AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2005

Elena Baltacha

ELENA BALTACHA: Oh, God. I don't even know myself. I was so tired today. Woke up and I was practicing with Jo. And I had actually quite a good practice but I was just so -- I was hurting. I thought it just came from within me. I thought, "Well, if I just keep fighting, then anything's pretty possible." God, I was really hurting. I was really hurting today.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, no, definitely. I mean, it's so exciting that not only have I qualified but I had a really tough first round. I think emotionally, it really -- it's going to hit me physically. So I just still can't believe that I've qualified and won two really tough matches. You know, what an achievement for me to do that not on grass. So I'm really pleased.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, but I know now I can kind of really relax and just have fun really. Because the draws that I've kind of had I knew I had a chance, I've had a sniff. I know that it's going to be much tougher now, so I can really just relax and just go for it and see kind of what happens.

ELENA BALTACHA: I knew I had a chance. I knew I had a good chance today. But it's -- you know, I still had to kind of do it. I knew I was feeling really tired today, emotionally knackered basically. And I knew I had a sniff. I was just so -- I just, you know, basically I just thought, "Just give it your best, see what happens." After the first set I thought, "Oh, my gosh, this is going to be much more difficult than what I kind of expected." I just couldn't believe that I've kind of came off with 6-1 in the third.

ELENA BALTACHA: A little bit. But -- little bit. Not too badly. It was just this morning, kind of waking up, kind of thinking, "Oh, my God, I have to do it kind of again." But, no, I'm really delighted. I'm so happy to be here. I've done really well this week.

ELENA BALTACHA: Really (smiling)?

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, actually, at 4-1, when the linesmen didn't call, that was actually a couple of inches out. That really -- I think that really kind of woke me up.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, yeah. And the next two serves I actually served the best two serves in the whole match. That really kind of gave me like a second wind, kind of really -- I think I was just so angry that I didn't know what I was kind of doing. I was just kind of out of control.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, the first set it was really hot. When the clouds kind of came in, it was actually nice to play. It was just the heat coming from the court. That was quite difficult. But, no, I thought -- I actually thought we were gonna be much hotter today.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, exactly -- yeah, I mean, you can practice so hard but it's kind of these matches that really kind of count. These are the kind of matches that you really have to kind of find out about yourself and you have to ask questions, and I did that today.

ELENA BALTACHA: I don't know. To be honest, I don't really kind of want to be thinking about that because I know, speaking to mom and Alan, there have been a lot of people kind of ringing them and, you know, wishing me well and stuff. It's been really sweet. But I haven't really rang anyone else. I haven't really been speaking to many people. I just want to kind of still get on with it and deal with it when I get home.

ELENA BALTACHA: I don't know. I haven't spoken to them at the academy. They are probably looking out, and it's kind of giving them a bit of a boost. But they're dedicated themselves and they work hard, so they do a good job.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yes, yeah. I think he still kind of can't believe it. But I know he's really proud and, you know, I'll speak to him later on. I haven't responded to him yet.

ELENA BALTACHA: Oh, I have to change it again. I think that it's my fifth time now (laughing).

ELENA BALTACHA: No, no, I'll just stick to the economy, stick to the toilet in the back. That will be fine. That will be fine.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, there was a lot of Scots out there. That was really nice with the flag and everything. There was a lot of people there supporting me. I thought that was really nice. I think they've really come out for Tim and Greg, but I think it's an extra kind of bonus for them to see like a female in the second round. So it was really nice. The atmosphere was really nice.

ELENA BALTACHA: No, Tim says hi and stuff, but I haven't really bumped into Greg.

ELENA BALTACHA: I feel really tired (smiling). It still hasn't really sunk in, to be honest with you. I just kind of want to go to sleep (laughing). No, really delighted. Obviously, I've got another match, so just try and get as much rest as I can and just relax and kind of just get on with it.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, I feel tired. I mean, next match I know is going to be difficult. It's kind of a different match. She's kind of seeded, and it's just something that, you know, that I can have a great experience and just go out and just, you know, just give it my best basically, and just have fun.

ELENA BALTACHA: I have actually been -- I haven't really been feeling -- well, sleeping that great. I mean, I can't really -- I haven't been really getting to sleep pretty quickly. But as I was kind of sleeping, I didn't want to be getting really up. But it's nice to have another day off.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, my mind just can't kind of slow down. It just can't seem to just shut down. But I'm sure I'll be sleeping well tonight.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, it's actually helped. It's actually helped, all the attention at Wimbledon. It's something that I'm not really still used to because it's only been kind of the two weeks at Wimbledon. But it's nice. It's okay. It's okay. It's part of the job, you know. If I'm going to keep doing better, then it's going to be part of accepting it and just, you know, getting on with it.

ELENA BALTACHA: What do you mean by "easier"?

ELENA BALTACHA: Yeah, yeah, of course, yeah. You know, it's just you guys really here, so it's nice.

ELENA BALTACHA: It's a difficult one to answer because I know I've been working very hard. I've been working very hard for the last year. I'm probably much more dedicated than I ever have been. I'm enjoying the atmosphere here, I'm enjoying the way the courts are playing, the way the balls are going, and I'm digging deep. And I'm just managing to win the matches.

ELENA BALTACHA: I actually entered some 25s. I've entered pretty much a lot of things, some WTA, some 25s.

ELENA BALTACHA: My home, Sunderland, and Redbridge. So we'll just see. We'll see what happens. But I'm going to the States in March for 50s and 25s. And also depends how my ranking goes.

ELENA BALTACHA: Exactly, yeah. Maybe enter -- basically I've just entered everything, so just see. I'll talk to Alan and Jo when I get back and see what happens.

ELENA BALTACHA: I've actually done pretty well always at Sunderland (laughter). It depends. It does depend where my ranking goes to, see how tired I am and stuff. But we'll see. We'll see where my ranking goes and see how I'm feeling so...

ELENA BALTACHA: Sometimes, yes.

ELENA BALTACHA: Yes, talking to the same lady. I have to talk to the same lady. Not really, not this week kind of thing. Usually I have to kind of wash the same shirt, play in the same shirt. But I've only really got three shirts here with me, so... But no, nothing really kind of crazy.

ELENA BALTACHA: No, nothing crazy. Me and Jo have kind of been eating in different restaurants but nothing, nothing completely different.

ELENA BALTACHA: No, they've been unbelievable. They've been so supportive. When I decided to take the six months, they've really, really kind of stuck by me. I've been actually very lucky in that. Stephen Marks has been unbelievable. And, obviously, Alan and Jo and my family, my boyfriend, has been absolutely superb. Couldn't ask for anything more.