WIMBLEDON

June 24, 2005

Anastasia Myskina

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No, not really. I was up 5-3 in the second, had a lot of matchpoints, and I could have just finished the game. And she was serving well at matchpoint when she served. And I guess, you know, when sometimes you lose one, two, three matchpoints, then you kind of start thinking a lot, and it's not a good thing.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I was thinking that, "Why she serve ace on second serve?" I mean, this really was in my mind. I think that was really wrong to think about this serve for the rest of couple games.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, really nothing. I was just really upset and I was thinking why should I -- I did something wrong, definitely. That's why I lost. I was thinking, "What did I do wrong?" You know, the whole third set almost - whole third set - I was thinking what I did wrong. But then after 5-1 I realized that I'm playing third set so maybe it's something new I should do to win, you know, finally win.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, yeah, I do. Right now I do (smiling).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, yeah, for sure. Especially she's a great player. I think that was a good match, even that was maybe I was up 6-Love, 5-3. But still it was a really good match. She holds rallies, she play really fast, you know, she serve pretty good. I think it was a good match.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: It really lot. Because, you know, I start believing in myself. Definitely I know what I can do right now even that maybe I'm not playing my best tennis, but at least I fight and I do my best on the court no matter what right now.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, after 5-4, that's what I was telling myself all the time. Because you know that if you not gonna win this point it's okay, it's gonna be next one. Then I was just thinking about that.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes, but I think that's the game right now, it's all about the mental game. Because right now all the girls playing almost the same level, and if you're mentally stronger, then you win the match.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Was pretty hard because, you know, I lost -- well, I lost my - how you say - Cup? I have to defend the title and I didn't defend. I was really upset. But then I was talking to all my family and coach and they said that just I have to play a lot of matches and through this matches I'm gonna get back my feelings confident. I think that was the right decision to play Eastbourne and be here right now.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: (Smiling). Well, I really play right now match by match. And I think next round are really tough for me, really mentally tough, because we play a lot of matches with Elena. I think she knows me really well, and I know her really good. So I think it's gonna be interesting match, and we will see.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Uhm, the captain invite me for the team and I'm really happy with that. For sure I'm gonna be there even that I'm not gonna maybe not gonna play. But I'm gonna support my team for sure.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, I know Elena for sure and then I don't really know.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No. Well, you know, I know her weakness, I know what she can do her best, and she knows me as well the same thing. Right now, I'm just have to fight and I have to do the same what I did today I think. Because I know her serve not that great. Even she's improving her serve every day, but still, you know, maybe that's my advantage, that I have to take it.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: It's great. I have to play doubles right now, so I don't really think about the weekend. I just think about my doubles, to not die (smiling).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, my mom called me and said she almost died, so that was really not good news. I was just hoping not to play the same game like this, you know. I'm ready to finish when you up 6-Love, 5-3, than, you know, play the match like this of course, because you lost a lot of energy. But I'm really lucky that I'm not playing these two days and I have a lot of days to recover so...

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: On her it's really hard, yes.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Home.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, she's really proud. Right now she's really happy. That's really good.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Ooh, that's not my subject. I don't care really. I'm not really paying attention to that. Mens play five-set doubles, five-set singles. I don't think womens can do that. I'm really don't care about this things. I think mens deserve it what they deserve it, and womens earn what they earn. I don't think in my age I can earn that much money if I will just be a normal kid, so...

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, if I am going to work to McDonald's, I don't think I'm going to earn that much money. I'm happy, really, with everything (smiling).