March 14, 2001 - TENNIS MASTERS SERIES
>Indian Wells, California
>
>G. IVANISEVIC/T. Enqvist 7-6, 6-3
>
>An interview with: GORAN IVANISEVIC
>
>MODERATOR: Questions for Goran.
>
>Q. How does it feel?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Great. After last year, everything feels great, you know.
>But I playing very good lately. I'm having more fun, playing good tennis.
>Just need one big result in a big tournament, and then it's going to be
fine.
>
>Q. What do you think has helped turn it back your way? Have you done
anything
>different?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Well, I just have more fun. I try not take so serious
like
>before. You know, last year I wanted to win so badly, practicing like
crazy,
>and then I just couldn't do it.
>
>Now I have more fun. I play challenger. I had great fun at that challenger
>tournament. Everything is more fun. You know, I come here, enjoying more.
>Just having fun on the court more, trying to be more relaxed. That's I
think
>helping me to play better tennis.
>
>Q. About three years ago or so Andre Agassi went back to the challengers.
>Look what happened to him. Do you think the same can happen to you?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I hope half could happen to me what happened to him, I be
>happy.
>
>Q. How different is the challenger experience?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Oh, you know, when you take the practice balls, you have
to
>give $10, if you don't give the balls back laugh, they take your $10. You
>can't get a towel, only if you play a match. It's pretty low.
>
>But is the best organized challenger, was really great. But some things,
you
>know, it's like a wake-up call. But it's fun. Every day I give my $10, I
give
>the ball back. So is interesting, you know, funny week.
>
>Q. Do you get your balls back?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, I was careful, you know, not to lose any balls.
>
>Q. Speaking of balls, what do you think of the ATP's ongoing campaign, "New
>Balls, Please"?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't know. They have to pump something. They have to
>promote old balls, old guys like me, old balls, used balls. I think used
>balls are still better than new balls.
>
>Q. So you think a campaign "Used Balls Please" --
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think it would be nice. Used balls against new balls. I
>think used balls are still winning there.
>
>Q. So how do you see the rest of your career going if things go well? Are
you
>going to try to win a few Grand Slams?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't know. I have to take care of my shoulder at one
>point this year. I have to have surgery. I don't know when, but I have to
do
>that because if I have to play five sets in one tournament. Two weeks ago I
>played doubles, singles, Monday, next day I was so, so bad. If I want to do
>well, like Wimbledon, I have to see what is best solution for me.
>
>But I don't think in the future. Maybe this is the last year for me, maybe
>not. I going to see, you know. I going to see end of the year how the
things
>are going. I don't want to go through year like last year.
>
>So far is great. So far I have fun. If I want to finish the tennis this
year,
>then at least I want to try everything, try to have fun, try to be happy.
>Then at least I can say I finished my career happy, not, you know, after
two
>years try to practice five hours and try to come back. That would be a
>disaster.
>
>Q. Do you think you have one more nice run of success in you?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah. I think I'm moving well, I'm playing well, I'm
having
>fun. I think I'm not so old. My game is okay. I'm serving pretty well. It's
>not that I have to run too much. I think I still have one, two years in me.
>But hopefully I can survive these two years.
>
>Q. How long would the recuperative period be after surgery?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: They don't go deep, they just clean it. So they say
between
>four and eight weeks. So if I do that after Key Biscayne, before Wimbledon,
>before Queen's, it's nine weeks. But shoulder is the worst part of the
body.
>It's most sensitive when you operate. It can be more, it can be less.
>
>Have to see. If I calculate too much, if I'm going to try to come back,
then
>I start to panic, then can be worse. So I have to think, you know, very
>deeply with myself, you know, and then I have to make decision what I going
>to do.
>
>Q. Even in the best of circumstances --
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: It's tough decision what I going to do. Maybe I don't do
>it. But I have to do it this year, end of the year, now, later, somewhere I
>have to do it because is not good.
>
>Q. How did the shoulder feel out there today?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I mean, it feels okay. Sometimes hurts less. But it
hurts.
>Doesn't matter what kind of serve, slow, fast, it hurts the same. For me is
>same, I just hit the serve.
