Recent Interviews

An interview from FRENCH OPEN, Roland Garros 2000 - after match against Marta Marrero

An interview from FRENCH OPEN, Roland Garros 2000 - after match against Lindsay Davenport

An interview from Chase Championships, New York 1999 - after match against Elena Likhovtseva

An interview from Chase Championships, New York 1998 - after match against Irina Spirlea - complete interview

An interview from Chase Championships, New York 1998 - after match against Conchita Martinez - complete interview

An interview from Chase Championships, New York 1998 - conducted by Chris Gerby - after match against Conchita Martinez

An interview from European Championships, Zürich 1998 - after match against Amelie Mauresmo

An interview from European Championships, Zürich 1998 - after match against Anna Kournikova

Some earlier interviews:

An interview from FRENCH OPEN, Roland Garros 2000

Dominique lost to Marta Marrero
0/6, 5/7, 5/7

Q: What happened in the middle of the second set? Why did everything go wrong? It seemed that in the first set, everything was all right, but then in the second set you made a lot of mistakes. Were you tired?

DOMINIQUE: Yes. Well, if you were present yesterday during the match I played, you probably realized that I had a very tough match to play yesterday, and it's true that I would have needed one day of rest in order to play properly today. It's true that in the beginning it was all right, but then the beginning of the second set I really had to fight in order to win my third game. And I felt really extremely tired and it was very difficult for me to come back into the match. And she felt much more confident than she was playing really on each ball, and she really managed to win over me much more than during the first set.

Q: You often said that clay was not your favorite surface, but we saw yesterday that you played very well. And today as well during the first part of the match you were really playing very well. Don't you think that it's a psychological conviction that clay is not your surface?

DOMINIQUE: Well, I've played a lot recently on clay. It is true that this surface is not really the good one for my type of game. It's true that I'm much better on quick surfaces. But it's true also that I practiced a lot over the last week in order to get ready for this tournament. And there's one thing which I can -- which I succeeded in this tournament was that I won over Lindsay Davenport. I was -- I think it's too bad that today I didn't get enough rest in order to be in the best condition possible in order to start this second round match today.

Q: With one day of rest, you think it would have been 6-love, 6-1?

DOMINIQUE: I believe that if I had had one day of rest, yes, I believe so. I think that physically I was able to play well until 6-0, 2-1. And as I said, the third and fourth game in the second were very bad for me, and these were the two games where I really got tired. I didn't sleep very well last night because I was still excited over my victory yesterday, and a lot of things happened in my head as well. And it was really tiring yesterday because I got cramps at the end of the match. I really strongly believe that if I had had one day of rest, I would have felt much stronger today and I would have been able to win 6-love, 6-1.

Q: Tactically also in the second set she started to play with more topspin balls, yes?

DOMINIQUE: Yes, that's what she did. Then she changed her tactics in the second set and someone tried to tell her that she had to play much longer rallies and this meant for me that it was much more tiring. I had to build the point. I had to wait for the right time to win the point and this was very tiring for me because those rallies were very long. And after the match I had yesterday which was so tiring, it was just too much.

Q: There is also a third set where conversely you were down 6-4, then you came back 5-5?

DOMINIQUE: Yes. It's true that in the third set from 5-2 she started to be scared to win. She started to make mistakes again that she had not been doing in the second set and I think that this was very bad for her. She is not a highly experienced player, and once at 5-2 she started to make the same mistakes as in the first set. For example, backhand strokes along the line, which were just on the wrong side of the line. And this is why I was able to come back into the match, and this is why I was able to be offensive again. But then at 5-all, I would have been able to win, too, just as much as she did, but physically I was more tired.

Q: You were really exhausted?

DOMINIQUE: Yes, it's true. I was exhausted. I am a human being. I am not 17. I am 27. I don't mean I'm old, but there's a big difference when you play a match. I don't know how long it lasted yesterday; it was a very long match. Physically, it was a very trying match. Mentally, it was also a very trying match, and I was playing today an opponent who had nothing to lose, who had won over Spirlea yesterday, and I think there's a big difference.

Q: Did she have the same ambition as you had yesterday? Did she think, I'm playing Dominique Van Roost, she's a very good player, she's in the top 20?

DOMINIQUE: I don't know what she thought. You have to ask her this question. I just don't know what she was thinking. I won't be able to answer this question.

