AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2006

Elena Vesnina

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

ELENA VESNINA: Yeah, first I'm happy that I play fourth round of Australian Open in Vodafone against Nadia. I was really exciting to play against her. Yeah, I didn't play well today so I'm not like so -- it's not like 100% happy for this tournament. Yes, I'm happy for that it's my best tournament, and I like Australia. But today, a little bit disappointed with my game.

ELENA VESNINA: I was trying to fight for every balls today, to just serve, serve good. Just try to put all the balls on other side. But I did so many unforced errors today, so it's like impossible to win if you made so many errors. That's why.

ELENA VESNINA: Yeah, of course it's help me because I know all these girls. I spoke with him and they told me a lot of like good things. All the time they wish me good luck or something. So we're good friends with everyone, Russian girls. So it's like I try to be like them. I try to be in the same ranking like that. I try to play like they are playing. Today, Nadia, she show me how I need to play in the future (smiling). It's good lesson for me.

ELENA VESNINA: Who's my friend?

ELENA VESNINA: My best tennis player friends are Chakvetadze, Kirilenko, Kuznetsova, Myskina. They all, like, my friends. All the time we speak together. In the changing room we just laughing and joking all the time. It's funny. That's a lot of girls on tour.

ELENA VESNINA: Before the match?

ELENA VESNINA: You know, I was ready before. I was practicing at home before Australia and it was really not so warm like here. I didn't go to the Thailand or another country to just be prepare for Australia. So I just came for Gold Coast a little bit early, like two days early, so it help me to be ready before Australia Open. But on the first of two tournaments I didn't play well because it was too hot for me. I don't know what to do, this kind of weather. So now I really feel good.

ELENA VESNINA: It's like doesn't make any sense for me. It's like, okay. It was not so hot because it was indoor. It's good maybe. But like maybe if we will play outdoors, I don't know, maybe something will be change. But for me I think no.

ELENA VESNINA: Yeah, I need to work on a lot of part of my game. I need to work on my serve. I need to work on my forehand, backhand. A lot of. I think I can make -- my ranking can be better, a little bit better. I think it's not enough for me to be in the top hundred. My goal for this year to be in Top 50 and to all the time play good on Grand Slams.

ELENA VESNINA: I don't think that I am very strong mental like Sharapova, Maria, or I don't know. Because it's hard work. And for me, it's like all things is first time for me here. First time I play on Vodafone Arena. So lot of people was there. I was really nervous before match and during the match also. So I need to work about my mentally.

ELENA VESNINA: Yeah. I don't know what's happen there. I started really well, you're right. Maybe I was playing so wide, you know, so hard, strong. All balls was in court. But then I start to make so many errors. I don't know what's happen. Maybe I was so nervous.

ELENA VESNINA: She playing really well today and she played so solid tennis. She has so good big serves. I don't know what to do with her serve. It was big problem for me today. And she was good baseline and good volley. Like she can play all of part of the court. She can play on baseline, she can play on the volley. So she's like perfect, I think (smiling). I wish good luck to her in the next tournaments, for this tournament.

ELENA VESNINA: Yeah, I think she can do well here. She can beat the next her opponent. I don't know who it will be, Maria or Daniela. I wish good luck for her. She can beat there them.

ELENA VESNINA: Yeah, I watch her game, one match yesterday against Benesova. I really admire Martina. She's like the best players, I think, in the world. I think -- I don't think that she will come back like this, so fast, so quickly. I was thinking that she will play maybe four or five tournament and then she gonna be ready for play with top players. But now she's like she's ready, I think. She can doing well here also.