>
>I don't complain. When I come on the court, doesn't matter. I don't lose
>because of my shoulder; I lose because I play bad. I just don't think about
>it. I just try to serve my best.
>
>Q. Do you think this area has changed much since you first came here and
made
>your announcement that there's no life here?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: It's changed, changed. I see a lot of younger people, you
>know, coming.
>
>Q. Maybe because you're older.
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Probably. But they like me. After that comment, you know,
>it's great. I get a wildcard. The people, they enjoying. I said that long
>time ago. But still it's fun to come here, see all these older people
>supporting me. Actually, they are my biggest fans, so I have to be nice to
>them.
>
>Q. So when you retire --?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Maybe I retire here. I don't think I'm going to live too
>much here, but is nice place to relax, play golf, have some fun.
>
>Q. You mentioned deep thoughts a moment ago. When you were up at the Sybase
>Open in San Jose, the power went out. Just a little while ago the power
went
>out. I don't know whether you were on court at the time. Do you think
that's
>an omen?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Maybe, you know. Too much energy, you know. Who know,
maybe
>God is following me. So maybe it's a sign of something good. Power went off
>in San Jose, then I played a very bad match that day. But today I actually
>play much better.
>
>Q. When was rock bottom? Is it breaking all those racquets? Was it losing
in
>the first round of the qualifier for the Australian?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: That was a stupid thing what I did. I mean, frustrating,
>stupid thing. If I win that round, which I should, I could be straight in
the
>Australian Open. But then when I broke the third racquet, I realize I'm not
>going to be straight in because I cannot finish the match (laughter).
>
>That's a good thing, you know, what I did, I think. It's something that
>people are going to remember. Nobody did that before.
>
>But Australian Open is pretty low, the way I played, fly 25 hours to get to
>the Australian, then play -- I don't know. I didn't tank the match, but I
was
>not there. I played three sets. I lost 6-2 in the third, but I was not
there.
>That was pretty stupid, pretty bad.
>
>Then after that I start to wake up. I went to play challenger. Since then,
>everything is floating, everything is getting better.
>
>Q. How close were you to finishing?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: After then, I say, "Maybe, listen, this is last year for
>you, but at least try your best. When you come on the court, try to give
>hundred percent, try to have fun, try to change something from last year.
At
>least you owe that to yourself after 12 years on the tour, what I did."
>
>After that, everything is getting better. At least if I finish my career
>after this year, I know that I try everything. If I couldn't do it, I
>couldn't do it. But I think I can still do it.
>
>Q. You had so much talent, personality, worked so hard. If it comes to an
end
>this year, do you look back and say, "I didn't get as much out of it as
maybe
>I should have"?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, I think I'm pretty happy. Just maybe the Grand
Slam.
>If I would win that '92 Wimbledon, I think I will win another couple of
>Wimbledons, for sure. But then second one, again, you think, scared. Third
>one even worse.
>
>When you get there, you get first chance, you have to take it. That is what
>is different between my career and maybe Sampras, Agassi career. I didn't
>take my first chance, which I was favorite that match. That be maybe is
going
>to bother me.
>
>But I think I did very well. I was No. 2 twice. I won lot of tournaments. I
>beat everybody. I broke most racquets on the tour, by far. My fine, I pay
>more fines than some guy's prize career prize money on the tour (laughter).
>
>Q. Safin is right behind you.
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: He's catching, but he's young, you know. He has very good
>potential. He's a great player, and his potential is No. 1. I assume he's
>going to play a lot of matches, he's going to break other racquets. Is
going
>to be big fight, you know. Depends how long I going to play, you know.
>
>Q. In breaking a racquet, is it mostly in the wrist?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Hey, sometimes I watch the TV, and then I see the guys
when
>they throw the racquets. They throw it like a faggot, you know. They throw
it
>not to throw it.
>
>When you throw the racquet, you throw the racquet. I mean, you break.
>Sometimes doesn't break, thanks God. But you throw the racquet. You don't
>throw it and it's going like this. You have to smack the racquet, you know,
>or you have to get anger.
