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ANNA KOURNIKOVA
Thursday, June 1, 2000
S. PLISCHKE/A. Kournikova 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
Q. She said that the key was to make you move because you have this injury and
she wants you to move. Was it difficult to move around on the court, to be
able to make your shots?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think, you know, she was obviously right because I
haven't played for three weeks. I've only started to practice a few days
before the tournament.
But, you know, it was a tough match. She didn't make any mistakes. I made too
many unforced errors. For sure, I didn't have my rhythm. I didn't play enough
matches.
Q. In hindsight then, were your expectations quite low in this tournament?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Sorry?
Q. Were your expectations lower than normal in this tournament? Were you happy
maybe to just get through one or two matches?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I wouldn't say that I had like a certain, you know,
thing to do, like I have to win or I have to lose this match or that match. I
just wanted to, you know, play. I was lucky enough to be able to play this
tournament because, like I said, I only started to play a couple, few days
before the Monday. I was lucky enough. I didn't want an injury again. I was
getting still a lot of treatment. It's good that at least I got, you know, two
matches. So it will help me in preparation to the next tournaments.
Q. When did you actually make the decision that you would play here? Was that
late last week?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: On Thursday.
Q. Are you looking forward to the doubles? What are your expectations in the
doubles?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah, of course I'm looking forward to. We'll play great with
Natasha. We won a tournament three weeks ago. I was happy about that.
You know, I'm just going to try to continue, you know, my rehabilitation for
my foot, stay healthy, practice, get ready for the next tournaments.
Q. It was a question really of shape and being able to be in shape? Also the
conditions were pretty difficult, the court was heavy?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, I think it was purely, you know, my condition. Of course,
Sylvia played well. She didn't make too many mistakes. The last time I played
her was something like 6-2, 6-1. You know, I can just say that I had really no
rhythm. But I can give her the credit that she made no mistakes and she played
right.
Q. The fact that the audience is really supporting you a lot, is it
frustrating to not be able -- is it part of the frustration?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: How can you be frustrated if somebody supports you?
Q. Because you want to give them the best you can.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I tried today.
Q. Sorry to introduce a controversial topic. Sylvia mentioned afterwards that
a lot of players came up to her and gave her a pat on the back, perhaps
because they were happy to see you lose. Are you aware of any ill feeling
towards you from the other players? ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think I never thought
about that, first of all. Sometimes there is a group of players who are just
friends, and the others. It's very smooth between everybody. There are
different players that I guess like or don't like each other. It's absolutely
normal because we are playing individual sport. It's not like a team sport
where everybody in one locker room, they're one team. This is a locker room of
individual players. You know, you have to cope with - just not show sometimes
emotions, or you show too much and then everybody talks about it.
Q. I would like to know if you believe that the success you have outside of
the court in the press, the media, prevents you from concentrating on the
court?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, like I said, I'm here to play. Everything around it
comes. I can't change it. You are the ones who make a big deal out of it, not
me.
Q. I was just curious if that was an engagement ring you're wearing?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Sorry?
Q. Is that an engagement ring you're wearing?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don't answer private questions here.
Q. Do you still feel any pain?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's very sore, I would say that. It's very sore. Especially
that I played my first match yesterday, it was kind of difficult today.
Q. Do you feel that envy is a big feeling in the dressing room?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don't know because I'm not a part of it. You know, I never
envied anybody, because you have to work, and then you'll get what you deserve
if you work hard. So I really don't know the answer to that question.
Q. You said that you keep on the treatment. What kind of treatment do you have
to do to overcome this pain?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I have to, you know, do a lot of soft tissues. Just the
trainers are taking care of the foot. I have to do ice baths and all kinds of
different stuff.
Q. In the doubles in the second round, you may meet the Canadian you beat in
the first round. She'll probably have a little revenge going in her favor. Do
you think that will set your chances back at all?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, first of all, we have to get ready for the first match,
then we'll talk about the second. But I think that we're pretty much -- I
don't even know who she's playing with. We're the fourth seeds. I was in the
finals last year here, so I guess that we'll get further than that hopefully.
Q. This is like your 70th or 71st WTA event without a title. How frustrating
does it get each time a tournament goes by without you being able to win a
trophy?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: The only people that are making a big deal of it are you
guys. My team, everything is fine. We're working hard. I know that some
players win it when they're very young, and some players win it when they're
older. We have a lot of examples. My game is just maturing. I'm getting a lot
of practice, trying to play a different style of game that I was maybe playing
when I was younger. That takes time to make the transition from playing, you
know, all winners to playing safe and smart tennis. That takes time. So I'm
working on it. Plus, this tournament I wouldn't be saying that I was so, you
know, upset and putting a lot of pressure on me because I know I didn't hit a
ball for the last three weeks.
Q. If the foot is still very painful and you're having a lot of treatment, is
it wise to play the doubles?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I didn't say that it was very, very painful. I just said that
it's normal stage after the injury. You know, sometimes you do get like scar
tissue and stuff like that. But it's not like I can't walk or I can't run.
It's just sore and it gets swollen. But I think doubles will be a good
preparation for me because I need matches.
Q. In the second set when you won, it was because you found kind of a rhythm,
or did she lose a bit of rhythm?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think I just played more aggressive, and she was probably a
little bit, you know, nervous maybe to finish it out or something. But I think
that I played more of my game. Then in the third set, obviously I got a little
bit tired because, like I said, I didn't do anything at all for three weeks.
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