US OPEN

September 2, 2004

Anastasia Myskina

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Anastasia.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, I mean, that was pretty bad match for me, and I'm not happy with that. But I'm human being. I cannot to play good every day, especially I was playing a lot in the past. Every tournament, it was semifinals or San Diego was the final. I'm really empty right now. It's too bad that it happened here, but it's life. It's going to be next year for sure, it's going to be much better.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Today was serve, backhand, forehand. You know, today everything wasn't good, you know. Just, you know, it's the game. And I guess some games you can have like this.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Nothing. Completely nothing. I didn't want to fight. I didn't want to run. I didn't want to do anything. And it's not excuse, and it's not good things. It's not that I take something from her. She's play pretty well today, as well. But it's okay. Some matches can be like this, I guess.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah. I mean, my goal was Olympic medal, for sure. That match stays with me forever, that's for sure. But I gave a lot energy. I fought that match and I gave everything that I had. I guess maybe it's took a lot of energy and I'm not really able to recover after the match.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Today it wasn't, for sure. But it is. It is one of my goals. I mean, if I will be able to recover it, then if I'm going to play good end of the year, like we have more tournaments coming, and it's indoor season coming. So if I will play my best there, why not?

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I don't know her really well, but I know her because we practice in the same club right now. She's one of the good Russian who is coming. Hopefully she's going to have -- I mean, she's going to be good.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: You know, when I was here first days, I was still crying about this match against Justine. So it's still in my mind, you know. And when I came here, I was still thinking. But, you know, if you here, you have to think about US Open. Maybe that was my mistake, still thinking about Athens.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Just, you know, I start waiting for her mistakes, but Justine start playing unbelievable. I started missing a lot. So that happen, I guess.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Not really. You know, I'm not crying today (smiling). Maybe sometimes just, you know, it's too much emotions involved in that game. And sometimes you can handle it, sometimes not. Sometimes you can hold them inside, sometimes not. After Justine match, was hard to hold them because was too tough for me.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I keep saying to me yes, because I really want to forget that because it's so many tournaments ahead of me. But right now I'm still in Athens, I guess. I hope my team going to help me, because I have a great team and great coach. So I'm going to be okay, for sure.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I guess the girl was really scared of me, so she didn't really play that much. I didn't do anything really, really great. I just played my game. But today girl put fighting. She played better than the first girl. That was enough to beat me today.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, for sure. I mean, yeah. But I have a good score against Russian. I just lose couple matches. That's just the third one that I lost this year. I hope it's not going to happen again actually.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I think for Justine, she's tough girl. Think she's going to be okay. But it's going to be really tough match against any of the top players for her, especially because she didn't play lot of matches in the past. But maybe that's going to be also advantage because she's not as tired as let's say even Lindsay playing four tournaments before US Open or some of the top players. You know, you never know. But I think Justine tough girl, so she's going to be okay.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No, I didn't see her.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Let's say she's okay right now. I mean, she was not missing the ball today. She didn't have nothing really like Maria, serve unbelievable or, you know, hit the ball hard. She's normal girl who is going to be good player.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Every day it's the best day, you know. I really am healthy, I'm happy, enjoy still playing. You know, sometimes tired, sometimes losing, but I'm still really happy, so that's the best thing.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, it is. That's really nice thing. I mean, I'm happy. That's the most important thing, I guess.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: He gave me big hug, and I'm really happy with that. He's not upset. He said that we going home tomorrow. We still coach and player, we're going to work. Everything will be fine.