TMS - INDIAN WELLS, WOMEN

March 16, 2000

Lindsay Davenport

WTA: Questions for Lindsay.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I don't know. I mean, it's been a lot of matches now in a row, a lot of matches that I've played that I've maybe only lost once or twice, I'm not sure. It's tough. I mean, you have to keep getting up for matches. Sometimes, you know, it's very difficult to play a top player. Sometimes in the semifinals it can be a little difficult to play somebody you don't know that well. You know, I think the occasion maybe slightly overwhelmed her. I don't think she played that well; made a lot of errors. But I've just been playing really solid, like I've done every match, gotten out of there really fast, been concentrated, done what I've needed to do on the court to win the match easily.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I definitely think I've been the No. 1 player since October or November, maybe even the summer. Like I've said before, it's 12 months. Last spring, I didn't perform like the No. 1 player in the world, and that's why I'm not No. 1 right now. If I play well the next few months, I think I'll regain it. That's my belief. I'm sure I'm closing the gap right now. I'm not going to worry about that too much. People can say they think I'm should be No. 1, but as far as I'm concerned, I'm still No. 2, and just still have to get there.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think so. Obviously it's never going to be a strong point of mine, like Arantxa or Amanda Coetzer, but I don't think it's a liability anymore. I think I get actually to a lot of balls and get them back into play and make the girls hit an extra shot. It's been a huge stepping stone in my career, as well, just getting more balls back, anticipating a little bit better. It's important to make your opponents feel pressure from my groundstrokes, but also that I can run a few balls down.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I swear, I think the same. I think both times I've played her, it's been a really nervous match for her. At Fed Cup, we played the opening round match for the finals of Fed Cup. She was a little overwhelmed again. It was 4-0. Here I think the same thing. It was another big match for her. She just doesn't have that experience yet.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No. But she must be better (laughter).

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Oh, sure, yeah. It's extremely nerve-wracking. I'm sure this was her first semifinal of a big tournament. It happens. That's the way I was. I mean, I got better the more times I got in that situation in my career.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No (laughter). I wanted to get off there.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Who?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I thought you called me Mary.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, I think it was 2-All in the first set, and I started feeling a little bit more comfortable out there. I started trying to get the balls a little deeper. She always seemed to be rushing her shots a little bit, going for too much too soon, gave me a lot of points on some errors. I felt if I could get the ball deep or hard in the first couple shots, I would have an advantage in the rally.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, I think I've been holding my serve pretty easily this tournament, have been working on that a lot. Definitely my groundstrokes.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Equally the same.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, it's always exciting to play Martina. We've played a lot in the last few years, No. 1, No. 2. That always seems to get a big buzz around in terms of fans and media. So that's always fun. I've always actually kind of cheered for her to get to the finals after I'm there or before I'm there. But Mary is obviously playing well. I didn't see a point of her playing Serena. She must have played extraordinarily well to win like that. Mary is obviously someone who plays the way I do, attacks a lot, hits the ball hard. Martina is someone you need to attack and you have maybe a better opportunity. But it seems to me Martina has been so consistent and solid, beat Mary fairly comfortably last week in Scottsdale. You know, unless Mary plays really great, I think Martina's playing too well right now.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No, because it was a semifinal. I'm thinking about going ahead to the final. I'm also thinking about trying to win matches as quickly as you can. You don't want to stay out there in long matches. You might try and work on some new things, but tonight is a tough match because she was making errors. She hits the ball hard, so if they go in, it's not like you can just come to the net or anything like that. Really I've just tried to win my matches as quick as possible.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, that's been a huge thing the last four times we've played. It's been really funny, she hasn't gone for her first serve. It's given me an opportunity on the first ball to go for it. Her second serve is obviously a major factor that I've been able to overpower her, set the rally up with that. So I think, you know, it's tough if she goes for a serve and misses it, she's giving me a second serve. But I think she probably needs to serve better than she has the past few matches against me.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Because it's a 12-month race and Martina's done better than I have for 12 months, and I've been catching her. It's just the ranking system.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: On the computer I'm 2. Hopefully in the next few weeks, maybe I'll gain some points and overtake her.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I feel like I'm No. 2. It's kind of fun being the underdog a little bit. Martina is No. 1. If I get back to No. 1, I do. I've been playing great tennis now for many months. I don't care if the computer says I'm 4, 3, 1, 5. It doesn't matter.

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: You think (laughter)?

LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I think the slower court probably helps mere a little bit more. It takes a little bit of my pace off the ball and gives her some more time. In Australia, the court was extremely fast. She didn't have a lot of time to set up for the ball. Martina's very smart. She uses her height as best she can. She obviously knows how to combat power by beating the Williams sisters, Mary and even myself before. I'm sure she'll try something a little different this time. I'm going to do the same. I'm going to keep trying to attack her if I play her and keep her on the run.