Anna Kournikova lost to Jana Novotna, 7-6(2),3- 6,3- 6 in the fourth round of French Open 1998 at Roland Garros, Paris, France, on June 1, 1998. The Post Match Interview with ANNA KOURNIKOVA…

Q: How did you feel this morning just before going back to finish your match?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I felt good. But, you know, it was a new experience for me because I’ve never been — I’ve never played the match overnight before. So it felt kind of strange. But, you know, Jana played very well. So she did a very good job.

Q: Did you forget everything that happened yesterday evening?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What happened yesterday evening? What happened? You mean the match or what?

Q: You didn’t look so happy yesterday. So you could just put it behind this morning?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, yesterday was yesterday. Today was today. You know, I had to get ready for it. It was difficult.

Q: When the match was called off last night, you seemed surprised. Earlier you had asked for it to be called off. Did you think maybe after the second set it could have been called off?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, you know, the match with Majoli and Martinez was called off when it was split sets. I think it was a half hour before our match finished. I think our match was the longest ever played. We finished like at 9:28. It was, I mean, pretty dark. Probably should have been called off. But, you know, it’s difficult to say. They said it was darker over there (laughter), a hundred yards away.

Q: Were you confused actually by the reaction that you got, first of all, when you asked about the light, and could the match be called off; then you wanted to go to the bathroom, and you couldn’t go to the bathroom? Was it all a very confusing experience?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I had a very difficult time understanding why I couldn’t go to the bathroom. In the rule book it said I can go anytime, even during a point, I can take a bathroom break, two bathroom breaks. That was my first one, I think. The WTA refused me to go to the bathroom. I can’t understand still why. Maybe you can help me find that out.

Q: I think they were they seemed to be concerned about it being an even number of games played.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: But to go to the bathroom, you can go during a point. So it was something very new for me. I mean, we played an hour and 40 minutes, 40-something minutes. First time ever in my life I decide to go to a bathroom break, go to the bathroom, and they said no.

Q: Did you really have to go to the bathroom or were you just looking to stall for a few more minutes until it got a little darker?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. Like I said, it was first time ever I had to go to the bathroom. I think I have a right to go to the bathroom. It doesn’t matter what I was doing. In the rule book, you can open the rule book and see that a player has a right to take a bathroom break twice. Doesn’t matter if it’s in the middle of the point, the warm-up, at the end. Even when you come on the court, you start warming up, you can go to the bathroom. Doesn’t matter, one minute, two hours.

Q: So why didn’t you just go?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, they told me that I couldn’t.

Q: Did they say why?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I mean, I asked the referee twice to go to the bathroom. They refused. They said I have to continue play. I had to continue. What should I have done? Just walked through.

Q: Was it correct that you were crying? Which was the reason?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. Something was in my eyes because I couldn’t see well. Something was bothering me.

Q: Did you know the Martinez-Majoli match had been called when you were out there playing?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, I haven’t. That’s why I was really — I asked earlier for the match to be stopped.

Q. After two sets, did you want it stopped?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, I didn’t.

Q: Why not?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I didn’t ask.

Q: Why not?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Like I say, I always play by the referee. I always do, you know, what the referee, the umpire say. So I was continuing, you know.

Q: But you know you could have asked.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I know. But, like I say, I always go by the referee’s decision. I didn’t want to argue with him.

Q: She had just won the second set.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think it would be smart for me to ask, but I think it would be a good tactic, but I never use that as a tactic. So I didn’t ask.

Q: Did you ask for a reason why you couldn’t go to the bathroom? What did they say? Did they give you an explanation, or they said you couldn’t go??

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: On the court, they said I can’t go. He said it. The referee that came on the court, he just said that, “You have to continue playing.” That’s it. You know, I couldn’t beg him in front of 20,000 people and the camera to go to the bathroom. I really don’t understand the WTA’s decision for not letting me go to the bathroom.

Q: Even today nobody explained it to you, to your coach, agent, anything?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No.

Q: Did you went to the bathroom after the match?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, I was holding it until today (laughter). It sounds funny. Now, every time I go to the bathroom, I should ask WTA, “Can I go to the bathroom, please?”

Q: Anna, you said you didn’t ask for the match to be stopped at the end of the second set. When exactly did you ask for it to be stopped?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: 4-1. I asked if we were going to continue playing, on the changeover.

Q: That was before you asked for the toilet break?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Before.

Q: Yesterday the crowd got very involved. How did you feel when all the people cheering?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Obviously, it was a great match. People, I think, enjoyed it very much because Jana and I — I feel it was a great match, you know. I think that they got just very excited about it. They probably wanted us to play. I don’t know. But it felt good being on the court with that kind of atmosphere.

Q: But the crowd got involved, when you got to the referee, then Jana got to the referee. You just played with the crowd?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, played with the crowd means what?

Q: You wanted to involve the crowd?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I mean, I don’t necessarily — how? I don’t understand what I could do to get them involved.

Q: How was your night? Did you feel nervous?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. Actually, I came back to the hotel at 12:00 yesterday. I had to wake up early today. I was sleeping like a baby.

Q: It was a new experience, today’s match?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes. Like I said, I never played like this before. This morning I kind of felt weird. You know, it’s a new match or it’s the same match, 4-2. It’s very difficult. But I think still yesterday, we played a great match.

Q: Martina was in here the other day, asked if she thought the rivalries have now been joined, you and she, the Williams and she. She said no, that she’s three thousand points ahead on the computer, she didn’t think there were any rivalries yet. Could you respond to that?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: On the computer, she’s right, of course. But we all, except Serena, have beaten her. It shows something. But, you know, I think she’s the most experienced, of course, out of all of us. She has the right to say that because she’s 300 — 3000 points ahead of us.

Q: What are you expecting now in the double tournaments?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: In the doubles?

Q: Yes.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, you know, expecting to play good. I hope I’m going to play good. I’m going to try to use my bathroom break in doubles (laughter), and mixed.

Q: In the past, Novotna seemed to get tight to close out a match. Were you thinking about this during this match, that she might float balls, get a little nervous?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Not really. She never had — I never played against her when she had any trouble. Like I said, she played just great tennis yesterday, didn’t make any unforced errors, or even today I think she was playing well. I mean, I was not playing that bad, so we had a very difficult match. It was very tight, very close.

