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UNITED STATES TENNIS ASSOCIATION

1999 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Flushing Meadows, New York
August 30, 1999

A. SANCHEZ-VICARIO/J. Dokic 7-5, 6-1


An interview with: ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO


WTA: Questions for Arantxa.

Q. Were you surprised with the second set?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: Well, not really. I think that after the first set, I 
was be able, you know, not making so many errors, you know, moving her around. 
It was difficult with the wind, but I attack I think the ball pretty well. It 
was a tough first round, but I'm very happy the way things went for me. 

Q. Seemed to be playing her forehand mostly. Did you sense a weakness there?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: Well, I think, you know, she was hitting -- making many 
more winners on the backhand. But I just tried, you know, to mix the game, move 
her around. When she's standing is when she hits the ball really well. I tried 
to move her around. When I attacking the ball when I have my chances, and I 
think I serve really well, too, so I think that help me a lot to win a lot of 
free points. Just trying, you know, to go for the open spot, go for my shots. 
Maybe look like I play more to her forehand.

Q. Down 4-1 in the first, were you worried at all?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: Well, the first game was really good for me, I break 
her serve. After that, with the wind, I hit many errors, you know. She hit 
pretty good shots. I know that I have to, you know, if I want to keep in the 
match, I have to change things. I think I was more focused, more patience, you 
know, went for my shots. I start coming back, you know, things turn around 
really well for me. In the important points, I think that I did, you know, play 
better.

Q. You mentioned the wind. How tough were the conditions out there?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: They were tough. I mean, it was very tough. It was 
moving.

Q. Swirling?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: If you're going for one side or another, it's a little 
bit more easy. It's hard anyway, but it was going around. It was really 
difficult. You have to be looking the ball really careful, be very concentrate. 
I think I tried to never, you know, get upset, even if I was down, I come back 
and play better. I was able to be win the match, but it was tough for both of 
us.

Q. You also made a lot of nice comments when Steffi Graf retired. Now that the 
tournament is here and she's not here, any other comments on the retirement of 
Steffi Graf?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: Well, I think I said it all. It's probably, you know, 
not easy to see her not here at the tournament after so many years I've been 
playing on the Tour, too. I mean, she's been a great competitor and she's also a 
good friend. All I say is, you know, I mean it, and it's hard not to see her in 
the tournaments anymore. 

Q. With all these young players out there now, these teenagers dominating, is 
there any sense of a little generational warfare with those of you who are in 
your ripe old age of later 20s or 30-year-olds? Is there any feeling of, "Let's 
show what the veterans can do"? 

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: I think what is good for the game is it's a lot of 
competition right now. I mean, it's normal that the young ones are coming, a new 
generation. It was the same when I started. I was also, you know, very young. I 
just think it's kind of like different generations, different personalities, 
different ages. It makes the game more interesting, but I don't think it's 
competition or anything of the. It's funny because they call us veterans; only 
27 years old (laughter). Compared with the kids, they are 16, 17, 18, so it's 
normal. But the game, it's good for the women's tennis that have all these 
different kind of personalities. As long as I think the results is everything. 
It's nice to be part of the game as long as I've been there. Keep winning now, 
try to win many more tournaments also with the young ones. It's normal.

Q. Do you feel, say, now as opposed to ten years ago that there are more young 
players dominating or do you think it's what you went through back when you were 
16 or 17 years old?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: It's different. I mean, I think the game now is very 
powerful. They're hitting the ball probably harder than ten years ago when I 
started. It was different styles of game. But it was tough anyway, you know, ten 
years ago than it is right now. You just have to keep in your best good shape, 
try to play good enough to continue winning. It's kind of different winners all 
the time, so it makes more interesting to see, you know, who is going to be 
there. But it is good for the game. As long as you feel you can compete with 
them, it's fine.

Q. Is your game where you want it to be right now?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: Yeah. I think it's better. After, you know, that I have 
my injury last year, now it's coming back. I feel pretty strong. I have good 
season before I came here. I'm looking forward to having a good US Open. 

Q. You may be one of the best runners in the game. Are you surprised that she 
tried to dropshot you so much?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: Well, she likes that shot. She did that; sometimes it 
work for her. I was ready sometimes. She also win a couple points. I definitely, 
you know, was focused on that. I'm quick enough to get there and win the point. 
But maybe, you know, it works for her sometimes, so she likes that shot.

Q. How would you sum up her game? Do you think she's got a lot of potential?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: She's young, she's hitting the ball very flat. She 
definitely have a very good year. She did play really well at Wimbledon. 
Definitely, you know, they are coming and doing really well. You have to play 
really well to beat her, but she's on the way. 

Q. What do you think she might have learned out of the game today? Perhaps to be 
a bit more patient?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: It's hard for me to say what she thinks. Maybe you have 
to ask her. I mean, you never know. Every match is different; every player is 
different. I was very focused. It was sometimes kind of like to have a tougher 
match at the beginning, because like this you are more concentrate, you're ready 
for the next one. Today, you know, it was my turn. I played really well to beat 
her. Maybe, you know, she has more chances to play more US Open. 

Q. As a 27-year-old veteran, what goals do you still have left?

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: Goals? 

Q. Yes, goals. 

ARANTXA SANCHEZ-VICARIO: I don't think you can look for goals. You just try to, 
you know, be fit, try to be your best. Maybe the Grand Slams, the big ones, you 
looking more for, you want to do well because they are the big ones. But 
definitely the ones you play before is good preparation. Just obviously, you 
know, being your best and play as good as you good. That's all. I don't think 
you put any more goals in that age. 


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