TENNIS MASTERS SERIES - ROMA

May 16, 2002

Anastasia Myskina

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I beat Hantuchova in the first round, but she's 14 in the world. So I think Dokic is my best.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I played before with the players Top 10, like Capriati and Venus. I played three sets with both of them. And I was, like, really ready to beat some of Top 10 players. And finally what I did today. And I'm really happy. I was ready, I think, for this.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I stop for four months. I had surgery for my left wrist. It was the end of summer, '99. I'm not play four months. But not one year, no. That's too much (smiling).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: In Hamburg we play like almost indoors, and I think she little bit better in indoors than me. She play, of course, faster. So I try today to play, I think, more smarter, like, than usual - not hit like every ball. Sometimes topspin, dropshot, you know, like a short cross-court. Not hit like every ball, because she like it when you play against her really fast.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No. Actually, I like hardcourt, I like fast courts. Prefer to fast tennis. But really good on the clay courts also sometimes. I hope not last time (laughing).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: When I was six, my parents -- I live near tennis club, and my parents play some on weekends. And they brought me to this club. And the mother of Marat Safin, she saw me first time and she said that I'm not too bad (laughing). Not good, but...

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No, she was my first coach until I was 16. And now she travel with her - the second child - daughter, Dinara. So, yes, I have another coach for now.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No, she's younger than me. So no. And she practice in Spain, so...

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Actually, my parents don't play tennis really good. My father plays soccer - I don't know, some teams. I know he is not too bad. And my mom, she's swimming - a little bit.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No. He played when he was... before.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No, no. I don't think so. No. But he is not too bad (smiling).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No. I want to be designer, some clothes stuff so... But it's hard to study and play tennis. So I think if I can, after, when I finish, I will do this, or be able.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I don't know. I just would like to make some clothes, you know. Just really like it.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, I won Palermo in '99. And before, I won 25,000 in Gorizia. So I really love Italy. And I played lot of juniors in Italy. It's like my second country I think (laughing).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes, exactly. Salsomaggiore, Milan. But not really good, just really good time (smiling).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I -- when I played juniors, I will understand good Italian. But now, not really. Sorry. A few words, yes, maybe.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No, I really don't have the time. A lot of practice. And, you know, I have to study also little bit, but not designer.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I don't really know exactly -- really good about this. I just really want to do this. So not really.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, Russian usually - Dementieva, Likhovtseva. We try to keep together. Because the same language, it's more easy to understand each other. But I still really good to the other players so if they want to go somewhere, we can go. Doesn't matter.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Was three or four years ago, qualifying Kremlin Cup, and I lost to her 6-love, 6-4.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Not in Miami, in Dubai. Yeah, was -- I think it's gonna help me a little bit because I think they play similar. But still they're different, because Serena play, I think, more aggressive than Venus. And it's gonna be really hard for me tomorrow. But I will fight.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I think Monica. When I was young, she play and she won some titles, and I watch her on TV. But I really like Jennifer right now, how she plays. I really, really like her.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Hard question... Not watching men's tennis. But I think Marat. He's really good, impressive, how he's playing.