>
>Q. Does that take money away from you?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: No, no, no. Actually, they told me two years ago at that
>time, "What's going on with me?" Guy who is making racquets for me is not
>busy anymore. I have to keep him busy, you know.
>
>But now Safin came, next guy after me. So he's good. I like the way he is.
He
>has a personality. I think he throws the racquet with emotions. That's how
>you should throw the racquet.
>
>Q. Was that something you used therapeutically to get the emotion going for
>you?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, sometimes you throw everything outside of you. You
>get warning, but doesn't matter. Sometimes I keeping everything inside me,
>then I explode, then I gone for two, three games. But now I just let more
>emotions outside of me and is getting better.
>
>But you throw the racquet, you start talking to the umpire, the linesmen,
but
>sometimes you -- sometimes because you want to, sometimes because you want
to
>calm yourself. You have a lot of different kind of talkings there.
>
>Q. Ultimately you'll be a huge success on the seniors tour doing that?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, but some guys are pretty funny on the seniors tour.
>But if I want to play seniors tour, I'm still 29, and I think, what, it's
35,
>36.
>
>Q. You can get in earlier in Europe.
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Who knows. I'm thinking about now, you know. Senior tour
is
>far away for me.
>
>Q. Did you get a phone call from Charlie Pasarell for a wildcard?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I asked for it. It is really nice for him. So many young
>Americans, so many good young players. But he still appreciate my game. He
>still likes that I come here. It's really nice for him to give me wildcard.
>It's nice, the people still believe that I can still play, and I can still
do
>some damage when I clear in my mind.
>
>Q. Is it true that you traveled with a priest in the past to some
>tournaments? After you break a racquet, if so, do you have to go to
>confession?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: No, I didn't travel. He good friend of mine. His dream
was
>that I take him to Wimbledon, so I make his wish. I took him to Wimbledon.
He
>told me I can swear, but till here. I don't touch the God. From here down,
I
>can do whatever I want. Up there, I don't swear.
>
>He's pretty cool priest, you know. He is not a regular priest. He's a
strange
>priest, but fun.
>
>Q. Majoli told us about Dr. Needles, that you recommended she go there.
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Probably in Germany, but I don't know when. Dr. Needle is
>not a surgeon, he's just giving needles. That's why I call him Dr. Needle,
>but he's a very good doctor.
>
>Q. You need Dr. Knife?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I need Dr. Knife, Dr. Butcher.
>
>Q. What is it in your shoulder? Bone chips?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: It's something like Rafter had, similar thing.
>
>Q. If you can play through it, wouldn't it make sense to wait until after
>Wimbledon?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, I know, but sometimes after like two hours of
>playing, I can't hold my racquet anymore, is getting tired.
>
>Q. You have to win fast?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I have to win fast. Depends on the day. Is tough
decision.
>I don't know what I do, but I do something.
>
>Q. Did they tell you you would do more damage by keep playing on it or no?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: It can't be more damage. But doctor told me after he saw
my
>MRI in US Open last year, I asked him, "What I going to do?" He said,
"You
>know, best thing before you go to sleep, you pray every night. Is the only
>thing you can do is pray and pray."
>
>I'm praying, and so far is okay, so I'm going to keep praying.
>
>Q. I saw the match against Enqvist. At the end you said something.
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I just say hello to my friend up there.
>
>Q. This afternoon Pete Sampras was asked because of mad cow disease in
>Europe, whether he was going to change his diet in London at Wimbledon. He
>was very critical of the cucumber and cheese sandwiches, then went on to
say
>that he was going to change his diet. Are you going to change your diet?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: No, I can't survive without meat. If I die, I die like a
>man eating meat. I have to have meat at least five times a week. I can't
>change my diet.
>
>Q. So what if you were forced to have those cucumber sandwiches?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't eat cucumber sandwiches because I don't like
that.
>I going to have a nice steak with French fries. Hopefully I don't get the
cow
>mad disease. Maybe I got it already, who knows. I'm still alive.
>
>Q. When you're done after this year, whenever, will you miss us like we'll
>miss you?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Sure, I'm going to miss all these questions. You're going
>to miss all my answers, you know. Is fun, you know. It's been fun coming to
>the press, you know, never know what I going to say, what you going to ask.