Anna Kournikova defeated Katarina Studenikova, 6-2 7-6(2) in the second Round of French Open 1998 at Roland Garros, Paris, France, on May 28, 1998. The post match Interview with ANNA KOURNIKOVA…

Q: Anna, how would you sum up your performance today? Looked as if everything went pretty well until a little spell in the second set when she started to pick up her game, but you also lost it a little bit.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think I played very well in the first set. She probably had little chance. She made a little bit too many mistakes. But in the second, you know, she probably adjusted to my game. I started probably going for too much. But even, you know, when I was down 5-4 or something like that in the second set, I was confident. I knew that, you know, I’m playing well.

Q: How did you spend your time waiting and rain time yesterday and this morning?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, yesterday I had to stay here until like eight o’clock at night doing nothing. Just sitting, you know, waiting. But today I was preparing for my match. I knew that I would play, because I was playing first, so. Nothing special.

Q: Can you talk about your forehand? It seems like you’re either hitting it a lot for winners or you’re missing it, and your backhand is a lot more consistent. She seemed to be playing your forehand a lot, too.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think that’s because her game, her forehand, can only go cross-court. I think, you know, her best shot is cross-court, so that’s why she was playing cross-court to my forehand. But I don’t think that, you know, there’s a big difference between my backhand and my forehand.

Q: If you were in a tight situation and you had to hit a winner, would you rather try to hit a forehand or a backhand?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Depends which side the ball is on (laughter). If the ball is on the right side, I can’t hit a backhand from that.

Q: If you had your choice?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I can’t have my choice. She has the choice. My opponent has a choice.

Q: Anna, can you tell us what Pavel has added to your game in the last couple of months?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it’s difficult to say that he added something, like one thing. But, you know, I think he just helped me, you know, with my confidence and my game, all-around, you know, working on improving everything.

Q: Do you still have a dialogue going with Nick, as well?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah, I always talk to Nick here every day.

Q: Where do you feel that perhaps you would most like to improve your game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, like I always say, I can’t really say, like, if I need to improve one special thing. Because, like I said, you know, sometimes something is going well, the other times something different is going well. I have to just really concentrate and probably progress and be more patient on the court, not try to go for too much.

Q: You’re doing fairly well right now. A year ago, did you think you should be doing as well as you are now? Was it frustrating then? Did you know you could be this good as a player? Are you happy it’s sort of arrived?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: You know, I always played tennis, so I always wanted to be good. But last year it was difficult for me. I didn’t play many tournaments, you know, I couldn’t. I still can’t. I’m still two weeks in the restriction. Of course, I’m glad, you know, finally I can play a lot, like as many tournaments as I want. It doesn’t mean that I have to play 30 tournaments. But, you know, I’m very glad. I think that, you know, I could be better last year than I was if I would be able to play more.

Q: Anna, how much did your experience at Wimbledon last year, going to the semifinal, help you feel that you’ve got the mental and physical toughness to go seven rounds in a Grand Slam?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it was very tough, you know, playing there. But being in the semifinal of a Grand Slam gives you, I think, some confidence. It gave me — I understood that I could go and play many matches in a row well, just like I played at Lipton many matches in a row well. It’s not that, like, I play one match great and then second one bad. So it gave me confidence that I can play a lot of matches in a row well.

Q: Anna, Arantxa just came in, half the people were in here, only five people from Spain. They announce your name, and half the press room is here. Does it make you feel any pressure? How do you feel about that? She’s won it twice.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I haven’t seen how many people were here.

Q: I’m telling you.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don’t really, you know, follow that. I try to concentrate on my tennis. It’s not my fault that you guys are all here. They probably came — I mean, what can I do about it?

Q: Anna, in that vein, are you a person who doesn’t easily get distracted? You can concentrate when you want to concentrate? Can you turn all of this off?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I have to teach myself to do that, you know. I have to concentrate. I know that I’m still not the perfect at concentration, you know. It’s difficult, even on the court. But I’m trying not to think about anything except playing.

Q: Anna, to what extent are you conscious of the fact that you are so popular with everybody? Do you enjoy the limelight?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Like I said, I cannot change it. I don’t know, you know, how it feels or whatever. I’m just a normal person, trying to be normal. I’m trying to play tennis.

Q: But some people hate it. Some people enjoy it. Everybody is different.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Even if I hate it, everyone if I like it, I can’t change it.

Q: I appreciate that. Bearing in mind you can’t change it, do you enjoy it or not?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I can’t say yes or no. There is good things about it and bad things about it.

Q: May I know your opinion about Marat Safin’s game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I know Marat since we were like five years old, because we’re from the same club in Moscow. We went to America the first time with a group together, it was like fifteen kids. I know him very well. We are almost the same age. You know, he’s been practicing in Spain. He was always a great player. I practiced with him, you know, in Russia many times. I think he’s got a great game. Probably help him a lot that he’s practicing in Spain, not in Russia. It’s very difficult conditions practicing in Russia.

Q: Yesterday Martina Hingis said that despite what a lot of people think, Marcelo Rios is not that bad of a guy. You’re a player of the same generation as him. Would you say he’s a good guy?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: He is, fully. They asked me before if Marcelo Rios was the bad boy of tennis. I don’t think so, because, you know, some people are just trying to find a bad guy in tennis. They happened to pick Marcelo. He’s really a nice guy. I mean, I haven’t ever seen him being something unnormal. He always says hello, always nice.

Anna Kournikova lost to Venus Williams, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the finals of Lipton Championships 1998 at Key Biscayne, Florida, on Saturday, March 28, 1998. The Post Match Interview with ANNA KOURNIKOVA…

Q. Anna, did you get very tired in the middle of the second set and was there a special reason for it?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think that it was a very long week for me. I mean, I’ve played a very tough job compared to Venus’. I played Monica and everybody, Davenport. It was very difficult for me. My fifth day playing, I got a day of rest yesterday, but still, you know. So it was a little bit difficult. It was very hot today. All other matches I played kind of later in the afternoon. But I think just I got a little bit tired physically. But it’s good. It shows me that I didn’t — she didn’t beat me; I lost. That means I’m better a little bit than her.