Q: Where do you believe you are exactly at the moment?

DOMINIQUE: Well, I think I've greatly improved. This victory yesterday was very good to me, but I think that I'm still lacking a number of events. I have to play a greater number of matches. I cannot draw any conclusion from the match I played today because I was not at 100% today as I was yesterday. But I'm still rather positive. The fact that I lost today brings me something. It means that once again I'm on the right way, but I'm not exactly where I should be. I know I have to work quite a lot, much harder than what I used to do in order to come back into the very best.

Q: It seems to me that you're not so disappointed after all. It's not as big a disappointment as what we think.

DOMINIQUE: I don't know what you think. I don't know whether you're disappointed or not.
(Laughter.)

Q: Well, in the second round, we thought it should be okay.

DOMINIQUE: No, I never thought that the second round would be okay because already for the first round I thought that it would be very difficult; that I was not lucky in the draw, and I really didn't think about the second round. What is really bad is that I didn't have time to get ready at 100% for this match. Until one hour before the match I was still thinking about yesterday's match, and, therefore, that was the most difficult point. Mentally speaking, I was getting on a court, playing an opponent I just do not know at all. She's a very young Spanish girl, she's 17, she's just arrived on the circuit, and it was very difficult for me to know exactly how to play her. I had asked some information about her, what type of player she was and so on, but as I said, it was very difficult for me. I knew it was going to be tough because she's a Spanish player who had been through the qualifications.

Q: What is the conclusion for your 2000 French Open?

DOMINIQUE: Well, I think it was quite successful because my victory yesterday over Lindsay Davenport is a very good victory, very positive. And as I said, I'm a human being. The match I played yesterday was very trying and tiring, and today I tried to play as much as I could and I tried physically and mentally to come back into the match when I managed to get up 5-all. It's too bad I lost, but it is true that I had a very good French Open tournament. It's one of the best I ever had over the last years.

An interview from FRENCH OPEN, Roland Garros 2000

Dominique defeated Lindsay  Davenport
6/7, 6/4, 6/3

Q: Obviously a very emotional day for you. Could you talk about sort of what you were thinking about at the end of the match when you sat down in your chair and afterward?

DOMINIQUE: It's a great victory for me today. When I came on the court today, I wanted to play my best game. It has been pretty difficult the last few weeks for me because I was away for two months, so I cut completely the game, and the tennis as well. When I started again, I was not playing very well. Mentally I was very weak. Then the week before, I was playing a little bit better, mentally stronger. I got this draw. I arrived here and say, "Well, God is not really nice with me at this moment." I was ready for this match. I think that Lindsay has the game for me. It's easier for me to play against somebody who has the same game. She's not for me a real clay court player, as I am. It was going to be probably easier for me to play somebody who's playing with rhythm. I took my chance today. I play my best game, and I won. I'm very happy for that.

Q: You had treatment on your wrist or forearms.

DOMINIQUE: I just started cramping probably because it was the first time since a while I played a long match, so I was not used to that anymore. But it went away. My legs was also a little bit tight. But I think by the end of the match, I was still okay, even with that problem.

Q: Given everything that's happened recently, what does this mean to you today to come through this personally, emotionally?

DOMINIQUE: Well, I think that I'm quite happy to do it here against the second seed, ex No. 1 in the world. So it's a good comeback. I think, maybe better to do that than win against somebody who is no famous. So for me, it gives me a lot of confidence, a lot of joy, a lot of hope also for the future. I was a little bit doubting the way I was going to play or be for the rest of the months, the months coming now. It's good. I think it's a very good victory and I'm very pleased with that.

Q: Can you talk about your husband, he was very moved, how he's been through all this, sense of support from him?

DOMINIQUE: I think that I have a lot of luck to have a husband like I have. Sometimes it's tough, but it's a great support. Usually I cry when I lose (laughter). This is a little bit special for me. I knew it was going to be tough on me to be here today, even if I lost the match. I think it's not for me the victory against Davenport who counts for me. I think it's a victory, just a victory. It's a victory mentally also for me to be back here because I fought a lot during the last months. I was not sure I was going to start playing again. I think I must be today very happy the way I am, the way things goes with my husband because there is a life behind the tennis. For me it's also very important. It's good to have a husband who also is your coach because he knows exactly the situation. It's probably a big thing for me today.

