PILOT PEN INTERNATIONAL

August 22, 1998

Jennifer Capriati

Q. That had to be a heck of a match. You staved off three matchpoints there in the second set?

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Three. Was that it? Yeah.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, it did because I thought -- well, in the game and then in the tiebreaker too, but I guess whatever, you know. (Laughs) It was just tough. I just was able to play well. I was playing there -- I fought for everything and it just went my way. It paid off.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, it is. Finally I came out on top in one of the close matches. It has been -- every match that has been close, I have always been the loser, so this feels really good.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Oh, they helped tremendously. I mean, they were great. I mean, they really got me back into that match, yeah. They were great.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I don't know. I mean, she came out on fire -- she was playing really well. I never played this girl. I didn't really know anything about her and I didn't know what to expect, but she played well and so, I mean, she kind of caught me off guard and then I just-- I started playing better in the second set. I think I got more groove, warmed up a little bit more. And then just winning that set, I mean, gave me so much confidence that third set, you know I really played the way I like to play.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, not really. Even in the first set, a lot of games I still had game points and stuff like that and I was still, you know, I mean, I can't win those games like as much as I would have, you know, the chances I had, but I don't think that is so much lack of just concentration.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I mean, you know, it is not that big of a draw and the tournament, obviously it is just going to be, you know, even the qualifying draw still a lot of good players.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I do. Especially if I win.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I just -- I knew kind of the whole match, I knew the way -- before going into the match I knew the way I wanted to play. I mean, just the way I have been practicing and everything just I have been practicing real aggressive and stuff and I felt I have been moving better. I think I just had a little slow start and then after that first set was over I was just like: Okay, forget about -- you know, the match will start right now and I still had to fight pretty hard and so just after that second set I -- just my confidence gained. I was just -- I felt more -- just everything was just starting to, you know, be on for me.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I don't know. It is just -- I feel probably just I am stronger and just because I have grown a little bit or just gotten stronger, you get strong with age, I guess. Also I mean, I am able to work out the points a little more now. I think a little better out there.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Yeah, I think I am a different player than like twelve months ago, completely different. Really twelve months ago I just-- I really didn't know what was going on on the court. Now I just -- I feel a lot better, stronger and just like I feel like I have got a little bit of my tennis back.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: I just look forward to the next one and that is it, not going to think, you know, it is only the second round of qualifying, I am just going to look at it as just a match. Just try to play my best and do all the things that I have been working on and stuff and just even if I lose or whatever the outcome is, just keep doing what I have been practicing and training on.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: No, it does. I just don't know.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Usually I take somebody with me. I am not by myself. My family travels with me. My brother has been travelling with me a lot and, you know, my mom and my mad or whatever, both or whatever.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Sure. Yeah. I mean, I have gone to a few tournaments by myself, but just right now I really like to have them around and I really like the support.

JENNIFER CAPRIATI: Well, I mean, I haven't been to too many tournaments on my own lately. But just it is kind of like boring. (Laughs)

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