was able to put it away the first point, 40-Love. That's hopefully what you can do.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think on grass it's a lot easier to come to the net. Your approach shots stay a lot lower. On the hard courts, I don't have to bend as much as on the grass. She's just definitely more comfortable on the grass than I am. On the hard courts, I'm probably more comfortable than she is. I love playing on them. You get a higher bounce which helps me. You know, I can get her serve back a little easier on the hard court.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I missed it. I saw it on the replay. Then I watched his next three at-bats. Nothing happened, I don't think. Did it happen?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I thought maybe I missed extra innings or something. That was exciting. I mean, I was in the referee's office when Sampras and Agassi were there. They were both like staring at the TVs also. It's a big day.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. I mean, I follow every sport pretty closely. I watch Sports Center, all that kind of stuff. I'm a big McGwire fan. Why are you laughing?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Do you really (laughter).

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: So I think he's a great guy. All the stories I've read about him, he's a really big guy with a nice heart. I hope he does it.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I watch that sports show too (laughter).

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Really (laughter)?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. I mean, for me, playing so many matches this summer, I'm really happy that each match has been fairly quick. Tonight was a lot tougher than the other matches. I think even with the score, it's a little misleading. I mean, I guess routine. I'm playing well, concentrating very well. I'm taking advantage of the opportunities that were given to me. My next match with Coetzer is going to be tough. She's going to get a lot of balls back. I think if I play aggressive, the way I've been doing, really take advantage, hopefully I'll get to the semis.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, in terms of confrontations, no, I don't like confrontations. If someone was to come up and start a fight, I'd just walk away. I think a little bit of that was taken out of meaning in terms after couple years ago, that was a situation with one player when I was playing against them. Sometimes, like if someone you could tell was just trying so hard, I'd be like, " Oh." But that was four years ago. I'm a much better competitor now than I've ever been. You know, I think I want it just as bad as everybody else does now. In terms of getting into a fight, I'm not going to do that.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I swear, it was probably like, you know -- I mean, wasn't like a specific situation. But probably like playing one of the top players like Sanchez. It wasn't really bad. Just someone that was trying after everything. Probably Sanchez, not in a bad sense, like I didn't like her, but just she was trying for everything. I was probably missing.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think I'm a much stronger competitor. I think I kind of realize that if I was playing tennis, I want to do it and be out there and win. I've worked so hard now, the last couple years, that I'm not going to go out there and say, "I don't want to win today." Something I've concentrated on. I mean, mentally I'm getting stronger and physically getting stronger. You know, I want this tournament just as bad as the other seven players now left in it.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah. I mean, I get asked this every time. I always say, "I like it."

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I mean, when I've played on those courts, they have been relatively full. But it's an exciting day. It rained. You move some of those big matches outside, I have total respect for that. I can't change anything. I like being kind of almost like the quiet underdog in a sense, knowing I can go about my business. I'm always still in the second week these days.