Q: Are you going to do anything nice for your birthday today?

DOMINIQUE: The trainer in the locker room, they brought some champagne. I think we're going to celebrate together, and probably tonight I will go with my husband and some friends for dinner, yes. It's a little bit special for me today. It's the first time I've got my birthday in this kind of situation. It's a celebration, of course, because it's my birthday. On the other side, it is tough.

Q: Before coming here, you felt that you were far from your normal tennis, but not that far.

DOMINIQUE: Oh, yes. I think I was far from it. But I worked plenty hard. I worked very hard. It hasn't been easy. Deep down I felt that I didn't want to be hurt again. This is probably where everything was triggered about two or three days ago. I accepted the fact that I had to work very hard to reach my best level. I can tell you that it has been very difficult mentally for me, but it paid off. I think I had to do that. I had to feel that training was very, very demanding, very taxing, but I needed that to play my best tennis.

Q: From a purely tennis point of view, the last two sets, you changed the way you served, and it helped you.

DOMINIQUE: I think I gained a lot of confidence during the last two or three days. I really had a technical problem. We worked a lot on this with Bart. We worked on the way I was serving. It certainly gave me a lot of confidence. I can feel much better what I'm doing. I can control the movements much better. I sometimes make double-faults, as well, because if you get tired, if your legs get tired, it has an influence, as well. But I'm quite pleased with the way in which I served during the match. Even if I was cramping in the legs at the end, I still managed to serve quite deep serves. Especially when you compare with Davenport, I don't think she wasn't fit with her legs. She made a number of double-faults, as well.

Q: You said in Roland Garros you have problems because there are too many Belgians. I think this time when they started clapping and wishing you happy birthday, it probably helped.

DOMINIQUE: Well, I came to the court in a very calm frame of mind. I played for this exhibition match on Sunday. I have the feeling that the center court is much smaller. I didn't feel lost in it as I did previous years. It seemed more cozy in a way. I didn't feel tiny in a huge space on this occasion. I think it made a huge difference. Naturally, the crowd helped me a lot. They were supporting me. It's always nice to know you have so many people. It was quite funny with the happy birthday bit. Maybe it helped. Maybe it helped. Maybe it relaxed me when I felt a bit more tense. Maybe it did have an influence.

Q: Did you feel that Lindsay had problems with her back, probably it had a psychological influence on you?

DOMINIQUE: Well, she carried on playing after the first set that I won. She's the No. 2 seed. It's not vital for her. For me, it was slightly different. I had nothing to lose. I think she wanted to play the match until the end. Maybe she was not very fit physically. But I was not very well either. I'm only ranked 20 and she's ranked 2. I must admit that I could see she was not moving very well. But I was not moving very well at the end. I just played the sort of tennis that would upset her a bit.

Q: After a match like this, with such an emotion, so difficult physically, tomorrow might be difficult. You're playing somebody not as well-known. How are you going to face it tomorrow?

DOMINIQUE: I don't even know who I'm playing.

Q: This is a Spanish player.

DOMINIQUE: I'm not ready to speak about the next one. I'm still thinking about the previous one. It has happened with me before, to play a very, very hard opponent the first round, then to play people who are not as well-known the second time. What I need to do is to remain very focused, use the same tactic I did today, then wait and see.

Q: When did you decide to come and play here?

DOMINIQUE: French Open, you mean?

Q: Yes.

DOMINIQUE: Well, at one point in time I felt that I was not going to play tennis anymore. I was mentally not fit. I had many questions coming to mind.

Then after I had a rest for a while, after this span of time I decided I would start again when I felt like it, not because I had to play it. So once I made the decision, I knew I would play here at the French Open, but I didn't know when I was going to play other tournaments.

Q: When was that?

DOMINIQUE: I played Rome, then Strasbourg, then here, the French Open.

An interview from Chase Championships, New York 1999

Dominique defeated Elena Likhovtseva
6-2 6-3

DOMINIQUE: Exactly when I came back from my lunch at 12:30. I saw the coach of Mary Pierce, and he said to me, "You're not playing against Serena," and I started laughing. I said, "It's a bad joke," because I never expected her. I saw her yesterday evening during the practice, so I didn't believe. I had to call the WTA to find out actually I was not playing her, quite late, today.

