PACIFIC LIFE OPEN

March 16, 2005

Elena Dementieva

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: But, you know, this stadium reminds me a lot US Open stadium. You know, I think I played much better than I did it in the final last year in US Open. So I think it was a great match. We both play very well. You know, I'm just very happy the way. I think she's the most powerful player on the tour. I mean, she's very strong. She's good enough to play ATP Tour. Sometimes I was just watching the ball, and it was unbelievable what she did with her forehand. It was a tough match, so I'm very happy to win.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I didn't expect this double-fault. I think she did only one. I think that was her first or second one.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: It was my fifth match point, and she was playing unbelievable, you know, to get these points back. So I was waiting, you know, for the good serve. I was, you know, trying to tell myself that I have to be aggressive, I have to attack this one, and then double-fault. I didn't expect, you know such end of the match.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I was glad, you know. I didn't have to go for the winner and to take risk, so it's nice to finish this way.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I think she played unbelievable on these match points. I was trying to think -- you know, I was thinking that I have to do something different, you know. I have to return aggressive this one. I have to take advantage of her second serve. So I was trying to step into the court. And then double-fault.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No, no. You know, I think I wasn't aggressive enough on my serve. I didn't -- I mean, I didn't push any pressure on her. You know, my serve is very slow, so she could take advantage and, you know, just hit the ball very well. But, you know, my favorite is, you know, return, so I wasn't that upset. I was just trying to be focused and positive on the court.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yes, I was trying to put my first serve in, you know. I was trying to serve at her backhand a lot, you know, even my serve wasn't that fast. But I think it was very important. She always very aggressive with my second serve. And I remember US Open when she was, you know, making the winner, you know, every single second serve that I put it there.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You know, every time you play someone that you lost, you feel like more motivated, you feel like -- I always feel like a fighter, like I want to go there and, you know, win this time. For me it's very interesting to play, you know, against such a good player as Svetlana.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I don't have my whole family with me, only my mom is here.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yes. I mean, she always travels with me. It's kind of -- I don't feel any different here or anywhere else. I think there are people who work for the tournament are very nice to every single a player and you don't feel any difference if you are Top 10 or Top 100. That's why, you know, we all love to come here. You know, people, volunteer, are trained their best for us to feel like at home. I don't know. My mom is happy to be here.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I was feeling a little tired in the end of the match. But I knew that I have a day off if I win. So I was trying to give everything I could. You know, with a day off, I'll be okay for the semifinal.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, it's a tough competition between all of us. You know, there are so many Russians here, so everyone wants to be the best one. I'm sure that the rest of the Russians are watching this match, me and Svetlana. Every time the two Russians play together, you know, all the girls are watch the match, you know, just look who is the best one. So it's kind of competition between all of us.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I don't know what's the type.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: It's a Yonex shirt.