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TMS - INDIAN WELLS, WOMEN

March 11, 2000

Anna Kournikova

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA

BROOKE LAWER: Questions for Anna.

Q. How was it waiting so late to start? Was that a problem at all?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Waiting so late?

Q. Because you had to wait for that men's qualifying match to get over and everything.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: We started eight minutes late. I don't think that was so late. We were scheduled to play at 11:30.

Q. Your service, what changes did you make from last year to this year, if any?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: None.

Q. Nothing?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No.

Q. Today you looked more fluid and consistent.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: The motion and everything is the same.

Q. So everything is the same?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah.

Q. You had an early exit last year. Was that something that was on your mind going into this match, into the tournament?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No, not really. I felt that I can gain a lot of points here because I did lose here first round last year. I had a flu last year. I didn't practice a week before this tournament. I wasn't really concerned that I lost just because I was here, just because I wasn't physically a hundred percent.

Q. In the beginning of the match, your backhand was struggling. What was the reason? What was happening?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think everything was struggling in the beginning. I wasn't like struggling. She was playing really well, solid, very hard. I just had to find the rhythm and find a way to play against her because I've never played against her. I think it was just everything.

Q. What do you think of the new tennis facility? What are your impressions of this place?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's huge. It's great for tennis. It's very comfortable, everything. You know, when the facility is new, obviously they build it for a big tournament. It's very comfortable for us.

Q. Does it remind you of anywhere else?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. It has its own special feeling.

Q. Are you going to play Fed Cup in April in Moscow?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah, definitely, if I'm not like injured or something. For sure. Hopefully, I won't be.

Q. How close are you to being able to beat players like Lindsay?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I've beaten them before.

Q. But you lost to her last week 6-2, 6-2.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Yeah.

Q. Do you feel like you can consistently play at a high level to be able to beat players like her week-in and week-out, or are you still a little too inconsistent with your game?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I think I'm able to play consistent. I played very consistent this year. Since I came back after my injury, I played very consistent. My ranking shows that you can't be there without playing consistent. It's just that I have to play more consistent during the match when I play against those kind of players.

Q. So you're still happy with your progress as a player, or do you feel like you should have won a title by now?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's not like a subject to win a title. For me, the ranking is more important. For me, if I'm ranked in the Top 10, that's what's important for me. That means that I had very good results the whole year, that I'm playing consistent. One title, you can just win a tournament, you know, not play the rest of the year good or the whole year good. For me, it's more important to have the good ranking.

Q. I was watching you practice yesterday. You seemed a bit upset. Is there anything to that?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: When? First practice or second practice?

Q. I only saw one.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: I don't know which one you saw.

Q. Can you talk a little about your practice with Eric and what is specific with him, the amount of work? Is there any difference from before?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: From before?

Q. When you had another coach.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. I just think that we work very well together. We communicate well. We understand each other. Of course, Eric knows the game. He has a lot of experience. We've just been working on improving my consistency, like I said, working so my game becomes more well-rounded, trying to mature my game. We are very good together, I think. I'm very happy with him.

Q. And any specificity? When you say "to mature my game," what does it mean exactly?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: To play clever shots at the right time, just to use the situation, to use the right shots, like I said, at the right time, to not go for winners, to play smart.

Q. Martina Hingis and her mother were very careful watching all of your match. I was wondering, do you have any comments about that? Is that maybe you're going to play again doubles with her?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: A lot of players watch each other's matches. It's normal. Why not? Maybe in the future we will play. I will see.

Q. Since you were discussing ranking, if you don't get injured this year, do you expect to end the year in the Top 5?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: If I don't, sorry?

Q. If you don't get injured, get to play all the tournaments.

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: That would be my goal, yeah.

Q. Do you think you can get there without winning tournaments?

ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Going to have to wait and see.

BROOKE LAWER: Further questions? Thank you.

End of FastScriptsâ€¦.

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