DOMINIQUE: I think you should ask her because I don't know how she was prepared or how she reacted.

DOMINIQUE: Well, at that point, I thought: Now I have a good chance, a very good chance to play a quarterfinal, better chance than if I had -- if I was going to play Serena. But it's tough, because you don't know until the last minute, and you find out you play somebody else; so, it's a different opportunity for you. You know that this match you have to win it because it's somebody from my level, for the ranking. It was a completely different situation in the afternoon, not that I was the outsider anymore; I was the one who was supposed to win, of course. But, I mean, I felt good. I said that I have nothing to lose. Even if I have to win this match, it's the best 16 players in the world competing in this tournament. So I just went for it and I played very aggressive and I played very well.

An interview from Chase Championships, New York 1998

Dominique lost against Irina Spirlea
2-6 3-6

DOMINIQUE: No, I was not nervous today. Maybe a little bit nervous, more nervous than in my first round, I don't know why because I had nothing to lose again today. But I don't know. It may be because I wait two days so I had time to think about the situation probably. So of course I knew today was a match that it was very important because I could go to the semifinal and she played very well today. I didn't know exactly -- last time I played her she was playing very good in the backhand and she was making a lot of mistake with the forehand so I said this time I am going to go to the forehand; see what is going on there and she played unbelievable on both sides so it was very hard for me to find a solution begins her today. But afterwards I think the two, three first games I was nervous. After that, I was fine.

DOMINIQUE: I was not tired. Physically I was feeling very good. I had two days to recover from my match. But mentally maybe I was a little bit tired. Maybe start thinking too much about the match.

DOMINIQUE: She played very well. She played very solid today. The forehand was -- she was playing long and the backhand, she was very solid as well. Sometimes she can miss with the backhand, but today she didn't really make any unforced error. I had always the feeling that during the whole match that she was very strong; that I didn't -- I didn't have any chance to do something against her today because she was playing too good. She was solid from the baseline. She was serving very good. She put a lot of pressure on my serve. I knew if I was not serving good that she will just go for the shot and that is what I was feeling during the whole match because sometimes I was serving second serve and she just killed me. So I had to take a lot of risk with my serve, so I made a couple of double faults, so then you are a little bit down or so. I think she was very impressive for me today.

DOMINIQUE: Well, it is hard to say that I was happy with my game because she didn't really let me play my game. She had a lot of variation in the game that she is playing and it is hard for me -- she plays very solid from the baseline; then I have to play too good and then I start to make mistakes and then it starts to be very hard because then she is using my mistake to make the point and she is just waiting because she is more powerful than me from the baseline, for what I was feeling on my side today.

DOMINIQUE: Very good experience, of course. It is amazing for a player who reached for the first time in her career the Championship this year. And to reach the second round is even better than just participating. So I am very happy that I passed the first round. Even if I lost today, for me, it is a very good tournament that I played here.

DOMINIQUE: That was the best season of my career, definitely. I played an amazing tournament. I played very good during the whole year. And I beat a lot of top players. So this is for me the best I have done since now.

DOMINIQUE: I think physically I have to work even more getting stronger and for the rest I have to improve my games at the net; trying to come more at the net, so to put more pressure on my opponent. For the rest to try to be as regular as I am on the baseline.

An interview from Chase Championships, New York 1998

Dominique defeated Conchita Martinez
7-6 (9-7) 6-2

DOMINIQUE: Nice. Nice relief, but I think for her it was also something hard because she was the first one having some point in the first set, so I was happy to finish the tiebreak in my favor, so that was good.

DOMINIQUE: No, you don't expect these kind of things. But I think it was the key of the match because afterwards she was kind of tired and she was making more unforced errors and I was playing very aggressive as well in the second set. I was trying to take advantage as soon as I could. So it was hard for her to stay in the match, especially in the second set. At the end, I think she was very tired.

DOMINIQUE: I always hit that hard. Sometimes it doesn't stay on the court, but I usually hit hard, yes. This is my--

DOMINIQUE: Yes.

