OLYMPIC TENNIS TOURNAMENT

August 20, 2004

Anastasia Myskina

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: It was, yeah. I don't know really how to call that, but I'm really, really upset. That's my second match that I lost Justine and I'm up 5-1, 5-3. But that's the game. I guess I was not good enough to win the match.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Uhm, I think it was -- my mistake was I was too far from baseline, especially after 5-1. Because Justine was starting putting pressure on me and I just play her game. That was my mistake, I guess. And that's why I lost the match.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I think that's the hardest thing because I was controlling the whole game after the second set. I mean, I wasn't sure that I'm gonna win the match, but I was pretty sure that, I mean, I can finish the match. I guess some important points I couldn't finish. And I just, I mean, I missed some -- I did a lot of unforced errors in important points. That was the key why I lost the match.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Definitely after 5-1, Justine start playing a little bit better. But I think I lost the match because, I mean, if you're up 5-1, you have to finish the match - no matter what.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I don't know. Maybe little bit pressure, and I can't handle it. Maybe something else. But today it's something else, it's completely different situation. I play for my country and I just start remember that. And at 5-3, 5-4, I start thinking about that I have to win, and you can't think like this. You just have to fight for every point. I mean, I fought, but my mind wasn't really in the match. I was thinking that I'm losing and, I mean, that's the mistake.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, I can say like -- yeah, I can say like this. But then I can say Justine played really well. I can't take this from her. She played unbelievable. She started serving much better. I don't think there was any double-faults after 5-1. I mean, she did what she can do and she won the match. She deserve that.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I mean, she's been practicing. I knew that she's on top of her game because I watched last night match against Mary. And, I mean, Justine play as good as she played before. I was ready for the good match. I guess it was good match.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: That's the hardest part because we never did this, you know. Usually in tennis, when you lose, you go home. It's something new, so I should get used to it. I'll just maybe going to party right now and then I will be okay to play tomorrow.