Q. What means the last word?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I said that it’s good that she didn’t really beat me, I made all the mistakes, right? So that gives me, you know, some confidence that I could play better.

Q. Anna, 2-1 in the second set, you were broken. From then on, your game seemed to change. You started slicing a lot more, not going for winners. Did something happen physically at that point? You ran into the locker room for about 30 seconds.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. I think I sliced also in the first set, as much as I did the end. I just had to go to the bathroom, bathroom break.

Q. When you say that she didn’t beat you, do you give her any credit at all?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Definitely. I say she played a great match. It was a great comeback. Like I said, you know, you could probably see that I made all the decisions on the court.

Q. Anna, did you feel like your lack of experience in a big final affected the match today?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, you know, I think so. But, you know, she played finals of the Open and some other finals. Probably she was a little bit already calmer than I was. I was, of course, very excited about being in the final, you know, beating such a great players on the way. I’ve had a great week. I really worked hard this week.

Q. Are you saying that you’re a better player than she is?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I didn’t say that. I’m just saying that, you know, it shows me that I can play better than I did today.

Q. Were you aware how tired she was getting during the match? Did you see anything on the other side of the court?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I didn’t try to look at the opponent, you know, who I was playing. If I would be thinking that I was playing Venus Williams, I would probably be intimidated. But I tried not to think who I was playing against. I tried to focus only on my game.

Q. You seem to be blaming this loss on the fact that you got tired, weren’t physically –

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I’m not blaming anything. I lost.

Q. You seem to be talking a lot about how physically difficult it was for you to play all these matches. Isn’t fitness level just as much a part of the match as whether your backhand is good or bad that day?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Of course. But I think, you know, there is a big difference if you play somebody No. 40 in the world and somebody No. 2, No. 9, No. 8, and No. 4 in the world in a row, four days in a row. You have to be really concentrated with your mind, first of all. It was a great week for me. I cannot say anything. I don’t blame anything. I think I did great here. I really enjoyed it.

Q. Anna, do you think all the slicing affected your regular groundstrokes, your power groundstrokes?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. It was part of the game. It worked in the first set, right? So I don’t think it really affected. I just started to play probably a little bit more passive. I should have played more aggressive toward the end of the second set.

Q. What was going through your mind after you had won the first set, you were up by a break in the second, and you had a chance on your own game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Nothing really special was in my mind. I was just thinking about the match. I really tried to enjoy out there. It was my first final. I really had fun.

Q. You think you had it, though?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, no. I knew she’s a tough opponent. I knew, you know, she won’t just give it to me. When you’re in the finals of such a big tournament, I don’t think anybody would give you anything. You really have to fight till the end.

Q. You say you try not to think of your opponent because she’s intimidating. Are you saying that Venus is intimidating?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think any of the young players I had the first round also very difficult, I played against Lucic, it was also a little bit pressure there. She’s also young, you know, coming. So it was a little bit. But I tried to block, you know, the intimidation away.

Q. Play anybody as tough as Martina Hingis?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What do you mean? I didn’t play her here.

Q. She played Martina Hingis a couple days ago.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Who?

Q. Your opponent today.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: And?

Q. And she won.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What’s the question? I didn’t understand, sorry.

Q. I’m just asking you whether or not it’s equal for both of you? You had some tough opponents here; she had a very tough opponent also.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think there is a big difference if you go mentally into the first round and you play Lucic, second round you play Seles, third round you play Martinez, fourth round you play Davenport, in the semis you play Sanchez. Venus had first round, I don’t know. Qualifier, second round somebody, third round somebody, fourth round somebody. Semis you should get a tough player, tough opponent. It happened to be Hingis. She did a great job beating her, but, you know, I’m not saying anything. I think that I just got tired mentally and physically during this tournament.

Q. Anna, do you think this is the first of many finals, you and Venus?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I certainly hope so.

Q. Do you find you have more pressure playing the younger players than the old guard, the upper ranks?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Not really. It depends who and what circumstances.

Q. Since you played so many top players recently, and you lost against one, would you like to pick who’s really very good, who is not so good?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I had the most difficult — the most exciting match for me was against Monica. Probably the hardest to play against was Davenport. But, you know, I tried to survive this week. When I saw the draw, I was like, “Wow.” I was not very excited about it. But I got through to the finals, and I’m really happy about it.

Q. Anna, you said like you felt you were in control of most of the points. How do you accomplish that against Venus?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Did I say I was in control?

Q. You said you made the decisions.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I was really prepared for this match mentally. I tried to take everything, you know, that she doesn’t like. I tried to put it in one. I did everything that I wanted to do in the first set great. Then I probably, you know, thought I had to do even better or something, or I had to change something.

Q. What was it you tried to do in the first set? Could you define your strategy for us?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I was, you know, making her play, playing my game. I was playing aggressive. I think she wasn’t really ready for that. In the second set and third set, I started to be more passive, I didn’t play as aggressive.

Q. What was it like for you in the second and third set? Seems like Venus was getting everything you hit. These long rallies, you kept making unforced errors. What were you thinking at that point?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I mean, she started to play great in the second and third set. Like you said, all shots, she ran them down. I had to play more aggressive. I had to come to the net or do something. I shouldn’t have just rallied probably.

Q. Anna, what do you think you learned today?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I learned something from each match, for sure. I haven’t lost yet out to a person for like a year — today is March, for a year and three months, to somebody out of Top 15. You know, I’m just trying to play match at a time. I really, really had fun at this tournament, enjoyed the finals.

Q. Anna, for a long time people have been talking about players like you and Venus, someday you’re going to get to the top. This week it seemed to happen. Do you feel like this is a different time now as of this week?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think, you know, maybe after the semifinals, everybody thought it was a surprise, a fluke that I got to the semifinals or something. Here I showed to everybody that I can play good tennis in a row, I can beat top players, I beat four Top-10 players in a row. Every time, like I say before, there is a new generation coming, new players are coming, and you can’t be surprised at that.

VERONIQUE MARCHAL: Any last question for Anna?

Q. You now live down here full-time?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I travel full-time.

Q. But you make your home in Miami Beach now?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah. Well, I guess so. But, like I said, I travel all the time. I’ve been here — this is the longest period I have been here, during the tournament.