DOMINIQUE: This year I have been very consistent so I got a lot of confidence and I think it started last year when I beat a couple of top players, give me the confidence when I was playing them, so, I didn't have that respect that I had in the past and I knew that I had a chance to beat them. It is usually first when you go on court and you know that you can beat them, than when you walk on court and maybe you can make a good match, but that is it. So I think that is why now when I walk on the court I know that I can beat nearly all of them if I play very good and I play my best tennis, I think I have a lot of chances.

DOMINIQUE: I don't mind. This court is fast, but not too fast. So I think it is for both players kind of advantage. I see she didn't win yet. She has to win a match against Spirlea. And Spirlea is playing well right now. I think she is a little bit tired now. She has played a lot of matches and it is the end of the season so probably for her it is also probably hard to play these Masters because it is tough to play.

DOMINIQUE: I am a little bit tired, yes. Of course, I played 24 tournaments before I came here, so it is normal that I feel tired. The season is very long and especially when you play well you have to play a lot of tournaments and you have to play a lot of matches. But I am very happy that I am here because I think it is something that I never really expected that I could do; especially now I am 25. So I am very happy that I can compete in these Masters and for me, of course, winning a match is the best thing that could happen.

DOMINIQUE: I don't know. I have nothing to lose for me coming here. It is a great experience. And I don't know, I have no fear now, so it is like I am playing my match and I come on the court and I try to do my best game and I am very confident at the moment, especially indoor tournaments, that is the best court that I usually play and I can beat a lot of good players as well.

DOMINIQUE: Probably because I play a lot of matches. But this is not a very big problem. It is minor injuries. It is not that I have to stop playing for months. Maybe I have to stop for one week. But I think that physically I am very strong now because I have been doing a lot, especially during the time that I had a rest between the tournament and I think for somebody playing so much and having this little injury, I think it is not very bad at all. If you see that some players they can get injured for months and they come back on the Tour, so, I think I am not -- maybe I look very skinny and not very strong, but I am, so....

DOMINIQUE: For me, 25 is not old. I think I am very young. Probably for tennis I am kind of old person, but in my mind, I am still very young. It is important when you walk on the court and you know that you are fresh and you want to win your match and you are confident and I think it doesn't matter how old you are. Because if you see Nathalie Tauziat she is more than 30 years old and she played the final in Wimbledon, so I think it is something that you have in your mind.

DOMINIQUE: My serve is very good. It is improving compared to the past years. I was doing more mistakes. Now I can win my serve, especially today because I was losing 5-4 and I was down 40-15 and I kept my serve, so, I think it is a strong part. I am getting better. I am not going to be a huge serve like Brenda Schultz or somebody like that. I am still going to be weaker with my serve, but I can hold my serve and I can win some points with it. So I think it is an improvement in my game and I am getting more confident as well. But I always know that it is not going to be the best stroke in my game.

An interview from Chase Championships, New York 1998 - conducted by Chris Gerby

Dominique defeated Conchita Martinez
7-6 (9-7) 6-2

Q:  You might be playing Sanchez Vicario again in the next round.  Are you starting to find it odd how you and Arantxa are always near each other in the draws at big tournaments?

DOMINIQUE:  I don't mind.  This court is fast, but not too fast, so I think it is for both player kind of advantage.  So...I think she didn't win yet.  She has to win a match against Spirlea --  and Spirlea, she's playing well right now.  I think she (Arantxa) is kind of a little bit tired now.  She has played a lot of matches and it is the end of the season, so probably for her it's also hard to play these Masters.

Q: You have been having a lot of minor injuries in the last couple of years, problems with your shoulder and stomach muscles.  Do you think that comes from playing so many matches, or were you having those problems early in your career as well?

DOMINIQUE:  Probably because I play a lot of matches, but this is not a very big problem.  It's minor injuries, so it's not that I have to stop playing for months.  Maybe I have to stop for one week.  But I think that physically I am very strong now because I have been doing a lot, especially during the time that I had a rest between the tournament and I think for somebody playing so much and having this little injury, I think it is not very bad at all... Maybe I look very skinny and not very strong, but I am.

Q:  Your serve still seems to be the part of your game that gives you the most trouble.  Have you considered any technical changes to it; doing anything differently with the serve?

