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Patty
Schnyder beat Maria Sharapova 3-6 6-3 6-1
Q. Do you
consider this one of the best wins of your career
considering that she's aiming to become No. 1 in the
world?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: Yes, of course it's one of my best wins, and
definitely she deserves to be No. 1. She's a great
champion. I just took a chance on clay court. I think it's
her weakest surface. I played a great game and could win
today. I'm very happy about that.
Q. What do
you think was the difference between the two of you?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: Yeah, I think once the rally went on, I was the
dominant player. I move better on clay court than she
does, but you have to be really careful. She can hit the
winner out of every position. So sometimes it doesn't help
if you move really well, because a winner is going to hit
you anyway. But still at the end that was the key, that I
could play better the rallies from the back.
Q. Inside
yourself do you think is a surprise, this result, or no?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: No, not really. I mean, I really believe in
myself, especially on the clay, and I know that I can beat
the top players - I've beaten some No. 1s, I've beaten
most of the players on tour. But, still, you still have to
do it every week and every day, basically, and that's the
challenge. I'm just very proud today, how the way I
started - I was really tight, my legs were not moving at
all. And that I could come back and play such a great
final set, I'm really proud of today.
Q. You said
you were tight in the first set. Were you afraid she would
overpower you?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: No, I just probably more -- for me, it was also
about ranking. I can be in the Top 10 again. So for me,
that's special. For her, probably the No. 1. Yeah,
sometimes it makes you a little bit tight. Also, I think
it's also a little bit of tired in the mind also because I
played so many matches and I've come from the States, I
only had three days at home, then I went on to Warsaw and
to Berlin and I keep playing and playing. So I guess
sometimes it's not easy to start really good.
Q. You think
she has noticed that you are a left-handed player?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: You have to ask her, but I think she does. She
does notice (smiling).
Q. Do you
think that this year you are playing your best tennis
ever?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: Yeah. Also the beginning of last year I played
great tennis, but I had some injuries and that put me back
a lot. So I'm back again and I'm playing definitely the
best now. And I'm just so happy. I wish that I can go on
like this some more months - maybe years (smiling). I'm
just very happy.
Q. What do
you think you need to support your talent: More
concentration, more shape, what?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: I mean, what else do you want? I mean, tell me,
what can I do better? I don't really know. I mean, I'm not
a powerful player, I'm not 190, I don't have these
muscles. You can tell me. I am happy if you have some
magic tricks (smiling).
Q. Your
husband is your coach. What has been his greatest
influence in your game?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: Just he believes so much in me and my tennis.
That gave me so much security and confidence also. We talk
a lot about tactics. I mean, that's -- he always has a
good tip. We talk a lot about other players also, so that
helps me a lot. I know that on the court, like the
strokes, I can feel myself. So that's a great combination.
Q. Amelie
Mauresmo and yourself, you know each other very well. What
are you expecting from tomorrow?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: I expect a great match. I mean, there's gonna be
some rallies. She moves really good. She loves the court
here; me, too. So, yeah, I don't worry too much because I
just gonna be out there and play and give it the best I
can.
Q. Even if
you don't have big muscles, tonight you served 187
kilometers per hour and you scored quite a few aces. Does
it happen often, or you can serve even faster than that?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: No, I think this clock or this measure is a
little bit high, I have to say (laughing). I noticed. Some
case less, I guess. But, no, I mean, I'm working out in a
gym also - probably more than the taller ones - and I'm
trying to serve hard and keep up with them. Yeah, I give
my best all the time (smiling).
Q. Can you
compare yourself in '97 here and now?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: Oh, it's a long time ago. I think I got more
power definitely and probably also a better serve to the
forehand off the right-handers. So it means from the
deuce, the ad side to the forehand, and on the ad side
into the middle. I guess I improved also those serves. And
the kick has always been a good weapon, but I guess it's
also little bit faster and more kick, so, yeah. But I
don't really know.
Q. What's
your feeling to have a unique tennis in this tennis which
is so mechanical, so strong? You are very unique. What do
you think about that?
PATTY
SCHNYDER: Yeah, I just -- that's the way I play. That's
the way I want to play. So I just practice that way, and I
think it's a good weapon against some power tennis. But I
don't really think too much. I just enjoy my tennis, and I
see that people enjoy watching it. So, yeah, it makes me
happy.
Q. Are you
proving that Martina Hingis was wrong to quit tennis
because she thought that the other girls were too
powerful? I mean, of course she had also some physical
problems.
PATTY
SCHNYDER: Yeah, I mean, she achieved so much in her
career. She had some injuries, like you said. So that was
her decision. I think she's a great champion. I don't know
if she wants to come back or not, but it doesn't look
like. I think she loved the game a lot and, yeah, she's
retired now. |