>
>Q. Could you give lessons to other guys on the tour?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I should. They going to learn. Some of them, they still
>stiff. Some of them, they learning.
>
>Q. Some of them are just dull.
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: But it's also talent, you know. You have to be born with
>that. Somebody has talent for that, has talent for talking rubbish
sometimes.
>
>Q. You'd be a great hit on the senior tours.
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: A lot of those guys, they broke, so they go to seniors
>tour. I hope I invest my money safely so I don't have to go and play
seniors
>tour.
>
>Q. You think Mr. Safin is following in your footsteps in press conferences,
>as well?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, he's cool. He's on the court, he has a good
>personality. He's a great player. I like him. He's really nice guy. I think
>he has all potential to do whatever nicely. Plus he won Grand Slam, you
know.
>I think he's going to win a lot more Grand Slams and break a lot of more
>racquets.
>
>But I have to see, you know, how many. I still leading. I think in racquets
>and fines. I ask ATP last week to check for me how much fines I pay through
>these 12 years. They told me they going to tell me in Miami. Be interesting
>statistic.
>
>Q. You'll tell us?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I'll tell you. Don't worry.
>
>Q. Regarding Safin, do you think he's got it to win on the grass at
Wimbledon?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: I think so, if he survives first week. Agassi won, so I
>think he can do it, too. He's serving big. He's got big shots. I think he's
>going to improve. Grass in Wimbledon, after like ten days, is pretty slow,
>getting slower. With the balls, they slowing. But I still think he has a
>shot. Every time he plays a great grass court player, I always can put the
>money on the great grass court player. But he can win. He can win, sure.
>After all this Sampras, big servers are gone, I think he can do it.
>
>Q. How important was your sense of humor, your ability to laugh at
yourself,
>in getting through last year?
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: Last year, sometimes I can act better. I can go to
>Hollywood maybe. People think that I am happy, but inside I was not happy,
so
>they don't know. I like to keep everything inside me. Sometimes that is not
>good because then you explode, then can be dangerous.
>
>But I survive. I try to do whatever, something else, just to survive.
Losing
>17 times in the first round, try to keep this momentum, you know, try to
wake
>up and practice. Then I ask myself, "Why I'm practicing today? What for?
Why
>I'm coming to the tournament? What for I'm doing here?"
>
>Then, like I say, in Australia, I just woke up. I woke up after flying.
That
>was punishment, flying 25 hours. After three -- I spent four days in
>Australia, then go back to Europe. I woke up and I say, "Is enough. Now you
>just concentrate and have more fun." Now is better. Now I'm enjoying it.
I'm
>happier. Everything is better.
>
>Q. You could probably have another record if Vince Spadea wasn't around.
>GORAN IVANISEVIC: That's tough to break. Hopefully not.
>
>END--FastScripts
>
><<<<< END >>>>>
March 15, 2001 TENNIS MASTERS SERIES
Indian Wells, California
Y. KAFELNIKOV/G. Ivanisevic 5-7, 6-2, 6-3
An interview with: GORAN IVANISEVIC
MODERATOR: Questions for Goran.
Q. Just your thoughts after winning that first set. Looked like things were
going your way.
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah, but if I could hold serve first game of the second
set, maybe that was my chance, you know. Maybe he might fell apart.
But he play very good tennis. I play him so many times. No mistakes. I have
to work for every point. No free points. If I hit one shorter ball, short
return, I'm gone. I mean, he play great tennis. Everybody said the way I
play, everything was great. I need those kind of matches, you know. I need
some more matches to play players like him, and it's going to be much better.
Nothing to say about my game. I play good, he play better, and he beat me.
Q. How often in your career have you given a guy a serve like that when you
see it's obviously in?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I gave a lot of times serves. You don't see that on the
tour, you know. Most of the guys, they don't do that. I mean, nobody actually
do that. Maybe few more guys just give the points. But I think that's nice. I
think I say to myself, "It always comes back somehow." Today didn't. Maybe in
another match, another tournament, maybe the things where you give to the
other guy comes back. Sometimes the other guy gives you the ball back, you
know. It sometime can be good.