Q. Have you bought a place on the beach?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I have an apartment.

Q. Anna, what is your relation currently with Nick? Is it finished?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. I mean, he’s done so many great things for me. He always will be my friend. Nick is a great person, great friend. I still talk to him. I could go to academy to practice and everything. We’re still friends, great friends.

Anna Kournikova defeated Aranxta Sanchez Vicario, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the Semifinals of Lipton Championships 1998 at Key Biscayne, Florida, on Thursday, March 26, 1998. The Post Match Interview with ANNA KOURNIKOVA…

Q. What was the difference after the first set?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think in the first set, obviously I made a lot of unforced errors. I tried to go — because she has — they look easy, the top high balls. I tried to go for winners. But it was very difficult to find rhythm. Unbelievable strong wind today. It was going around. It was not like going to one side. I had to find my rhythm a little bit. You know, I started to play in the second set a little bit more aggressive. So that was the big difference, I think.

Q. Lousy week? Having a bad week?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Oh, yeah, terrible week (laughter).

Q. Four Top 10’s in four days. What’s going on in that head of yours?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, probably shows everybody that I can play.

Q. And maybe when they let you play a few more tournaments, you could –

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Exactly. It’s not just — it didn’t happen just one time, you know, unexpectedly. I proved to everybody that I can play good tennis, a lot of matches in a row.

Q. Anna, how exciting has this been?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Oh, it’s definitely best time of my life right now, for sure. I’m enjoying it really a lot, having a great time. Even when I was playing, I really enjoyed. Even after I lost the first set, I thought, “Wow, this is great, I’m playing.” I was not nervous at all. All these matches I’m surprised, but I’m not nervous at all.

Q. You mentioned what happened between the first and second set, but you did not really try to explain what you did actually to change your game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Like I said, I started to play more aggressively. I started to attack her forehand more. I didn’t try to go for winners right away. I kept the ball three, four, five times in, and then I went — when I had a good shot to go for, I went for it. I started to come into the net much more probably.

Q. Have you ever hit a forehand that hard, that consistently, over an entire match?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Me?

Q. Yes. Seemed like your forehand was really on tonight.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don’t think, not in the first set. I think in the first set, I made a lot of unforced errors. In the second set and third set, I think both my forehand and backhand worked really well.

Q. That’s what I was referring to. How about your first final ever, talk about what that means?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it’s great, of course. I’m not going to try to get overexcited about it. Of course, I’m enjoying it a lot. I’m looking really forward to it.

Q. Have you seen Venus play at all this tournament?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes. I saw the semifinals today.

Q. What did you think?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Today, the semifinals I think was difficult for both of them, for Martina and Venus. I think they were both a little bit tired in the third set. I mean, there’s a lot of changes right now in this tournament, in women’s tennis. It’s going to be something different, something new. I’ve never played Venus before. Going to be a new experience for me.

Q. Martina is only 17 years old. She said today she’s tired from playing two tournaments in a row. Given the fact that some of the younger players do want to play more, would you think you might run into a wall if you play as much as she did?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think she used that just like as an excuse. I don’t think she really meant that. Probably, of course, she’s tired. I understand she’s been on top for already quite a long time. Of course, you get tired. You know, you should just take a couple weeks off, get ready for another tournament. But right now, I mean, I feel great. I played Indian Wells. I practiced for a week here. I get ready for a tournament. I play. I’m not tired at all. You may be tired physically, but not mentally. I mean, physically everybody gets tired.

Q. Anna, the crowd seemed to be behind you. Does that kind of spur you on a little bit? What are your thoughts, not being from this country, but seeming –

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I’m almost like from this country. I’ve been here since I’m nine. But, I mean, the crowd obviously wants to see a good match. I hope they’re enjoying it. I play for the fans. Like I always said, I always play for the fans. If they’re having a great time, it’s great for me.

Q. What will be the keys for you against Venus, do you think?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It’s hard to say. You know, I just try to play my game. I will not try to adjust to her game. We’ll see. I haven’t really thought about it. I was just concentrating before my match and yesterday on today’s match. I didn’t even think about it yet.

Q. You’re doing really well obviously at the net this week.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think I’m doing at the net not bad always.

Q. True. This week is special. 75 percent about. Do you see that as a big factor come Saturday?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Definitely. This is hardcourts. I try to go to the net as much as possible, every opportunity I try to take. I think that was why the big difference today. In the first set, I didn’t come to the net probably a lot. So, you know, I really enjoy playing at the net. I think I can make any shots at the net.

Q. There were a few situations when you were leaning over, bending over your racquet. From far it looked as if you were tired. Maybe you weren’t. What were you doing?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I was just trying to forget about the point that was just played, just trying to concentrate next. I wasn’t tired. I felt actually great. I slept whole day today.

Q. You’ve never played Venus before, have you?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No.

Q. How are you going to face that game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It’s going to be a new experience for me, of course. Just going to get ready for that match. I haven’t thought about that match yet.

Q. Have you thought about any strategy? You said you saw her play today?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I was just thinking about the match I just played. I haven’t yet time to think about the next match.

Q. What are you going to do tomorrow?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Play doubles.

Q. And after that? Any preparation, special preparation?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What kind of special preparation? No. Regular, the same, usual.

Q. Anna, have you decided as yet on whether you’re going to play –

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: — Fed Cup? It’s your favorite question, isn’t it?

Q. I have to ask. You’re going down to my country.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Like I said, nobody from my country have talked to me yet, still. So I have no idea.

Q. In Australia, they’ve announced that the Russian Federation have nominated you as part of the team.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Good to know. Like I said, nobody has ever told me anything officially, unofficially. I have no idea what’s going on.

Q. What would a win of this tournament really mean for you?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I’m playing the final first. Then we’ll talk about the win. I can’t say what if, what if. I’m just getting ready for my next match.

Anna Kournikova defeated Lindsay Davenport, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in the Quarterfinal of Lipton Championships 1998 at Key Biscayne, Florida, on Wednesday, March 25, 1998. The Post Match Interview with ANNA KOURNIKOVA…

Q. Anna, is this victory bigger than the one against Monica?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA In terms of ranking, yes, of course. But I received much more joy beating Monica.