DOMINIQUE:  No, my serve is very good.  It is improving compared to the past years.  I was doing more mistakes.  Now I can win my serve, especially today because I was losing 5-4 and I was down 40-15 and I kept my serve, so I think it is a strong part.  I am getting better.  I'm not going to be a huge server like Brenda Schultz or somebody like that. I am still going to be weaker with my serve, but I can hold my serve and I can win some points with it.  So I think it is an improvement in my game and I am getting more confident as well, but I always know that it is not going to be the best shot in my game.

An interview from European Championships, Zurich 1998

Dominique defeated Amelie Mauresmo
6-3 6-4

Q:  About the match:

DOMINIQUE: When I broke her in the first set it was very important, because she was serving very well and I was struggling for my serve. In the second set I was a little bit more tired than in the first set, but she was not serving as well. I was trying not to get nervous. I was very patient until the moment that I had the opportunity and then I took it. That's why probably today I won the match.

Q: You've had a lot of matches in the last few weeks, have you started to feel generally tired?

DOMINIQUE: Yes, I think my body is starting to feel a little bit more tired. I've been playing not too many matches but very hard matches, so I think my body is starting to tell me that it's time for a rest. But I'm still here, so I'll continue until I lose and then probably I'm going to rest a little bit.

Q: Are you playing next week?

DOMINIQUE: My abdominals have started to bother me, so maybe next week I will not play.

Q: Is this a regular problem?

DOMINIQUE: No the last time it bothered me was Australia last year. It's not very bad. But when you get tired it is very dangerous because you can get injured more easily. I just need a few days res.

Q: What attitude will you have - to go into the match against Spirlea tomorrow?

DOMINIQUE: Nothing to lose. Mentally I'm very strong.

Q: How far do you think you can go?

DOMINIQUE: It's hard to say. Everyone is playing well. I won my first two matches in straight sets so it's very positive.

Q: Do you think you can win the whole thing?

DOMINIQUE: I don't think about it. I think if you go to far with your mind then you don't think about the opponent you have to play. I have to be focussed about tomorrow's match.

Q: Do you have preference of what time you play tomorrow?

DOMINIQUE: Not late! But it won't be before 2.00 pm, so I have the morning sleep!

An interview from European Championships, Zurich 1998

Dominique defeated Anna Kournikova
6-3 6-1

Q:  Have you ever had someone give you 17 double faults?

DOMINIQUE:  In the past I was the won giving 17 double faults, or more! I like someone giving me points!

Q: Getting into the top 10 - what has made the difference?

DOMINIQUE: For me nothing has changed. It's for the people outside that it changes. Maybe they have more respect for you. I'm very happy because it's something I never imagined I could reach.

Q: Why do you say you never thought you could reach the top 10?

DOMINIQUE: I started late. I turned pro at 18 and had a very slow start. I reached the top 100 when I was 19 or 20 and the top 30 when I was 22. It's a dream - to be able to say that at least one time in your life you reached the top 10.

Q: When yo beat Arantxa at the Australian Open a lot of people said it was your big break through. Was it the same for you?

DOMINIQUE: Yes exactly. It was the first time I beat someone from the top 10. It was the start of a new career.

Q: Having started last do you enjoy your tennis more today?

DOMINIQUE: I think I have seen both sides of the world. I was at school and saw people in real life and then I got into the tennis world and I saw the other part. I know a tennis match is not really the end of the world when you lose it or the best thing in the world when you win it.

Q: Do you have a clue what happened to her serve?

DOMINIQUE:  She was nervous. She had a lot to lose today. Of course your arm is not going to be same! When you are relaxed and confident and you have nothing to lose then you serve completely differently.

Q: What do you expect from the next match? (against Amelie Mauresmo)

DOMINIQUE: She has a completely different game. She is very talented, she is young, she is upcoming and she has nothing to lose when she plays me. I think it is going to be a very difficult match.

Q: You didn't seem very happy after the match. You have won the first round, but perhaps do not feel that confident?

DOMINIQUE: The court is very fast and when you play someone who plays with a lot of risk, like I do, you never get a fantastic match. It wasn't that I was not confident, I just played the match and concentrated, but there was nothing special today.

Q: What do you mean when you say people put too much pressure on Anna?

DOMINIQUE: I think she is the most famous player at the moment, even more than Hingis. Everywhere she goes she is a star and at the moment she has not won a tournament. She wants to win a tournament and prove to everybody she is a star. When you are 17 years old it is not that easy.

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