Q. Is it because you're known for your serve that you feel particularly
towards people that make a good serve and get it called out?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't feel any sympathy. When it's good, it's good. The
ball was clear on the line. What I going to say? I better say good, because
it was really good serve, not because I feel any sympathy. It's just because
the ball was good.
Q. How is your shoulder?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I was getting a little tired. I had a lot of serves. He was
returning very good, and then I start to force myself a little bit more. I
didn't know what to do. I start to force second serve because he was
returning too good. It just start to hurt a little bit.
That was not the reason because I lost. It was the reason because he play
better tennis. But it's still here; it didn't fall off. Hopefully it's not
going to fall off yet.
Q. Does a match like this encourage you to keep playing?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah. I mean, when I can keep up with a guy like him.
Usually we play a lot of times and I have a better score than him in
head-to-head matches. I know I can beat anybody when I play good. Today match
could go around, but I can feel that I can play against these guys - doesn't
matter if it's him or Andre or whoever. If I have my momentum, if I play
good, if I keep my mind, I think I can play against anybody here. That's why
I still playing. Crowd likes me. Lately I like myself. Perfect.
Q. The crowd was really with you.
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah. I think they still want me to play, still want me to
win some matches. Everything is working fine now, slowly progressing. But
it's nice, it's nice. It's so tough when you lose first round. Is better like
this.
Q. With the crowd behind you, how do you feel about that, home field
advantage?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: It encourages you to play tennis, to try to win. They
really want me to win. Is really nice, you know. After I say all the comments
about this place a long time ago, they still like me and they still want me
to come back. The older people are my best fans. I'm going to keep coming
till I can.
Q. Will you be playing Indian Wells next year?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I hope so. I hope so. I still going to play tennis, I still
going to have fun. Hope I don't need a wildcard next year. Hopefully I can
move my ranking. Is also no fun when I have to have a wildcard every week. Is
not a goal for me. I want to achieve something, like go to Top 50, then is
easier. You don't need a wildcard. You can move, you can choose the
tournaments. Like this, I have to choose what they offer me. If they offer me
wildcard in Memphis, San Jose, I have to go there. In Europe, I cannot get a
wildcard. So is different story. When your ranking is not good, you can take
whatever is there.
Q. How will this affect his ranking?
GREG SHARKO: I'm not actually sure.
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I going to move now a little bit with these points. If I
can play every week like this, I going to be okay because I have nothing to
defend. I have only Queen's, Key Biscayne I won two rounds last year, and
Queen's two rounds. That's it. Every first round after that. Whatever I do, I
think I'm okay. If I play like this, if I'm with my mind like this, I'm not
worried about my ranking.
Q. If you play well at Key Biscayne and here, will you put off the surgery on
your arm?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I don't know. I was talking about that yesterday. That's a
decision that I have to think deeply. I don't know. It's really tough
decision. I don't know what I going to do.
Like today, you know, what worries me, if I have to play five sets in one
tournament, I don't think I can make it. Today I already start to feel a
little bit. I had to call trainer. It bother. As soon as you start to think
about that, it's not good.
But I still have to see with myself how is going to progress my shoulder, how
is going to be.
Q. Were you satisfied with your racquet toss, good form?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: What do you mean "racquet toss"?
Q. Was it a good toss when you tossed it?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yeah. I had to be careful because there were a lot of
ballboys there, to aim it. I wanted to throw it harder. I say, "Man, be
careful because a lot of traffic there. If you hit somebody, you going to be
escorted out of the court and pay big fine."
Actually, I tossed it nicely, landed nicely, like airplane. No warning,
beautiful. That's the art of throwing racquets.
Q. Was that a throw or a follow through?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: You have to know how to throw the racquet. You have to know
how to break the racquet. Especially when there's a lot of ballboys, chair
umpire, you have to know how to land it. High, then land it nicely, no
damage, nobody was hit. It's nice. You don't get warning. Perfect. You get
your anger outside of you. Smart, smart to throw the racquet.
