WIMBLEDON

June 21, 2004

Emily Webley-smith

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Oh, I'm really, really excited. It's fantastic for me today. I felt a little bit nervous when I woke up this morning, but mainly just excited to get out there. I think once I did, I played well and put my game on the court. So I'm happy.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: No, this is my first year.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, I played Junior Wimbledon a couple of times.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: That's the biggest win of my career. I beat a girl in Eastbourne last week who was similar ranking. But, obviously, in a Grand Slam, it makes a difference.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: No, I haven't. I didn't know too much about her. I watched her a little bit at Edgeweston (phonetic), and so I knew just only a little bit how she played. But I felt that if I put my game on the court and played to my strengths, then I'd see how I measured up on the day.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, I didn't look, obviously, before I played. They just told me that I'd be playing Amy Frazier next. I think my coach has also watched her a little bit. So, yeah, we'll see. See how that one goes.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: I'm just gonna do exactly the same - play the way I know, it's the best for me. And when I get out there, just compete as hard as I possibly can and make it as difficult for her as possible.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: No, not at all. It's my first Wimbledon. It's fantastic to be here. But I, you know, I knew that even being here, it was an achievement for me. But, equally, I had to go out there and compete on the court. And fourth round, anything like that, that doesn't even come into my head once, no.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, I did. A lot of people came up to support me, and that was fantastic for me. It was so exciting for them. And my mom and dad are really proud of me, so that's nice.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, I think so. Anne did very well to win her match this morning. I didn't watch too much of it because I was practicing when she was playing. But for both of us to win today, yeah, it's been a good day.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Next 24 hours, I'll let the result sink in a little bit, I think. Then just all the usual stuff that I would do exactly at any other tournament - just, you know, warm down, take care of my body, and then get some food and then practice a little bit more tomorrow, and physio. Things like that.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: A lot of time out with injury last year. When I came back from the injury, I felt different about tennis and about how I needed to be. And at the start of this year I travelled a great deal to the States and to Mexico on the challenger tour. And I lost a lot of matches, actually. And from that, I learned a lot. And I think you learn how to compete in places like that and against players like that. That's made me stronger, I think.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: My coach is currently based in England, and he's down in Bristol, which is where I live, Pete Russell. So I pretty much spend time with him here.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, when I was 16. I went there for three months to practice on the Gold Coast for a little while. It was a fantastic opportunity for me, and I took it. I enjoyed most of it. It was a great, great few months but, you know, not particularly significant right now.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, he coached me for the three months.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, from time to time. He wished me luck with my ankle operations last year and gave me some advice on rehab. But just not so much recently, just we're both doing our own thing.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: No, not at all.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: When I was seven. And my mom was a PE teacher, so I played every single sport until I was about 14 - and loved every single sport pretty much. Then I just chose tennis when I was 14 because I enjoyed it the most.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yes. I smashed my ankle to pieces playing tennis. I had six months out with that. Then I played for four months, and I had to have another ankle operation after that where they did reconstructive surgery. It was a big operation. And, yeah, it was a tough time for a while.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, it was 6-All in the match, and I went over on it and fell forwards.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: In Cardiff, in a challenger tournament.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Two.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: November 2002 is when I hurt my ankle for the first time. And so after the six months, I started playing in May of last year. I then played tournaments for four months. But my ankle wasn't right, and I had to have another surgery in October of last year. I started playing again in January of this year.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, it was -- the first few months of the first time I was injured were really, really tough. I couldn't hardly move. I just had my ankle up in the air in a cast. My mom did everything for me, she was fantastic. And my dad, you know, very, very supportive and very encouraging. But I got very down because I couldn't exercise, couldn't do anything. I'm not too good when I'm at home, you know, cooped up. I got through it. As I said, I felt differently afterwards.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Jane and Mike.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Hockey. I had to choose between hockey and tennis when I was 14. I got into the England squad for hockey. And, yeah, I guess there's a bit more money in tennis. I enjoy it more because it's an individual support.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah, under-14. When I was 14.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Yeah. Yep, yep. That's where I live.

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Absolutely, by far (smiling).

EMILY WEBLEY-SMITH: Got to pay my coach (laughing). Got to pay my coach and my fitness trainer. Then that will go straight back into travelling. As you can imagine, I don't make so much money on the challenger circuit, so it's always a struggle.