US OPEN

September 7, 2004

Elena Dementieva

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Elena, please.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No, it was a very tough match. You know, it was difficult to play. I had something with my leg, you know, which is really, you know, limit my game a little bit. With this humid and hot weather, it was not easy to play today. I feel it was a great match and, you know, I'm very glad that I could survive.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I mean, I think what's happened, I just lost lots of water during the match. It was a really long one, really long match. I had upset stomach, called for the physio, and, you know, was really, really dying on the end of the third set.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Because I'm Russian (smiling). I like all these troubles, you know. I like to play against someone very strong. I like to, you know, I like to compete. Amelie is a great player, and, you know, it's very interesting to play against her. I was trying really my best today.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No. I don't like to do this. When I'm in the court, I'm trying to focus on my game, even if I have something injury or whatever it is. I'm just trying to focus on the point. And I'm trying to forget about all other, you know, things going on with me.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No, I can't remember this.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, well, I think that all the Russian girls, they are working hard and they like to compete. They just like me, they dying for every point and would love to win. We're really working hard and I think we deserve to be in the top. Just, you know, it's just amazing how many good players we have for the moment. But, you know, in the same time, the tennis is getting more and more popular in Russia and it's not surprising me.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: No, the first time she came because of my leg, because I aggravate it during the match and she did an extra tape with me. But the next time I called, it was in the end of the third set, it was upset stomach.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: I don't really know.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: It did help me, yeah.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, hopefully. I'm not playing till Friday, so I have a lot of time to recover and I'm sure I will feel much better on Friday.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Probably take a rest, you know, not practicing tomorrow, and some treatment for my leg.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: You know, I was little upset with this last game because it was 6-5 for me and it was a chair umpire mistake; he couldn't see the out. It could be Love-30 for me. I was very upset with the situation. I start to play very aggressive. And it did work.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: My favorite places? I love New York, it's nice to be here. I love Australia. You know, I like all the places that I'm playing good (smiling).

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: What I like? I really like Australian people. They are very friendly. Just beautiful, I think it's beautiful country.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Am I surprised that I won, no, I'm not. I wouldn't play if I wouldn't think so.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Yeah, I mean, it was tough to play but it really helped my game. I had something with my leg, and I start to do serve and volley. I finish second set like this, and I did surprise my coach by making this. But, you know, was looking for some other way to win. I like to move, but when you can't move, you have to use your arm, something else. And that's really interesting, you know, because you have to think a lot when you have something. You have to be, you know, smart on the court.

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: With an injured leg, probably, yes (smiling).

ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Oh, I think the best vacation was last year during the off-season when I came to Switzerland. I had just a very nice week. I was snowboarding, doing some country cross skiing. I like wintertime, so it was a very nice time.