Q. Anna, what did you tell yourself after the second set there? She felt you took over the momentum. What did you –

ANNA KOURNIKOVAI was just glad that the second set was over, it was off my shoulders. Just started thinking what was happening. At the end of the second set, I was already, “Okay, I have to get ready.” I was already thinking about the third set. I didn’t really concentrate at the end of the second set. I was glad it was over.

Q. What do you think is the key for the great win you’re having?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, I think I’ve been working very hard. I had a very tough draw here, playing Lucic, Monica, Davenport. I always play better against better players. I was working really hard, practicing since Indian Wells. I think it pays off.

Q. Do you think beating all these big names, girls that are your age, do you think it’s going to give you confidence for the next matches, maybe next Grand Slams?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I think I’m getting sure confidence by beating No. 2 in the world.

Q. If you have a match-up against Hingis, would you be nervous at all?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, I still have to play somebody else before her. I’m just looking to my next match.

Q. Anna, your ranking might not reflect where you actually stand among your peers, because of your limited schedule. Where do you feel you stand up compared to them? Do you feel you’re a Top-10 Player?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I mean, I think I lost most of the last year in time. I was not able to play. I can’t change it now, so I have to start from where I am and prove one more time to everyone that I’m still a good player, even that I wasn’t able to play. Even with eight tournaments, I was ranked No. 25 in the world.

Q. Do you feel you’re a Top-10 Player even if your ranking doesn’t suggest that?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA The victories that I had might tell you something. So I don’t think about that.

Q. What is more important with Lindsay, to avoid her forehand or to make her move?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, for sure probably make her move. I mean, you can’t avoid anybody’s best shot, if they have a best shot. You have to find the weakness.

Q. Your dropshot worked well against Monica and Lindsay today. Was that part of the strategy?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Of course. I mean, they’re not the fastest player on the Tour, so I try to use that.

Q. The more you win, the more media frenzy, the more photographers that go out there. Do you totally block that out?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I think it’s always been happening. Even if I wanted to, I don’t think I could be able to change that.

Q. Are you impatient with your results?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA No. If I would be impatient, I think I would already quit or something. I mean, I had so much pressure by not playing, because I was not playing. I still had to do well. I’ve learned to take it a step at a time. Even now, I hope I’m going to continue playing, but I’m going to take it easy, a step at a time.

Q. Are you playing your best tennis right now?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I would say so. I played great tennis at Wimbledon, but right now I’m much smarter. I mean, I got much more experience since then. Every time on the court, even if I’m losing, even in the second set, I stop, think about it, started doing new stuff. Right now it’s all just mentally probably, because physically, the way of making shots, I could do anything probably.

Q. How much difference does it make with Lindsay to see her emotions? She shows her emotions, negative and positive, more than some players. Does that make a difference on the court?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I don’t think she showed any emotions today. Maybe once. But I don’t recall that she was — I think I was showing emotions.

Q. You never looked over and thought by the way she’s looking or acting, “I think I’m in pretty good shape”?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA No. I was focusing pretty well. Focusing on the way I played. I always try to do that. Like I said, you can never change the other way players play, you can only change the way you’re playing.

Q. Do you think the wind affected her more than you?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, probably. I try to use the wind. I think I did it well. For me, you know, it was hard. Of course, it was really hard to serve. When you toss the ball, it was going different directions. But I think I used the wind pretty well.

Q. Somebody just asked the question that you might be one of the hardest hitters on the Tour. Do you agree? If so, how would you explain your strength?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I’m not definitely the hardest player. I think there are a couple girls that hit harder, bigger than I am. But I don’t just try to hit hard the ball. I try to play the point, use my head to win the point. I mean, physically I understand that I’m not the biggest one, right? So I don’t try to hit it harder than somebody.

Q. What difference, if any, has Pavel made in your game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA He’s got a lot of experience, so he helped me a lot mentally. It’s great to have somebody every day with you on the road, on the tournaments, talking before the match, after the match. He’s done, you know, a great job so far. I really like it.

Q. What specifically does he work on with you, like strokes and that kind of thing?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Like I say, hasn’t really changed my game. Like I said, I could probably do any shots I want. It’s just everything is in my head. I have to prepare and learn how to win matches.

Q. Anna, when you lost the two match points in a row, did it upset you very much? How did you react to that?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA No. It was her serve, first of all. She was on serve. She served really good those two serves. I couldn’t have done better. She served really well those two shots.

Q. Are you feeling more comfortable on stadium court, Key Biscayne? Are you feeling like it’s more your home turf since you do live here?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA For sure, I enjoy it really a lot. It’s great to stay at home, when you’re playing a tournament. Any court is a tennis court. I learn to play on tennis courts in Russia.

Q. When did you move here?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: A couple of months ago.

Q. When you practice, where do you practice now?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I basically practice at the tournaments because I’ve been on the road since the first of January.

Q. Do you have a home base to practice?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes. In Russia and here in Miami Beach.

Q. A public place?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Uh-huh.

Q. Do you work as much volleying and approach shots as you do on your ground game at this point?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: For sure. Right now I’m basically even working on my groundies; I’m just working on my all-around game, serves, volleys, returns. I’ve been always, you know — I’ve always liked to volley. Just continue to do that.

Q. Are you committed to play an aggressive game where you come in at every opportunity?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: For sure. Especially on this surface, it’s very helpful to me. I feel great at the net. I feel like I could do any volley I want, you know.

Q. Is there any part of your game you’re not very happy about?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I just have to get set with my serve, you know, and then probably that’s the only thing.

Q. Anna, when you’re done with tennis, when you’re done with your match, what do you do to cool down, relax?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Oh, I have to go play doubles (laughter). I’m relaxing playing doubles.

Q. When you get back home, do you turn on the TV to relax? What do you do?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Right now — what time is it now?

Q. Almost five.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: By the time I start playing doubles, it will be six. By the time I’m done, it will be eight. By the time I get home, I’ll go to bed.

Q. Do you enjoy playing clay also, you originate coming from Russia, coming from clay?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I’ve been originally coming from Florida, you could say. I’ve been there since I was nine. Originally, I practice much more on hardcourts. I like to play any surface because you can do so many different things on each surface.

Q. Are you planning to go to Hamburg?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes. I am playing all the European tournaments.

