An Interview With Anna Kournikova

Q: Were you surprised how easily you won?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it was very difficult match for me. I mean, I was getting ready for it as for a tough match and I think, you know, was ready for it and, it was not that - you know, surprised but I think that I played good at the points and she just, you know, did not get back in the match.

Q: Do you think it was because you played so well or she played badly, or both?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think that, you know, she was very nervous too at the beginning because we both played first time in the Centre Court, and I think that's what happened.

Q: You were not nervous at all, were you?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah, I was in the beginning, of course I was nervous as well, but after I got used to it, you know, and I felt very, very comfortable in that court. I mean, it's really, you know, Centre Court of Wimbledon and it's a big honour for me to play my first match on Wimbledon, and playing it on the Centre Court.

Q: Do you feel confident to maintain this form to ride the tournament?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I hope so, that I can continue in that way, and really, you know, try to do my best playing good matches.

Q: Do you regret your comments about Venus Williams' play?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What comments?

Q: Didn't you say she wasn't a very good player?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I never said that, no. I never say anything about players, you know, if they're, you know, bad or anything, or good.

Q: Do you rate her though as a contemporary?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, she's a player, she is, you know, very strong, she has good serve and she covers the court very well, so I mean, she is just like any other player.

Q: What is the best thing that can happen to you this week?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think, you know, something already happened, I played on the Centre Court, so my hope to continue, you know, just playing really my best tennis and try to really enjoy it. It's Wimbledon and I have to enjoy it, it's my first Wimbledon.

Q: Your next opponent is Barbara Rittner, have you ever played her?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, I played her once in doubles only.

Q: Do you ever worry that obviously everybody is talking about how pretty you are, do you ever worry that is going to actually ever overshadow your game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I don't worry about anything like that, you know, I just think about tennis right now.

Q: Were you surprised how quickly it all went, it was a very quick game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, you know, I was getting ready for that match and I just played I think very well and she did not get back in the match, so I guess that's what happened.

Q: What do you wish to actually win this tournament? What do you wish to achieve in this tournament?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: You know, I don't have really any goals set in front of me for this tournament, but I'm going to take it match at a time.

Q: How would you describe the experience of Centre Court?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it was very, very exciting for me, you know, it was like a dream come true. I watched many, many matches before on the Centre Court and on TV when I was growing up and it was really, really enjoyable for me to play there.

Q: Are there any particular players - any particular matches or players that you remember?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I watched a lot of matches, I watched Martina against Navratilova, the final, and I watched a lot of matches really on Centre Court and it was really interesting for me, it was really enjoyable.

Q: Are you still coached by Bollettieri?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah.

Q: Have you got a particular favourite player?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: In terms?

Q: Have you got a favourite player?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I like style of game of Pete Sampras and Boris Becker and I really like their style of game. They can do anything, you know, it's really different, they can do anything they want.

Q: Women?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I like Steffi and Monica.

Q: Do you have many friends and family here to support you, to watch you?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes, my parents are here.

Q: Is your boyfriend here or is he not coming?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I'm single.

Q: You're not going out with him?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I'm single.

Q: Do you think you can win it this year?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Good question. Just take it match at a time and really I have to win matches first.

Q: What do you think you have to improve in your game, what is your weaknesses that you think you have to improve them?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think that right now I really just have to get, you know, experience and by playing more with the top players and really learning how to win and how to lose.