WIMBLEDON

June 28, 2005

Nadia Petrova

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, Nadia Petrova. English questions first.

NADIA PETROVA: Today has been very difficult weather conditions especially. It was very windy and the wind was changing one direction and then another direction. And that's why you could see there and here a little bit of silly mistakes or whatsoever, you know. But, yeah, she was very focused today. Yeah, she really went for some shots. But I felt I was a bit unlucky. She had a few let calls. She hit a few lines. Some calls I can a little bit argue about. But, you know, it seems like everything went in the favor of her today.

NADIA PETROVA: Not at all. Not at all. Especially at this stage of the tournament, the level is changing, you know. It starts to get faster and stronger. You just have to switch, change yourself to a different level of play.

NADIA PETROVA: I think she played well, especially the important points. Also she been serving well as well on the important points. Yeah, I think I'll give her good chance to win it again.

NADIA PETROVA: Both. It's been a good round for me, quarterfinals at Wimbledon. The first time I achieved that. It takes me quite a while to get used to the grass. It's a very frustrating surface, I can say. Yeah, I was a bit close. I felt pretty well today. But I think a little bit too many free points, and that's why she won today.

NADIA PETROVA: Right.

NADIA PETROVA: It is. Both players hitting hard. But I think Maria is a little bit more consistent than Venus.

NADIA PETROVA: Well, first of all, I'm really looking forward for a little bit of rest. I've played a lot of matches in the first half of the season, and didn't had any rest, so I feel a little bit mental worn out. A good rest will do. Then, of course, I feel confident. I feel like my tennis is improve that I'm playing. I'm playing on a different level at the moment, so I can compete much better with the top players. I can beat them, as well.

NADIA PETROVA: Totally not an issue. Well, of course I want to win my first title. I was a few times very close. All those times I was really unlucky. I've had a good runs twice, semifinal of the French Open. I reached quarters here, quarters at the US Open. I think it's just a matter of patience. Sooner or later it will happen. It's like a good example, it's not necessary being No. 1 winning Grand Slam. Same here. It's not necessary to win tournaments, having titles, but be in Top 10. Just a matter of how consistent you are in the tournaments. Yeah, if I will get all the time semis, finals, quarters, it's a good effort. It's a lot of tennis.

NADIA PETROVA: Yeah, I give a hard time to my coach (laughter).

NADIA PETROVA: But he said exactly same as me. He's not really putting any pressure. He's saying, you know, I don't care if you don't win. When you finish your career, it's not really -- it doesn't really count, you know. People will forget it all fast. I think it's just most important to do well in Grand Slams and then you stay in the memory of people.