PILOT PEN TENNIS

August 27, 2004

Elena Dementieva

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I think so. I think she was playing very well today. She didn't give me any chance. Her serve was great. I couldn't do nothing really on her serve. She was returning very well. I think that was one of her best day.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I think if she going to continue to play like this, she going to be in the top very soon because she has a good game. She was very aggressive and she put a lot of pressure on me. It was not easy to play today.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You know, I know that, I mean, she can really hit the ball. But today she didn't give me any mistakes, you know. She was playing very solid all the time. You know, I was always down, and I couldn't even split the score.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You know, there is not much time to change something in my game. I just need to have rest and, you know, go to New York, practice there. I feel like I was a little bit slow today on the court, you know. Maybe I need a little bit break before The Open.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I think that game could change something. But it was 15-40, and then she serve I think four great serves. But this game could really change, you know, the second set, I think so.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I couldn't return well. I couldn't control my return. Every time I play, it was short and she was going for the winner all the time. It's very difficult to return this, you know, very high-bounce balls.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You know, I think she's not consistent. For example, myself, I'm a tall girl like Elena. It's not easy, you know, to stay healthy all the time because tall people, they get injured. It's very difficult to warm up yourself and to be healthy during the year.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah. I mean, every time I'm coming to a tournament now, I prepare myself that I'm going to play against Russian because there are so many of them. There is no difference for me to play against Russian or someone else because, you know, it's really not about your nationality, it's all about the way you play.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I think so, it's not the easiest one (smiling). But, you know, when you play in a grand event, you have to be ready from the beginning of the tournament. I know that I have to play my best to beat her in the first round.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I mean, that what happening a few years already, that everyone from Top 30 can go and win a tournament. You know, we have much tougher competition right now. You have to be ready from the first round. I remember like a couple years ago, you don't have to be worried about, you know, your first rounds, and you have to play your best only in the semifinals and the final. And right now you really need to show your best in the first round.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Other players, I think they're not afraid of them any more. You know, they go on the court, they fight with them and try to win, because they lost some matches. Usually they don't do this. I think they're both not in their best shape right now for the moment.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, but I think Nathalie was playing great tennis last night. Jennifer didn't have enough patience. I mean, she was returning every single ball. It was not easy match.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I think so. I think she has a great game. I mean, she has everything. You know, maybe she needs just to be consistent during the year and she going to be in the Top 10.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Right. I mean, I feel like I'm under pressure when I play against someone with a good serve because I realize that I really need to take my serve, which is not one of my favorite shot. You know, that sometime put me in trouble like today when I lost my first service game and then I was always down. Not easy, you know, mental to play.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I think that I was a little bit nervous in the beginning of the match. And that's why my serve wasn't that good. I mean, as more as I'm playing, my serve is getting better during the match.