Post Match Interviews 1997

Key Biscayne 1996 3rd Rd

Lost to Jennifer Capriati, 4-6, 6-0, 1-6

Q. Do you think after the second set that you had the momentum?

AMANDA COETZER: No. You know, it's always difficult when you win that many games in a row. You are always a little bit weary. I didn't really feel the whole momentum. I never felt secure. We had a few closer games towards the end of the second set.

Q. Seemed like a very streaky match. The successful games came in bunches for both of you.

AMANDA COETZER: Yes, I think so. I mean, I never felt like I played a very solid match, but I think Jennifer played a little bit streaky. She played either really well or she made a lot of errors.

Q. Were you surprised at the number of unforced errors she had, especially that second set? A lot of balls long?

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah. She hits the ball pretty flat. I think when it's a little bit windy like that, you'd expect her to make quite a few errors.

Q. The first time you played her in a while, right?

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah.

Q. Do you see any differences or does she really play essentially the same game?

AMANDA COETZER: I think compared to times I played her before, from what I remember, I think she's really going for her shots a little bit more now, just really hitting it.

Q. Same dimensions to her game, though, nothing been added to it?

AMANDA COETZER: I think it's pretty much the same, yeah, from my point of view. She plays pretty much the same game. But, as I said, just going for a little bit more than when I played her before. I mean, her serve is still pretty good. I think, though, I played her before, she served a little bit better before when I played her, depending on the day.

Q. At the beginning of the first set, what happened to you there?

AMANDA COETZER: I just felt a little unsettled. I started off with a double-fault. Just not feeling really settled down. Just felt like it really took me a while to even, you know, see the ball very well, so.

Q. What's it like walking out onto the court where you know there's this whole Capriati comeback, she's got the hometown crowd here?

AMANDA COETZER: I think all those things add up. It could easily be a little bit distracting if you don't really concentrate and know what you're doing out there.

Q. How far do you think she is from being back to a top-level tennis player? Is she actually fairly close or do you think she has a ways to go?

AMANDA COETZER: I think it's all going to depend on how consistent she is. You know, like the score indicates today she can play really well. I think it's all going to depend on how often she can do that and how long she can hold it up because she played a good third set, but also not so good second set. If you play top players, you really have to be able to play good points, point after point after point, tournament after tournament. I think that's what it's going to take.

Q. Do you think that inconsistent play was pretty much due to the layoff?

AMANDA COETZER: I'm sure, yeah, definitely. I'm sure as she plays a little bit more, I felt this with myself, if you haven't played for a long time, you play two good points and you play two bad points. The more she plays, I'm sure she will do it a little bit better.

Q. Did you take a break for tennis at all for injury or anything?

AMANDA COETZER: Have I?

Q. Yes.

AMANDA COETZER: No, not really.


Indian Wells 1996 Quarter-finals

Lost to Steffi Graf, 4-6, 1-6

Q. Do you think you have been able to follow-up your success in Australia fairly satisfactorily?

AMANDA COETZER: Oh, yeah. Definitely I felt -- I feel I am actually playing better than I did in Australia. I have been working pretty hard and, unfortunately, today, I didn't quite do what I wanted to do.

Q. Obviously, tight first set, up 'til 4-All and so on and then it just seemed to run away?

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah, I think I definitely felt like I had some chances the first set, but didn't quite, you know, play good enough all the way through to break her ever. And just let it run away from me.

Q. How would you assess her form given that it is her first tournament of the year?

AMANDA COETZER: I think -- I don't know if it is just with the wind out there, but I definitely felt that she didn't go for as many shots. She tried to come to the net a little bit which I think was smart play, but I felt that she wasn't hurting me that much, but I think that that had to do with the wind and she was playing smart and just playing a little safer than, you know, something that I probably should have tried to do as well.

Q. How bad was the wind out there?

AMANDA COETZER: It was pretty swirly, difficult, and I think, definitely, you think the ball is there, but it is not really there, so you really have to move your feet well and work the ball instead of, you know, go for big shots.

Q. You sort of are now setting your sights for the top 10 or --

AMANDA COETZER: I think I am just kind of taking it step by step. It is quite a battle to get back up. It is tough with, you know, it seems like tournaments are getting tougher and tougher, so it is hard work. I mean, this one, I felt like I was really playing well, and, you know, can't get past the quarterfinal, so it is a long way, so I really just try to take it step by step and just, you know, match by match.


US Open 1993 Doubles Final
With Ines Gorrochategui

Lost to Sukova/Sanchez-Vicario, 4-6, 2-6

Q. How did it feel playing Stadium Court for the first time?

AMANDA COETZER: Different, because it felt it was exciting, I think.

INES GORROCHATEGUI: Too big.

Q. Any sort of nervousness because of that?

INES GORROCHATEGUI: Yeah, I think we start to play very nervous. We didn't play so good today, but I think we have a great job in this tournament and I hope next year we are going to win the tournament.

Q. You have been playing together, what, about a year and a half now?

AMANDA COETZER: Yeah, Ines was injured for a few months. But we started last year.

Q. What makes you a good team, I mean, are there things that each of you do that makes the team better?

AMANDA COETZER: I think our games just really compliment each other and I think one of the main reasons why we have done well in the past is we support each other. We always -- even though we are in trouble we have been behind in matches, we don't get discouraged. We just try to support each other.

Q. How did you guys come to play together?

AMANDA COETZER: It was just by accident. We were in a little tournament in Italy and I never really played much doubles before that and Ines came up to me, neither of us had a partner. She asked if I wanted to play. We ended up winning that tournament and since then we have played.

Q. Do you work directly with Dennis Van Der Meer?

AMANDA COETZER: Yes.

Q. He is mostly known as a teacher of recreational players. How is he working for you; is he a good coach for you?

AMANDA COETZER: Well, if you look back at his record he has got people like Billy Jean King. It is most I had the last few years that he has concentrated more on teaching tennis teachers and adults, but, I mean, he knows the game so well. He has been involved in it for so many years. I feel really, really fortunate to be coached by him.

Q. Thank you.

Information courtesy of ASAP Sports.



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