1997 French Open at Roland Garros, Paris, France, on Saturday, May 31, 1997
Martina Hingis defeated Anna Kournikova, 6-1, 6-3
Anna's rank: 47th

An Interview With Anna Kournikova

Q: Anna, Martina seemed to mix it up a lot today with slower balls, dropshots. Do you find it hard to get a rhythm?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, you know, it was very windy out there, so it was a little bit hard to get a rhythm. It was okay.

Q: Anna, what did you learn in this match today?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think that, you know, in this match I learned that I need to play more and that basically she has much more experience than I do. She's been on the Tour for three years. There's a reason why she's No. 1. I think I just have to play more, just play matches.

Q: You say "play more." I know there's a problem that you'd like to play more tournaments and you're not allowed. Where is that now?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, that was a perfect example of this match is that I'm not allowed to play more, that I have much more pressure on me because I cannot, you know, play as much as I want, learn, get experience the way Martina can. It's a little bit hard for me, you know, to kind of compete or play or whatever. That's why.

Q: Were there any nerves out there, because the first set was over in about 15 minutes?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes, of course, I was nervous. She was No. 1. I'm playing first time in French Open, centre court. It's my first French Open, of course.

Q: I just wondered why Nick [Bollettieri] wasn't here. You still working with him?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes. He's coming Monday (laughter).

Q: Specifically, what do you have to improve to catch up with her?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I just have to get experience.

Q: But are there specific strokes?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, no.

Q: You seem to have played better at the end. Does it mean that you got used to the play of Martina?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I just got used to the atmosphere. Like I said, it was centre court, my first time here. It was a big thing, my first big match this year. I was playing for the second time a player ranked No. 1 after Steffi. I got used to it then.

Q: You lost 6-Love, 6-Love to her as a junior in the US. How did that match compare to this one?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: That was Juniors, you know. It was a long time ago.

Q: Not too long ago.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It was three years ago. Anna Kournikova pages at quickfound.net:

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