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First things first -- here are the questions I asked Dominique van Roost following her first round win and the answers she gave. To be quite honest, I don't think she was all that fond of my questions. Dominique is a charming young lady, but
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?
A: 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
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?
A: 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
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?
A: 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
Now, here are a few more highlights from the post-match interviews...
Conchita Martinez on her problems at the Chase: "I think it is my least favorite surface and indoor. It is very tough, very tough to do well because it is only 16 players and they are the best. From the first round, you get a very, very tou
Martinez on the toll taken by the long season: "It is very hard because we don't have an off-season. We end the year in November -- what, November 22nd -- and then we have to start in January. It is like: Go, go, go. By the end of the year
Van Roost on her playing style: "I always hit that hard. Sometimes it doesn't stay on the court, but I usually hit hard."
Van Roost on her age: "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 th
The Sanchez Vicario/Spirlea match was followed by a special "player awards party" which members of the media were invited to attend. The lighthearted, champagne-fueled, somewhat disorganized gala was overseen by Pam Shriver. She quipped her way thro
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Brady Anderson (whose primary link to women's tennis is a past fling with Mary Pierce) presented the Player Service Award to the demure Joannette Kruger of South Africa. "I will continue to work toward equal opport
New York tycoon Donald Trump, never one to turn down a public appearance, presented the Diamond Aces Award (awarded to the player who "gives endlessly to promote the game of tennis on and off the court"). Winning on the same night she mathematically
New York Jets wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and "Pepa" (of the rap group Salt 'n' Pepa) were on hand to present the Most Impressive Newcomer award to Serena Williams, the little sister of last year's honoree in that category. Johnson touted W
Model/magazine columnist/volleyball star Gabrielle Reece presented the final award of the night -- Comeback Player of the Year. Monica Seles was not there to receive the trophy, but her absence was explained by Mary Joe Fernandez, who accepted on her behalf. "Unfortunately, Monica's been sick in bed all day today. She wishes she could be here -- this award means a lot to her. As everybody knows, she's been through a lot in her young life already and she's really been focuse d this year on coming back."
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