Q. You’ve gotten a lot of media attention just from the time you turned pro. Do you enjoy a lot of the media spotlight and do you feel that you’ve been portrayed pretty accurately in the media, your personality and that sort of thing?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don’t know. I don’t know what to answer. I mean, right now I’m only thinking about my tennis. I’m not like reading anything. I don’t know about that.

Q. Doesn’t it take too much out of you to play doubles? Mentally how much does it take out of you? Is it kind of a training thing also?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I enjoy playing doubles, first of all. It’s a lot of fun. I have a great partner. It’s also a little training. So all things. I’ve always played doubles; since I was playing juniors, I’ve always played doubles.

Q. Anna, a brief comment, we don’t know who in the semifinals.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I played both of them. They’re going to have a tough match today, I think. We’ll see. Whoever wins, I’ll have to play them.

Q. No preference?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I mean, if I say I want to play Arantxa, Novotna will win. If I say I want to play Novotna, Arantxa will win.

Q. Favorite spot in Miami?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Miami Beach.

Anna Kournikova defeated Conchita Martinez, 6-3, 6-0 in Lipton Championships 1998 at Key Biscayne, Florida, on Tuesday, March 24, 1998. The post match interview with ANNA KOURNIKOVA…

Q. Anna, good match. Did you expect that? Did you expect it to be done so quick?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, I played Conchita last week in Indian Wells, so I was really — I knew what I had to do to win. I think I did it pretty well. I’m really glad the way I played. I basically did everything my coach and I decided to do, so I’m very happy about that.

Q. How important is this tournament to you now that you picked up the victories over Monica and over Conchita? Do you see this as maybe a big stepping stone in your career right now?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, yeah. This tournament has always been a big influence on my tennis, even last year or the years I came here before. It’s always a special tournament, it’s in Florida. But, of course, now that I’ve beaten top players here, it’s even more special.

Q. You’re 25th in the world right now. The photographers are just lined up out there; in here taking pictures. Does it take you a bit to get used to all the photographers at the matches?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I think I’m used to that. I think it’s always been that way.

Q. Why do you think that was?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA You should ask them.

Q. You play Davenport next. Will you change your game? You’re going to keep on playing the way you’ve been playing?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, I played her in Sydney, in the beginning of the year. It was three sets. She’s obviously playing well right now. I’m playing not too bad. We’ll see what’s going to happen. I’m going to try to do my best, of course, as always, see what happens.

Q. Anna, what do you think will be different today from the last match against Martinez when you lost?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I think I was much more patient. I didn’t try to go for winners right away. I did go for winners and they all went in. Unlike Indian Wells, I went for winners and they all went out. I think I had a little bit more control. Of course, I had good confidence by beating Monica yesterday. That helped me a little bit also. When I played her at Indian Wells, it was first time. I didn’t really know how to play her or anything. This time I was really prepared. I knew what I had to do.

Q. You mentioned patience. You obviously have the ability to hit those shots. Is patience something you’re still learning in your game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Yeah, I think so. But I’m already there. I mean, this last — since the beginning of the year, I played a lot of tough matches. The reason I won those I think because I was patient. I think I’ve already, you know, got that experience that I needed. Right now I just have to keep on playing, you know, not stop what I have done, not to stop what I have done, just to continue doing the same things.

Q. Anna, I think you won 15 of the 17 points when you came to the net. Can you talk about the importance of the net game to your play?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, for sure, it’s one of the most important, strongest part of my game. I mean, at least I hope so. I’m really an aggressive player, like you probably know. Every time I come to the net, you know, I try to come to the net every time, as much as possible. I feel great at the net. I think that I can make all the shots over there.

Q. Is it something you plan to do, do you think, even more as you advance as a player?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Especially on this kind of surface. For me, I think it’s great. I really like to play volleys. I like to play an exciting game. You know, for sure, it helps me a lot.

Q. Anna, as far as rankings go, did you fix yourself a goal this year?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA No, not really. Of course, I want to be as high as possible. It all comes the way you play. I’m just concentrating on the way I play right now. Depends on how I play, there will be my ranking.

Q. In order to move up into the Top 15 or Top 10, what do you think needs to be better in your game at this point?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA Well, like I said, I think — like you saw, playing pretty well right now. If I continue to play this way, I think I’ll be able to do that. I played a lot of tournaments since the beginning of the year. You know, I have to just really try to maintain physically, you know, healthy and stuff like that.

Q. We’re seeing a lot of young players well. Martina is No. 1, Venus and her sister doing well, yourself. Do you see yourself and these other players as the next group of Stars in women’s tennis?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I think we are. I mean, every period of time has its new generation coming, so it’s not a surprise that some young players — the players that have been playing, they can’t play forever, right? Every time there’s somebody new coming, it’s not a surprise. A couple years ago, ten years ago Monica was coming, Steffi was young, everybody. Just right now happened that I think right away, like four or five players, young. Before, it was maybe two or three players. Right now there’s like four and five, so that’s why probably it’s such a big deal.

Q. Can we ask you a question that has nothing to do with tennis?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA What is it about?

Q. Fedorov.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA What’s the question?

Q. Is he happy in Detroit?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA You should ask him. What do I have to do with this?

Q. I thought that you were very good friend.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I haven’t talked to him in a long time.

Q. No?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA No.

Q. Okay, that tells us something. A year ago I think you sat here and we talked about –

ANNA KOURNIKOVA — age eligibility rule?

Q. Right. My question now is, do you find that that limitation hurt you in any way or maybe in some way there was some benefit?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA I think it was no benefit for me. I mean, everybody sees that I’m ready to play. I mean, I think I could have done — my ranking for sure would be much better right now than it is if I would play more last year. I think that I would get much more experience earlier, it would be much better for me. But, you know, I can’t change anything, so I’ll just have to go from here.

Q. Are you motivated by the fact that you couldn’t play as much as you wanted to?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA When? I still can’t play as much as I want.

Q. But do you use that as some sort of motivating force, meaning every time you’re out there –

ANNA KOURNIKOVA That puts much more pressure on me. Every time out there, I have to do well, because I have a limit of tournaments.

Anna Kournikova defeated Monica Seles, 7-5, 6-4 in third round of Lipton Championships 1998 at Key Biscayne, Florida, on Monday, March 23, 1998. The post match interview with ANNA KOURNIKOVA…

Q. Would you say it’s your biggest win?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, yeah, I think so. I enjoyed it the most probably ever.

