WIMBLEDON

June 20, 2005

Ai Sugiyama

Q. How well are you prepared or did you prepare into this tournament?

AI SUGIYAMA: Well, I play two tournaments before here, one in Birmingham, one in Eastbourne. I tried to have a good preparation for this tournament. Of course, this is my favorite one. So I wanted to have a good preparation. But I thought I could had, yeah, physically better preparation. My lower back a little painful. But, well, yeah.

AI SUGIYAMA: No, it's just my left side a little bit painful, starting my ankle and knee and lower back, everything the left side. It's so hard to move well when I have something sore or painful. But, yeah, had massage treatment, and I thought should be fine, but it's bothering a little bit.

AI SUGIYAMA: In women, it's probably first or second biggest sports. About the men's, probably baseball, soccer would be the first one.

AI SUGIYAMA: Yeah, maybe third or fourth place.

AI SUGIYAMA: Okay.

AI SUGIYAMA: No, she probably really confidence because of the tournament the last week. She beat pretty good players, like Myskina or Zvonareva. She was really happy, relaxed little bit more than I was. I was expecting that she's going to play better. But I think the key was in the third set, instead of making two double-fault in my service game, she made four aces when I had a breakpoint, I think that's a huge difference.

AI SUGIYAMA: I mean, I have to be ready for doubles. Yeah, I didn't have a good singles here recently also. I just want to try to get a good chance in doubles.