WIMBLEDON

June 23, 2004

Anastasia Myskina

THE MODERATOR: Anastasia Myskina, Ladies and Gentlemen. Questions, please.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No. Just really bored right now. But it's going better, and I hope the matches going to start at 4:30 so we going to get some action today.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: You know, it's really in the past and I try to focus on the present. It's a Wimbledon, it's a different, it's a grass. And all remember who won last year here, it's Serena. I mean, I don't really feel a star or it's something really different, myself. Just really focused on the game.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: But definitely that happen. It's become a little bit more popular here, even in England. I mean, it's really nice. I'll do my best here, as well.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Oh, you know, I feel great. I was working really hard to be No. 2 seeded right now, and be No. 3 in the world right now. What I can say just, you know, the Williams sister, they missed a lot of tournaments because they injured. They come back, and maybe I was a little bit lucky. That's why I'm No. 3 right now. But, you know, it's a hard work before. And that's kind of paid off, you know, that I won a Grand Slam title and I have one. So I just feel really great. Now I hope it's change about the Russians girls. Everybody say that they are coming, but finally we're here and we can prove that we can win, as well.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I know for sure more surprised to win a Grand Slam because it's a Grand Slam. It's the biggest tournament in the world. It's the hardest one. And what about the Wimbledon? I never lose the first round here before. Always played third, fourth round. So I was pretty confidence in grass every year. I just feeling really great and confidence here, as well.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: That's magazine happen to me (holding up magazine with her on the cover). Something new for you guys (laughter). Just a lot of photo shootings, magazines, newspapers. That's pretty much it. I hope I'm not change as a person. Want to be the same. But that's it. And my ranking, of course, changed.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: What do you mean?

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: It's a lot more right now, for sure. And it's really nice. But how you can forgot that you're a tennis player? First you have to play and then everything else.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Here or Russia?

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: After Roland Garros I have one week off because so much things to do, and the tennis kind of was in the second place. Not the best thing, but it's happen. But now practicing really hard.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: You know, I've been canceled today, so I have a day off today, as well, because I've been practicing really hard last week.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: In London, the taxi driver recognized me once, so that was really nice. But for sure in Russia, more popular than here. I mean, compared to Tim Henman, I'm nobody, for sure.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes, right now. Yes, it is.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Oh, it's going to be even more beautiful, for sure. There are girls are coming. We strong. We look -- I mean, I hope we look good on the court. That's what we try to do, because I think for crowd it's better when the girls look good. And the tennis improve a lot. It's faster, stronger right now. Just hope everything going to be much better in the future.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: What do you mean?

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I think right now in Russia, I mean, yeah, we're losing in some soccer, hockey games, we're not winning. But in other sports like athletics or tennis or something else, we on top, and it's really good for everybody. And just think that's the way we work for that, and we want to improve our life and we want to improve just everything. You know, we want to improve the people start thinking about Russia much better. Like before, everybody think it's only white bear walking in the street or something else. But now want to prove it's a completely different country. It's a nice country.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Oh, definitely. I mean, especially I think back home, I have to think twice before I'm going to say something because it's going to be in the papers. Everything what I do right now, I'll have to take more careful, I think.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No. I don't remember that.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: First of all, you have a great tennis players. I think Elena Baltacha, I think she's a great girl. I think she has a good future. She was sick, I know. She have a problem with the health. But she's coming back. Just want to wish them good luck. And they have to work hard, and even harder to be on Top 10, like top players. Think we have future with these girls who playing right now.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Between me and America? Used to practice there a little bit with Robert Lansdorp. That's it. No connection really.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I would be the person who can help people any ways, like with food, with money, just with something, you know.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes, kind of that.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: I said that it's going to be another Grand Slam finals, I hope. It's going to be another French Open final for her, I hope, as well, and she's going to win. I know how she was upset because it was really a real final that both of us can win. I just wish that next year she can win.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: My goals, it's to play my best. I hope quarterfinal, semifinal, that would be great. Just really want to do my best here.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah, I'll try to do right now at home, back home, I'll try to help kids with the money, as well, with clothes or food. I'll do what I can. But, you know, I'm not real often at home. My mom try to help as well for my name.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Just the houses for the homeless, the kids without the parents, we help with money, improve their life because they're really poor kids.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: On the court, it's different story. You're different. You're not different person, it's just a different world. I mean, you have to fight because you want to win. You don't want to be a loser. You know, one thing follow another. Because if I can win, I can help the people, because then they know my name. Let's put it I have money to help them. So I have to fight for that, as well. So I fight on the court, and then I'm really quiet, but try to be nice person off the court.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes. He's like a grandpa for us because he really big fan of the tennis, Russian tennis.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yesterday I saw him before Marat match. Before he was really happy. But I didn't see him after. I think he was really upset.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Everybody was so happy for me. A lot of people called me to congratulate me. Was an awesome week for me. Was no tennis, so was a great week.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Photo shooting. You missed my magazine. Photo shooting, press conference as well. So lot of media.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Oh, no, no, no. I'm quiet girl, like I said. I try spend lot of time with my family, friends at home. Not in nightclubs.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes, she's a good girl. She's a great player because she beat couple Russian girls in the past, a couple months ago, Petrova especially in Indian Wells, I remember that. She dangerous on the grass. I think she played third round here last year or something. She's real dangerous on grass.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yeah. Groundstroke, it's pretty flat. You know, it's dangerous because you don't really know where she's going to play. But if I will play my best, I think it's going to be good.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes. He wished us good luck before final, and after he flew from small city in France to Paris to met me, Elena, congratulate us, both of us.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: In Paris, yes. In airport we met him. Was like 10 minutes' conversation, about great job that we did for Russia.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: He play tennis?

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No, I don't think so. He said the tennis is dangerous sport.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Yes. I don't know. It is dangerous. Slippery on the grass, so you can fall.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: First contact? When I think I was a little kid, I walk on the grass. That's my first contact with the grass. If you mean on tennis court, that was in Birmingham couple of years ago. I was in the final.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: It was perfect.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: No, not at all.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Especially for you, I'll do my next match (smiling).

ANASTASIA MYSKINA: Can say clay. You know, I always keep saying different things. But like you're professional tennis, you have to play everywhere, so I don't have really favorite.