Q. Why did you enjoy it the most?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, Monica’s been always the player that I admired most. It was my dream to play against her. You know, I don’t know words. I feel great that I played against her and that I won, of course. But, I just want to say that she’s a great athlete and I admire her always, now, and will admire her.

Q. That was quite a squeal at the end of the match, that little scream. Do you know you did that?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What?

Q. That you made a noise at the end of the match.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: If you heard it, I guess something happened.

Q. You weren’t aware of it yourself, though?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don’t know. I think it was probably emotions.

Q. Did you go into the match expecting to use the dropshot as much as you did, or did that just happen during the match?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I knew that obviously Monica hasn’t played in a while, so probably the dropshot has been always a part of my game.

Q. Did you have to change your game a little bit, thinking you were going in to play Monica to beat her? Was that just strictly your game out there?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I probably tried to get more balls inside the court, not try to go for winners, try to make Monica play a little bit more. So probably that’s a little change that I did. But other than that, I think I was pretty much playing the same game, not as aggressive as I usually do, but I was trying to keep the ball more in play.

Q. You seemed very serious and determined on the court today. Did you have fun out there?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Oh, yeah. I enjoyed it very much. It was, like I said, probably my most enjoyable victory. When I was playing, I was trying not to think who I was playing.

Q. Anna, you’ve been working with Pavel since the first of the year. What difference has he made since your game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It’s great to have somebody with you every day, every tournament, traveling. He obviously has a lot of experience. It’s made a great difference.

Q. What is it that you admire about Monica? Why has she been so important?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: When I was growing up, she was the young and upcoming player. I remember her playing French Opens against Steffi, when I was like eight years old or something. I like her game, you know, the way she plays, her style, very aggressive. I try to play the same way, aggressive.

Q. Did you feel a little tight at the end of the match?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: At the end of the match, yes, I did. 5-3, I felt a little bit tight.

Q. Do you think if you lost that game that you finalized the match, you would have had more trouble?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, I don’t think so. I mean, I had everything in control, I think. Even though I lost that game, you know, I think I would still continue to do what I was doing. I was really, really focused. I knew exactly what to do to win probably.

Q. Were you concentrated on making sure that you were going to hit your first serves in?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes.

Q. You started to serve a little slower.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I just told myself that I don’t have to go for aces or anything, I just have to get first serve in. That way, it’s always mentally easier — I mean, harder to return first serve than the second for the opponent.

Q. Did you realize that she was going for the shots because she couldn’t keep up with you from the ground?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes, I think so, that she was trying to end the points a little bit too quick. I can understand, of course, she hadn’t played in a while. Probably she wanted to finish the point quicker.

Q. That’s why you didn’t go for the ball so much?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes, I wanted to keep the ball in play.

Q. Anna, do you have some compassion for what she’s gone through? Like you said, she was the up-and-coming player. Now it’s reversed. She’s had some personal problems. Is it some compassion you feel?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah. You know, I feel bad for her, for her dad, what happened to her. I mean, I think she was the greatest ever. If nothing would happen to her, I think she would win another 20 Grand Slams or whatever.

Q. Did that cross your mind?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Not when I was playing. When I was playing, I was, like I said, trying not to think who I was playing against.

Q. She was leading 4-1 in the first set. I think, as you said, if she would be like she was before the stabbing happened to her, she would most likely win the set?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, you never know. I was up 5-3 in the second set, too. It could have been different. I couldn’t even possibly physically play her when she was then. I was too young (laughter).

Q. Anna, what do you think of Miami and playing in South Florida?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I love Miami. I mean, I’ve been here for a long time. I’ve won Orange Bowl here, played many times Orange Bowl here, 14s, under 18s, spent quite a bit of time in South Beach.

Q. Do you have a home nearby?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I have an apartment.

Anna Kournikova defeated Mirjana Lucic, 6-4, 6-2 in second round of Lipton Championships 1998 at Key Biscayne, Florida, on Saturday, March 21, 1998. The post match interview…

Q. It seemed pretty easy for you today? Was it as easy as it looked?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, yeah. I think that I played pretty well. I played not bad. It the was first match. It was a little bit difficult, but I was really concentrated and didn’t make any unforced errors, which was really, you know, helpful. And I think it was a good match. It was a little bit difficult to play Mirjana, because she is one of the young girls and — but I am very glad with the way I played.

Q. Were you surprised that Mirjana didn’t give you a harder match?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, I wasn’t. I mean, I expected that I would do my best. And if I did exactly what I intended to do, I knew that I would win.

Q. Has success changed you at all?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don’t think so. I think I am still the same.

Q. Who do you think is the cutest guy on the men’s Tour?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: There is a handful of them probably.

Q. Not too many players on the Tour that are younger than you. Martina Hingis says that she always finds it different when she plays someone younger than herself. What about you, how do you feel about playing someone younger than yourself at this level?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: That was probably my first time in a long, very long time that I played somebody younger than I am. That is because when I was young, all the juniors, I always played somebody older than I was. But I didn’t really think about it at all before the match. And I really had no emotions. I was not nervous. I was not excited. I go out there on the court, I was just really concentrating and I really had no emotions.

Q. There is a chance you might play Monica in the next round. Do you have any prior experience playing her?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I have no experience. I have never played her.

Q. What would you think about playing her?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it is going to be definitely a new match, and she is one of the best players ever and I respect her very much. I like her game, and it is going to be something new, so I am looking forward to that.

Q. The morning of a match, how do you prepare yourself? What kind of process mentally do you do or physically do you go through?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Nothing really different from my normal day. I played a lot of matches this year, so they are basically all the same stuff in the beginning of the week or something. Nothing really special.

Q. Other than Martina Hingis, who would you consider your most formidable opponent on the Tour?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think you have to be really ready to play all — everybody. I mean, you cannot say, oh, my God, if she is No. 1, she plays good or if she is No. 100 she plays terrible. Everybody who are playing, you have to beat them, and you have to do what you are supposed to do. So you have to get ready for each match.

Q. On the Jay Leno show you said you wanted to get into acting. Are you looking to branch out to do acting or fashion or anything like that?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, I am playing tennis right now. And that takes most of my time.

Q. Have you been offered any roles in TV shows?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don’t know. I mean, I am not even looking at that right now.