Q. Is that kind of a lost art, with the exception of Safin?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yes, some of them, they miss that. Some of them, they have
it. Some of them, they throw the racquet. Some of them, they don't know how
to throw the racquet. If they don't know, they going to learn. If they don't
learn, what can you do?
Q. Who would you think would be a particularly good racquet thrower?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Safin is the man. And he's a great tennis player.
Q. Did you ever go when you were a young player to see Nastase?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: No. But I saw (John?). He was a good thrower. I saw once in
New Haven when the throw the cameraman. The picture on TV went (skewed).
But I still have one goal before I finish my career, which I not going to
tell you. Nobody did that also ever. It's my goal to do it. I have to be
careful with that.
Q. Give us a hint.
GORAN IVANISEVIC: I can't. I can't. Going to see it. I going to announce you
the match.
Q. Is it against the rules?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Definitely. With me, everything is against the rules.
Q. You'll let us know in advance?
GORAN IVANISEVIC: Yes.
END--FastScripts by ASAP Sports...
March 15, 2001 - TENNIS MASTERS SERIES
Indian Wells, California
L. HEWITT/B. Ulihrach 6-2, 6-4
An interview with: LLEYTON HEWITT
MODERATOR: Lleyton moves into his first quarterfinal here at the Tennis
Masters Series - Indian Wells. He'll take on Frenchman Nicolas Escude.
Q. Have you been following the draw? A lot of upsets. Does it feel like
things are working in your favor?
LLEYTON HEWITT: You know, I just take it one match at time. You know, look at
the draw, every match is tough in these Masters Series events.
Rios-Kafelnikov first round. There were so many great first-round matches.
Definitely opened up a little bit with Ferrero losing.
You can't take any of these guys lightly. To make it through to this stage of
the tournament, they've got to be hitting the ball well.
Q. You feel you're hitting the ball well enough to feature on the weekend?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. You know, I've still got to get a little bit better, I
think. Today was a big improvement I think from the last two matches. I
really stayed aggressive for the whole time, you know, didn't get into too
much trouble on my serve. I served very well today. Served a lot of aces, you
know, mixed up my serve very well. I put a lot of pressure on him, as well,
on his service games.
I felt today was my best match I played all week.
Q. It wasn't really a match of contrasts, was it? Both of you preferred to
stay at the back. Did you like that?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. Well, it didn't disappoint me, I suppose, because I
felt like the longer the rally went, the better chance I had of winning it. I
felt like I moved the ball around great today.
One of his weaknesses is probably his movement. I tried to exploit that as
much as possible. In the end, I think just being able to hang in there, you
know, work the point I think was the main area.
Q. It looks like had you some problems with the shoes on the court.
LLEYTON HEWITT: I found the court to be very average to move on, very hard to
get back, after you put a shot out wide, to get back for the next ball. I
don't know the reason. I don't know if it's grittier. It's a very
rough-looking court.
Q. Too much grit?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I've got no idea. It's a very gritty-looking court. That
could be one of the reasons.
Q. I think Rusedski said that the courts were sticky. Would you describe it
that way?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah. I wouldn't say necessarily sticky. I definitely feel
it's a weird feeling, though. It's not a smooth court, I don't think. It's
hard to move.
Q. What about the next match? How do you feel on that, Escude?
LLEYTON HEWITT: I think we've only played twice. It's 1-All, I think, head to
head. I won the last one in Adelaide in 2000, the semifinals there. I lost
the first set, came back and won in three.
He obviously steamrolled Clement today. He's in good form. I'm going to have
to raise my game another level if I'm going to get past him.
Q. Did you get a chance to talk to Kim?
LLEYTON HEWITT: No, I haven't.
Q. I asked her, "Did Lleyton speak to you before the match?"
Q. She said, "Yeah. He said go out and have some fun. I said the same thing
to him."
LLEYTON HEWITT: I'm sure she had a bit more fun than I did (smiling).
END--FastScripts by ASAP Sports...
March 15, 2001 - TENNIS MASTERS SERIES
Indian Wells, California
K. CLIJSTERS/M. Hingis 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
An interview with: KIM CLIJSTERS
MODERATOR: Questions for Kim.
