AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2005

Anastasia Myskina

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Anastasia, please.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I didn't know her. I didn't know her game. I just was kind of, you know, looking how she play, what she doing. I still was pretty confident. Even that I was down 3-1, I still was confident that I can win the match.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: The main goal, of course, would be No. 1. That's why I'm here. That's why I want to win. I know it's really hard, it's really tough, because there's so many good players who also want to be No. 1 and who also want to win. But I think it's possible that I just have to work hard.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, I think we've been really hard worker. We are have a good competition, so we push each other. Like I said already, behind my back so many good girls. It's push me to play every match 100% even more.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Why not? I mean, she's a great player. I think she wants to be No. 1 again. It's possible. Why not?

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, it's getting better. I have my physio here with me so we're working on it. Hopefully it's gonna get better every day.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: The shoulder been bothering me for already couple years, so it's nothing new really. I just have to work. I have to do some exercise. But it's gonna be fine.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: You know, all the girls here, all 128 girls, are really tough. My next round, Lisa Raymond, she's a really tough opponent. She won two matches 6-Love, 6-1, so it shows me she's really good player or she's really confident here. So I think I don't want to meet anybody here, but I have to play every match (smiling).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, I think, like I said, it's really good tournament here because it's really excited tournament because nobody know who is gonna win. Maria is one of the favorite. I think she's really great player. Yesterday was a tough match for her, and I think she went through. It was good for her.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Like usual, good relation. Nothing change.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: What do you mean?

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: We already have a discussion and we didn't really talk about this any more. That was in the past. What I said, I said. I'm responsible for my words. That's really all I can say.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, yeah.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, I think so. I learn a lot of things from last year that my emotions doesn't really help me on the court. I know it's really emotional game and sometimes you have to express yourself, but not the way I did. I think right now I'm getting really better and just have to play my best here to win.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: You mean today or...?

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: We been talking to my coach a lot about this. You know, I saw myself on TV, and I don't really like it. So I think that's maybe change a lot. The way you look, it's really important, as well.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: But that doesn't really sound unpleasant words to you, what you said. If you know that words, that doesn't really mean anything. It means "thank you," and "vodka." Nothing really bad. I think it was okay.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Well, I think for the all girls, especially top girls, was really hard and tough year last year. Maria won a championship. She's really young player. So maybe she, for her, it wasn't enough time to recover it. I think for Lindsay as well, you know, she been on tour for a long time, you know, and she have to come again and play over and over with the same people. But I think everything can be fine. Just need matches like this, you know, to go through these matches. I think then it's easy and better game.