WIMBLEDON

June 26, 2000

Anna Kournikova

MODERATOR: Ladies and Gentlemen, Anna Kournikova.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Excuse me?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's great, it's Centre Court.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It definitely was very emotional. First of all, it was a tough first round. Sandrine is a player who fights really well. But I'm really happy with the way I played. You know, I think I was very focused. Yeah, it's definitely great.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think that after the rain, I kind of was playing really well, and Sandrine didn't really get into it. But I think she's the kind of player that plays really well when she's behind. She was playing all the way very well, especially she was serving really good. You know, I was only one break in the second set. Even though it was 5-2, it was only one break. You know, she kind of really -- I think, you know, she was really relaxed when she was down. She just tried to play well. I got a little bit, of course, uptight. But I think it was a combination of both.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, that's the way it goes. You know, there are some even tougher matches out there that was playing today. It's a 128 draw, so you will get somebody tough. You just have to work. I was fighting really well today, I think. That was the key.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I had time to get used to the grass last week. I've been practising on grass already two weeks. I was really feeling really good on grass. I feel really good on Centre Court. I played there before. I had some victories there before. I was comfortable playing on Centre Court. Playing Sandrine, I was confident that I could play well against her because I already played her before, and I won. I kind of knew what I had to do to beat her. But I also knew that she will fight. You know, I just had to play well and fight myself, do the things that I did before playing against her.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think my game is really comfortable for grass, so it's probably one of the most comfortable. But I would say that I feel comfortable on all surfaces, you know. But grass probably is the most.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: The main point of what?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think I'm only 19 still, so I have, you know, a long way before me. Just going to be working. I don't really pay attention to what's going on around. Everybody needs a story. You know, I'm just working. That's what I've been doing since I was playing tennis, is concentrating on it, trying to play my best.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Definitely. First of all, Wimbledon is a special place for me because this was my, you know, Grand Slam where I really played well. As I said, grass, the Centre Court, that year I also played my first match on Centre Court, so it's a good coincidence. I'm just very happy about the win, of course, like I said. Yeah, it was really a really good day for me today.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I wasn't counting them, so I don't remember which one you're talking about.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Like I said, I don't really pay attention to what's going on around. I kind of have to have thick skin. You know, I'm just concentrating on the tennis, and that's it. You guys are all making everything around, not me.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, the crowd was just awesome today. It was full Centre Court. It was really exciting. We had a great match. First of all, for me it was really enjoyable to be out there. I enjoyed it a lot. I had a lot of fun playing. The conditions were a little bit difficult. At the same time they were perfect for a tennis match. The grass was a little bit slippery. Even in the beginning, before the rain, because it was so humid, you were always like thinking not to fall, not going the wrong way. At the same time the atmosphere on the court was really great. The fans were just awesome, very supporting. I think they enjoyed the match.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: To me this tournament is how I do on the tennis court.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: That's why it's so special, because it's different.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, everything. When you go on the court, on Centre Court, or even in the stands on Centre Court, you feel the atmosphere, you feel the tradition, even just because it's grass it's already different. But for me, like I said, this tournament is just great. I feel good. It's very, very special to me because I had some great results here.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Attract me?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. I'm playing. If I have some other off-court arrangements, I do them also good. No, it doesn't bother me as long as I play good.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What house?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don't read the newspaper, sorry.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What story?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What house? Where?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Oh, in Wimbledon?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, it's not true.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Why?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: We weren't supposed to live together in the first place. I don't stay with my coach.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What's the question?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don't know what my coach said, but I'm perfectly happy where I'm staying.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I'm perfectly happy where I'm staying.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, by the way I was moving today, I think I felt pretty comfortable. I was still a little bit nervous about it in Eastbourne last week because this is grass and it's a little bit different. It was first tournament after the French in which I completely didn't feel the rhythm and the movement, because I didn't practise for like three weeks before that. Today it was good. Sometimes I occasionally get a little bit of feeling in there that something was there, a reminder, but it's not pain.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yes.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Nick, we had all we had. We always have a great friendship and relationship with Nick. He's helped me a lot. He's got some other work to do now. Obviously he's busy. You know, I saw him today. I saw his daughters. We have a great friendship.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: What I do is my business. I don't think it must somehow take away something from me being a tennis player. Because I'm a tennis player, I'm doing that. I think I can help a lot of people by exactly doing the sports bra. Just like those billboards, I think it's very important for young women to get the message and to really treat their bodies good, just be healthy.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it was probably. I mean, it was the most emotional probably. It feels really good. It's probably the happiest that I felt after a match. But I've also had some good matches in the beginning of the year where I beat Capriati in Australia. I had a few other good matches, but this is probably the most meaningful because it's at Wimbledon.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I know