Q. How exciting was that?
KIM CLIJSTERS: I'm very excited. I mean, this is probably my greatest
tournament -- my greatest victory probably. Yeah, I played a good match
today, especially in the first and in the third set, yeah.
Q. You break in the third set. It looks like you're going all right. Then you
lose your serve right away. Was there any self-doubt there?
KIM CLIJSTERS: No, not really. I mean, I felt that I was playing better level
than I was playing in the first set. I was quite confident, not that I was
going to win, but, I mean, it was good that I broke her in the first game.
That's probably what makes her a little bit unconfident, as well.
I lost my serve at the end of that second game in the third set. Even though,
I was still focused, yeah, trying to get the break back.
Q. You talked on TV about losing your temper in the second set. How did you
get it back together?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I think the mistake that I did in the second set was
that I was a little bit too far behind my line and I wasn't playing that
aggressive anymore. Then like when I was 5-Love down, I said, "I'll just go
for it, just forget about everything, just forget that you're 5-Love down in
the second."
I won two games. Yeah, I mean, in the third set I just went for it again.
Q. What was the difference between this win today and the three other losses
to her? What did you do differently?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, I think I was more consistent today, like especially in
the first and in the third set. My other matches, I've had some chances. The
last time I played her, it was in Sydney. I had some chances there, but I
couldn't take them. I made some easy mistakes still. I think today that was
perfect.
Q. She said that you were not afraid of winning. Could you comment on that
and do you think some players are afraid of winning against the top players?
KIM CLIJSTERS: I don't think they're afraid of winning. I think they're
probably more nervous, like when they come close to beating like a seeded
player. Especially with the young players.
I mean, I've had that against -- when I played Serena Williams at the US Open
a few years ago, it's the same feeling. And that's experience. That's why the
top players have got more experience. They can probably do a little bit more
when they're down. They can play a little bit better, yeah.
Q. Do many of the girls when they're going up against a really great big name
like Hingis or Davenport, do they go into it with not enough self-confidence
to really win the match?
KIM CLIJSTERS: I mean, probably a few players. I've been closer and closer
every time I've played her. I mean, I can beat those players. Yeah, I mean, I
know that Martina didn't play her best tennis today. But, I mean, those are
the chances that I have to take, yeah.
Q. Were you surprised and thrilled that the crowd seemed to get behind you
there in the third set?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, that help a lot for me, as well. I really like to play
for a big crowd. Yeah, that really pumps me up, as well.
Q. Do you think it was important that you could win those games at the end of
the second set to give you momentum into the third set?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I think that was -- it was probably good that I won
those two games and that I broke her, even in the second set.
But, yeah, I mean, like even when I lost that second set, I just forgot about
anything, just said, "This is the start of the match, just go for it now."
Q. Seemed like you were locked in on her serve. Can you talk about your
return game against her, especially late?
KIM CLIJSTERS: I was returning quite well, like not in the second set, but in
the first set that's what probably make a big difference for winning those
serve games.
Yeah, I mean, I've kept the pressure on her serve every time, so I think that
was good.
Q. Do you feel like can you pretty much dominate the court with your forehand
when you're playing well?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I mean, my forehand is probably one of my most
aggressive shots, and I think with my backhand I can open up my court, and
with my forehand I can finish it off. I think it's good, yeah. I can hit like
sort of winners around everywhere on the court with my forehand.
Q. Do you feel it was the culmination of a dream to beat the No. 1 player
like you did today? What was going through your mind?
KIM CLIJSTERS: You're not really thinking that she's No. 1 in the world. I
mean, like I don't really think about who I'm playing when I'm standing. Like
every match, you have to play, you have to win, even if I'm playing a player
like 120 in the world.
This is more special. Even afterwards, it's like all the people are telling
you that you beat No. 1 in the world. I mean, I think I have to stay with my
feet on the ground. I'm looking forward to my next match.
