Martina Hingis 2002 Betty Barclay Cup 2nd-Round Interview ( Sports - Women's Tennis )

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2002 Betty Barclay Cup at Hamburg, Germany, on Thursday, May 2, 2002
Martina Hingis defeated Cristina Torrens Valero, 6-1, 6-0

An Interview With MARTINA HINGIS:

Q: Are you satisfied with the beginning of the clay court season? How are the balls here, are there much heavier than for example in Paris in the summer?

MARTINA HINGIS: At the beginning of the match it is important that you have warmed yourself up well. It is a bit colder than in Rome or Paris. But I think you have to adapt to it and I'm quite satisfied with my first match.

Q: It didn't look as if you had to adapt very much. It went relatively easy from the beginning. But I got the impression, why is it that you are so late, maybe it wasn't even necessary to shower?

MARTINA HINGIS: I went to the gym to stretch for about 20 minutes.

Q: Did you have a look at the draw? It is definitely more difficult than last year. What is your goal?

MARTINA HINGIS: Last year I didn't play here. Venus won without any difficulties. And this year, my next round is against Hantuchova. So far it is 0:1. But I think on clay it will be a different story. I'm looking forward to the match and we will see what will happen tomorrow.

Q: Do you go from match to match or can you say already that Venus is the main opponent because of her ranking?

MARTINA HINGIS: I lost against Hantuchova the last time in the finals in Indian Wells, so I have to be tough in the next match. So I'm not looking further ahead so far.

Q: For your comeback on clay it was quite good. So you must be happy?

MARTINA HINGIS: Yes, I felt that from the beginning the drop shots were working pretty well. I played like 15, 20 throughout the whole match. So, it was nice to get points like that. Overall, it feels nice to be playing again after almost a month off, though it wasn't a month off.

Q: How did you spend that month?

MARTINA HINGIS: I was at home in Switzerland, mainly practicing, training two times a day and doing the rest what I had to do. And also because my mum bought a new house, so we were moving. She already did the work for us, before we came. It was like we went, me and Mario, to Spain, so she could already do everything. Then I went there a week later to look for the stuff I need to get in there. For me it was only the bed and the TV, which was in there. The rest I had to look for myself.

Q: Was it nice distraction from tennis to get involved in something like that?

MARTINA HINGIS: I was not the first time. We have been moving quite a bit.

Q: Where is your mother's new house?

MARTINA HINGIS: Chintely (??) I won't spell it (laughs).

Q: How do your feel your tennis is. When you come from a faster surface to a slower surface, how is the transition for you?

MARTINA HINGIS: At first you have to be physically very strong and patient, because it takes a lot more energy out of you. You know the rallies are going to be longer. On the other hand, you also have more time to prepare for the shot. Like to day. Maybe I had a few times a hard time moving and she caught me on the wrong foot, but mainly, when I was there, I almost hit a winner many times. The balls are very heavy here-

Q: Was it a kind of ideal first match for you then?

MARTINA HINGIS: Because it was cool, it felt like I have to get into the match at first. But it was nice to get a quick lead. It always feels like you are a little rusty at the beginning. It was nice to get the doubles match yesterday first. That felt good.

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