US OPEN

September 11, 2005

Victoria Azarenka

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Thank you.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: No, I knew she would be fighting to the last point. And then she was serving very good that games. And I was still in the game, and I didn't think it was match. I was just trying to hold my serve and try to break her again. But she was serving really good.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: In Melbourne it was first time and it was like, I don't know, I didn't know what I was feeling. I can't tell you. It was long time ago (laughing). But this time is also I'm really, really happy because I wanted so much to win this Grand Slam. Because last year I had opportunity to win it also. I had matchpoints in semifinals and I missed it. And this year I did it, and I'm really, really happy about it.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: My parents?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Here's only my mother.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, she doesn't travel with me so much. But she came here, and I'm really glad to see her here. She always supporting me mentally, and she always calling me. And my friends, too. (Inaudible), the wife of him. He was here also. They were also supporting me here. I really appreciate it.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Az-aren-ka.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: No, I don't practice there anymore. I changed to practice with new coach. I was practicing before in Saddlebrook, just before, like two weeks before US Open. And before I was in a resort or two practicing with the same coach.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Adam Alcschuler and I can't tell you the name. Antonio "VonGosen" or something (laughing). I can't tell you the name. It's too difficult name. There is two coaches, and another one I can't tell you (laughing).

VICTORIA AZARENKA: No, I don't know. Maybe my mom did this (laughter). My mom said this.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: My favorite player from womans, been from when I was a kid, it's been Steffi Graf. It's always been my favorite player. And now I know it's Federer. I don't know no one who doesn't like him so... And I really like the people like who's playing my style and like attacking everything. Is like Williams sisters and Sharapova and a lot of other players like who's playing the attack game.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: I was running for it to hit it as fast as I can and to win this, like to make the winner. That's what I was running for. And then I was like, I just -- I didn't know what to do. I was thinking about a lot how to make -- what to do after I win, if I will win. And then I just forgot what I wanted to do.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: It's a little bit -- always a little bit different because pros, they are always more tough mentally. They playing every point, never give up. So, I mean, it was very good experience. I had a lot of good matches and I beat a few Top 100 players. Was great experience. And come back to Juniors, it was very nice. Now I will try to play all pro tournaments, and we'll see how I do in it.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Not actually. Actually, I will play one more tournament in Japan. Osaka, this one I will play. I got invited there, and just I will go and play there because I will play a tournament before there, before the pro tour, pro tournament. And then I'll go and play junior tournament.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, she started to serve much harder, more placement and everything. She was serving very good. And she use the slices unbelievable. She goes for deep and very low. She's more fit now, I think. And she's got a lot of experience, I mean. Because doesn't compare, final of US Open and third round of Canadian Open. So it's different. Different, I think, different thinking and preparing for the match. This is how it was, I think.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, I was working on it in the warm-up. I was doing it and I was just trying to attack every ball, you know, to let her play her game, not to let her play like very deep slice and come into the net. I was just trying to attack every ball.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: What is my what?

VICTORIA AZARENKA: No, I didn't -- I never. No, I never played them, I guess. No. I only played doubles against Radwanska. Maybe future Williams sisters (smiling).

VICTORIA AZARENKA: The tournament in Australia was different because was Rebound Ace. Yeah, I like hard court. I mean, I'm trying to get used to every surface. Just working, preparing to every surface. So the hard court I really like. I mean, yeah, I like.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: I think I'll go shopping.

VICTORIA AZARENKA: Everywhere (smiling).