Q. Martina was talking about the importance of breakthrough matches in her
career. Do you think this could be a breakthrough match for you in terms of
your confidence?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, I mean, I think last year, at the end of last year, I've
had some good matches that improved my game, especially like when I beat a
few Top-10 players in Filderstadt and in Leipzig. I went to play the Chase
Championships, and I think that was a big step in my career, more experience
for me.
Yeah, I think even this now, I think it's good for my confidence. I know that
I'll have to stay with my feet on the ground.
Q. It sounds like what you're saying is that, although this victory is very
important, the real important thing here is to actually win the title?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, yeah. I mean, you always try. I know that it's going to
be very hard. I mean, I'm playing against Serena, against Venus. It's going
to be very hard for me. I'm just trying to do the same things. I'm just
trying to rest. I'm going to go out there and I'm trying to be fit. We'll see
what happens.
Q. Who do you match up with better, Venus or Serena?
KIM CLIJSTERS: I've never played Venus in singles. I've only played Serena
once - twice, actually. I mean, I've got no idea. Watch the match tonight. I
don't really care who I'm playing. I'll have fun out there tomorrow.
Q. Can you recap those two times you've played Serena, how things went?
KIM CLIJSTERS: The last time I played her was here last year in the fourth
round, I think, and I lost 4-4, I think. The first time I played against her
was at US Open two years ago. I was 5-3 up there in the third set. Yeah, I
mean, I was still a rookie. Yeah, I was actually quite nervous then.
I mean, I've got that little bit more now. Last year, I mean, she played a
great match here. She just overpowered me.
Q. Do you think that US Open match was a breakthrough? You say you were a
rookie. You almost beat the player who eventually became the champion. Was
today more of a breakthrough?
KIM CLIJSTERS: It all helps. It's probably because of then that I can be in
the final here now. It's like little steps in your career that makes it like
a career good. I mean, it's hard. I mean, it's hard to say. But, I mean, I
don't know.
Q. Do you feel like a Top 5 player now?
KIM CLIJSTERS: No, not really. I mean it's not because I beat No. 1, the No.
1 player in the world, that I'm going to be Top 5. I mean, I'm still ranked
19 in the world. Yeah, of course, I'll try. I'll try to get as high as
possible. When I go out there on the court, I'll try to win every match.
We'll see where I end up.
Q. Belgium has had some nice players. It's not exactly a tennis powerhouse.
Do you take pride in coming from such a small country?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Yeah, well, it means a lot to me. Belgium is so small, you can
actually drive like three hours from one side of the country to the other. A
lot of players look up to the tennis players. Even when the men now, we have
the Rochus brothers. A lot of players are looking up to the tennis players. I
think Dominique Van Roost and Sabine Appelmans did a great job for Belgian
tennis. As soon as they retired, it's good that we have two new players
there.
Q. Sabine was obviously a very big star in Belgium. Are you a big star in
Belgium already?
KIM CLIJSTERS: It's hard because I think a lot of people still see me as the
daughter of the soccer player in Belgium. Maybe not anymore now. No, I mean,
I've won some sportswoman of the year. I don't think I'm as famous as Sabine
was. I mean, she was like Top 20 for like ten years. But, I mean, it's hard
to tell. Probably with the younger kids, I'll probably be -- they know me
better because I'm more recent.
Q. Do people recognize you on the street?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Belgium is not that big, so, yeah, they do.
Q. How do you deal with that? Is that okay with you?
KIM CLIJSTERS: Well, sometimes it can be a little bit -- sometimes when I'm
going out shopping or something, I'm trying some clothes on, and people are
trying to see what I'm wearing. That's sometimes a little bit annoying. But,
I mean, that's what I chose for. That's why I play tennis. Yeah, I'm happy
with that.
Q. Does your father being a star help you sort of understand what it's going
to be like?
KIM CLIJSTERS: I mean, he helped me out a lot. I really looked up to him. We
have always like worked well around pressure, around media and everything. I
mean, I think that's what helped me a lot, as well.
Q. Did you speak to Lleyton this morning? If so, what did you say about
playing in this match?
KIM CLIJSTERS: He just said like, "Go out there and have fun." That's what I
said to him.
END--FastScripts by ASAP Sports...
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