Q. What do you feel like you have to do to compete or beat Hingis?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I mean, I have to beat everybody not just Hingis, right?

Q. In your game, what do you feel like you still need to work on?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: My game I think I just have to play — try to play my game when I am playing against somebody, you know, not to give the opponents the opportunity to play their game on the court. Not to change my game, but just to play the way I do when I am playing.

Q. If you had to gauge how much your game has improved or changed since the start of this year when you played in Sidney, how would you evaluate it?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think that I learned a lot in this couple of months in Sidney. I think I improved a lot since there. I am much more patient and on that basis than I had — and I had a couple of tough matches between now and then and now that I know, you know, even if you are down like a set and 5-1 and something like that, you can still try to win or even if you are up, you still have to finish the match. So that kind of stuff.

Q. What do you say to yourself at matchpoint?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I — I don’t really say anything. I just have to — I try to really concentrate and try not to think about it that it is matchpoint. Just to try to play the point relaxed.

Q. You have taken offense in the past when asked about Sergei Federov. How important is this friendship for you?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: He is just a friend of mine. I mean, you know, another athlete and he is a very nice person.

Interview with Anna Kournikova by VERONIQUE MARCHAL after the 3rd-Round tennis match in1998 Indian Wells, where Conchita Martinez defeated Anna Kournikova, 6-4, 6-4

Q. Anna, can you discuss the match against Conchita, what you think made the difference?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think that, you know, it was a good match. I mean, she played very well. She didn’t make any unforced errors. I started off well, but I didn’t continue doing what I did in the beginning. I think that was the difference. I let her play her game. I should have played the way I usually play.

Q. When you say you let her play her game, do you think you should have come in more, because she was hitting a lot of soft balls back to you, or trying to hit out a little bit more?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah. I think I should have just played out the point more, come to the net; not just go straight for winners. I probably should come in a little bit more. But it was very difficult because the way she plays, it’s really different. I mean, she mixes up a lot, so high and low. It was difficult to get used to the balls.

Q. Is it tough for somebody of your age to just play and play and play, week after week? Do you find that you get more tired than players who have been doing this for five or ten years and really know how to pace themselves through a season?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I’m sure — this is new for me, of course, playing this many matches. But I’m feeling well. I mean, I feel like I’m improving every match, that I’m learning something out of each match. I’m looking forward to Lipton. I have like nine days or something to prepare, to rest, to get ready for Lipton.

Q. And you’re able — that’s a mature attitude to be able to say, “I got out of this tournament, I got better, learned this, learned that.” You know enough not to say, “If I don’t win it, it was a bad week”?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Of course.

Q. People don’t learn that sometimes until they’re in their twenties.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: You have to consider that Conchita is in Top 10. She’s won Wimbledon and everything. I learned what I had to learn. I played. I’ll go out and play next week.

Q. Do you have a good luck charm which you have always with you?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I do, but I’m not going to tell you what.

Q. Anna, have you decided whether you’re going to play Fed Cup?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don’t know about it yet because my Federation never contacted me. I haven’t heard anything from them. I don’t know. I don’t even know — I know it’s in Australia. My Federation never contacted me about it.

Q. So if you haven’t heard in the next few days, will you make contact with them or will you just give it the flick?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I’m a player. I mean, I’m playing for them. They should ask me. I mean, they should at least send me a letter, whatever. I’m No. 1 player in the country. I hear nothing. It’s a little bit hard.

Q. What happens if you haven’t heard from them, when will you make a decision one way or another?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I’m not the one who’s making the decisions. The Federation is the one who is making the decision. If they don’t invite me, I guess they don’t want me to play or something like that. I don’t know.

Q. You’ve told them you’re prepared to play?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I played all past times. I played for my country. I had no problems with that.

Anna Kournikova lost to Irina Spirlea 1-6, 6-3, 3-6 in USTA 1997 US Open at Flushing Meadows, New York, on Wednesday, August 27, 1997

Anna Kournikova Post-Match Interview.

Q. How was the experience playing on the big court?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, certainly it was exciting playing on it. It felt real big and I mean, it is a great stadium. It was fun.

Q. It seemed that you played pretty well overall?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah, I did play pretty well, yeah.

Q. How disappointing is going out in the second round? You played in maybe a tough draw?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, you know, you can’t really blame it on the draw, because you get a seed anyway sooner or later. I really wish that I had more experience playing, but I felt that I played pretty good. I got a little bit to a late start and played well second set. And then at the end she started off good and so — it is just another learning match for me.

Q. Were you bothered at all by the article in one of the local papers about your relationship with Sergei Fedorov?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I learned my lesson at Wimbledon that I don’t read any papers, because they distract you. So I haven’t read anything.

Q. Does it bother you that people focus on that instead of the tennis?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I mean, nobody talks to me about it, so I don’t really know what is going on.

Q. Your opponent said that, you know, she seems to get motivated to play because you get a lot of attention and do you sense that?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Definitely against — like if I would play against Steffi, I would be really going on because really have nothing to lose. So, I am sure they are ready to play me more than like anybody else.

Q. Were you hurting out there, any muscle pains?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No.

Q. Do you just, in general, feel maybe less sharp than during Wimbledon, just because you haven’t played a lot of matches?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah, definitely I haven’t played anything so I just felt a little bit new kind of on the court. But it didn’t — I mean, I played the first round match, but it was like I played very well. So I didn’t get much practice for my second round. So, it was kind of new.

Q. You hinted the other day about the rule, you know, for women in tournaments. Is that something that you feel strongly about, the amount of tournaments that you are allowed to play?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I didn’t have a warmup tournament here before the Open, so I couldn’t have gotten any matches. That was pretty hard. I had to play just practice, practice, practice.

Q. Spirlea, Anna, said that some of the women players resent the fact that you get so much publicity. Do you sense that there is this feeling toward you from some of the other players?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it is not my fault, you know, that people write about me, so, I mean, I don’t want them to think that I am doing it on purpose or something like that. I am just trying to play tennis and play for the fans. And I really enjoy being on the court.

Q. You mentioned that no one talks to you about it. I assume you are talking about your private life. If they did talk to you, what would you tell them?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, they never talk to me, so I don’t know what I would tell them.