An Interview With Anna Kournikova

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.