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During the Nathalie Tauziat vs. Natasha Zvereva match, I asked a WTA Tour communications director if Zvereva would be coming in for a press conference afterwards. A fair enough question, since her doubles match was up next on the schedule. The staff
When a few other reporters walked in, the woman from the WTA suggested we make this a formal press conference, with Natasha going on stage and answering through a microphone. She declined, so we were left with an informal interview, several journalis
All things considered, I think the Q & A session went fairly well...until I overreached at the end and asked a dumb, poorly worded question which Zvereva teed off on. (Note to self: quit while you're ahead.) Rather than try to pick out highlights,
Q: You've said before that just getting into this tournament is a great accomplishment, so does that keep you from feeling too bad about the loss today?
A: I don't feel bad about a loss at all. I don't have a very good record against Nathalie -- indoors, anyway -- so that loss is pretty justified. It's not that I don't have any chance against her, but more likely if we both play well, she'd win an
Q: This was the first year in a long time that you didn't win a Grand Slam doubles title. Does that make the season a bit of a disappointment or did the singles success make up for it?
A: Um, I had a great achievements in my singles this year and I made it a big goal at the beginning of the year in '98. I'm just very happy to make it. Basically, the last tournament I had some great results, beating some really good players out th
Q: You're one singles win away from 400 for your career. Is that just another number or does it feel special?
A: Singles?
Q: You've got 399 wins in singles for your career.
A: Really? That will be the day when I look into that.
WTA: Natasha's not real big on statistics.
Q: I guess not.
A: Style statistics are pretty important to me.
WTA: What clothes to wear, what colors...
Q: Do you only wear glasses at the indoor tournaments?
A: Indoors or at night.
Q: Is that a problem with the light?
A: It's just my vision worsens indoors. A little bit the light also. As you get to spend so much time indoors, your eyes get tired.
Q: Monica Seles apparently spent all of yesterday in bed sick. Was she OK on Sunday, when you played the doubles final?
A: She didn't tell me anything about herself being sick, so I had no idea she was not feeling well.
WTA: She got food poisoning. She ate something Sunday night; she got food poisoning on Monday.
Q: It's been suggested that you don't appear to be having as much fun on the court as you used to in prior years. Is that true or do you just not show it as much?
A: Who suggested that?
Q: I've just heard it from fans, things like that.
A: (laughing) You go around the fans and ask them?
Q: (mock indignant) No, I did not take a survey.
A: (still laughing) "It's been suggested", that's so...um, I don't know what to tell you about this. This is some suggestion you've got. Yeah.
Q: Just something I heard.
A: OK. Leave it at that.
WTA: Do you still enjoy the game?
A: Are you drunk, lady?
WTA: Yes, I am.
A: Um...I am, yeah, I like to be on the tennis -- I like to play matches.
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