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 Q.
You will probably be the most improved player of the year. How
pleasing is that for you to be here?
A. I’m very excited to be here. I worked a lot this year to be
here. Being here is a pleasure the best 8 players in the world.
This season was the best for me, I think, as you said as well,
because I had my highest ranking and I won 4 titles. So, I’m
pleased but of course I want to work more, to improve more as
well.
Q. Remember that in Moscow nobody expected you to win in a
shell, because so many Russian players... but you did it. Is
your life a surprise? Perhaps you can make it here or you come
as a newcomer? What is your mentality?
A. I think it’s a little bit different story here because the
tournament is much tougher. As you said, nobody expected me to
win. Maybe some of the players didn’t really think that I was
going to beat them. That’s why maybe they were a little bit
relaxed on court. That’s why I won. But here all players know
how I’m playing and I know how they are playing as well. So, we
know each other very well already. I’ve been on tour for 2/3
years so we know all the players and I know all the players very
well. So, it’s a different story. The tournament is much tougher
but I’ll try to do my best.
Q. Ana Ivanovic just said that she’s been working in the
mental part, the control of emotions because she got to the
final in Paris and she was so nervous. Do you have this problem?
Are you working on that?
A. You know, when I was playing under 14 I was very nervous and
people who might not have seen me play at that time may think
that I’m still not at control, but compared to that time I’m
much more in control. Of course, I’m working on it. I want to
improve on this part of my game as well.
Q. Does the indoor court suit you? Can you play any surface?
Because you’ve won on several surfaces?
A. I don’t think that clay is my favourite surface but here I
like the surface. It’s not that fast, is little slow. So, I like
it and I hope that I’ll do well here.
Q. Justine talked a little bit about you. She said that you
distribute your game very well, that you’re very intelligent on
the court. Do you agree with that?
A. I cannot disagree with Justine. Yeah, I’m playing my first
match with her and I think is a very tough first round for me. I
think I have a very tough group but what can we do. I have to
play and show my best tennis here in the last tournament. I wish
I will even improve here compared to the last 3 weeks which I
played indoor season.
Q. What will you have to do to beat her? What’s the main
thing you do?
A. It’s very tough to say because twice I was very easily
defeated. Hopefully, this time I will play better than the last
time I played against her. I just need to stay more
concentrated, to keep playing aggressive because if you’re not
playing aggressive against Justine I think is very tough to win.
Q. You used to play doubles with Elena Vesnina but now you
separated your career so are you still in touch?
A. Yes, of course we are still in touch. I will see her in one
week. We are going to have some meetings in Moscow. We are still
good friends but we are not playing doubles together because she
wanted to play with Likhovtseva this year and I decided to
concentrate more on my singles. I’ve played just a few
tournaments with Azarenka and I think next year I’ll play with
Isvenoyava (phonetic transcription) for the Olympics. We'll see
how it goes and if it goes well maybe we’ll go to the Olympics
as well.
Q. You play Justine in the 1st match. Maybe that’s an
advantage because for both of you is the 1st match of the
tournament? Maybe is better for you to play immediately against
her?
A. You never know with these things. It also depends on how it
goes. For me it’s better to play Justine in the 1st round
because as you said she didn’t play any matches but, on the
other hand, I also didn’t play matches. So, we will see how it
goes and I think it will be a very interesting match.
Q. Do you follow any ritual before a match or do you have any
superstition?
A. I’m not really a superstition person but before very match
I’m always listening to my Ipod, my music and just trying to
prepare myself. I don’t really like to talk too much before I go
to play. I just like to sit somewhere in the corner and stay
concentrated for my match, just keep the energy for the court.
Q. What kind of music do you prefer?
A. It depends on the mood. Sometimes fast, like... maybe R&B but
it depends. It’s the mood thing I think.
Q. What do you do in your spare time during a tournament?
A. During the tournaments I usually go home because I always
want to be with my family and friends of course it is always
nice to have some time off. My hobby, I think is shopping,
I have said it a lot of time in my interviews
Q. Do u like any sport apart from tennis?
A. Yeah football
Q. Do you practice it?
A. A little bit. My brother actually is a little soccer player.
He is just 9 years old, he has just started to play so he wants
to improve. My dad is an ex-soccer player as well so I do like
to watch it and I play a little bit because we have a little
garden in our house
Q. How is your relationship with the other 8?
A. It's good. We see each other every week and we keep in touch
sometimes. Friendly relations because it’s our work to be on the
tournaments every week and we see the same faces all the time. I
am not saying that I keep in touch with all the eight players
but with Svetlana and with most of the Russian girls we keep in
touch a lot.
Q. You have the reputation on the tour as being the player
with the most interest in fashion. Is it only for shopping or
are you interested in designing or something?
A. I do like to design stuff but usually for models and for
people .. I better like shopping because I like to buy
everything for myself. That’s how I am.
Q. How did you prepare for this tournament because the last
indoor tournaments were not so good for you so did you have time
to regroup and refocus on this tournament?
A. I have ten days to practice and I did practiced in Moscow
with my hitting partner and with my fitness coach so as I said,
hopefully I will play better than I played in those few
tournaments because as you said the indoor season wasn’t that
great for me but I hope I will get through and we will play
better here.
Q. Your results at the indoor season were not as good. Were
you a little bit tired or a little bit relaxed after winning the
Fed Cup?
A. Yes, It’s actually started after the Fed Cup win but I think
you can’t play all the year at 100%, its very tough. Even
Federer losing now there 2 tournaments so for me of course it’s
tough and I felt a little bit tired but for this tournament I
hope that I will get some extra energy because this is the last
tournament and very important one.
Q. You are also trained father Djambuli, how do you develop
the relationship? Is it difficult?
A. He’s not really my coach, he just helps me outside the court
a little bit and he is not all them time telling me sometimes I
tell with my mom as well so all my family is here with my little
brother but I cannot say that my father is coaching me he is
just helping me a bit. It’s more of a psychology thing because
when we have bad days it’s very important that we have someone
for the team and I think parents are the best people who can
help and I am in great relations with my parents. Because of
them I am playing tennis and I am playing so well like I am now
and it will be very tough without their help.
Q. Do you find it uncomfortable to play with such a long
hair?
A. Once when I played in Stanford it got stuck on the racket but
it was just one time. I played my back and it just got stuck in
the racket. I think I am going to cut it a little bit after
Madrid because I cut it every year but before the last
tournament I didn’t want to cut it – its a little superstition.
But just a little bit, I don’t want to have short hair because I
am used to having long hair since I was 8 or 9. It used to be
even longer but I get used to it and for me it is comfortable
Q. Are you still playing the piano
A. No, not anymore. It’s still in my house. For 10 years I
didn’t touch it because I didn’t like it when I was growing up
and its very boring and I think when a kid doesn’t like
something the after he grows up he still doesn’t like it. I wish
I will play; I like to listen to classic music but not playing.
Q. You used to play classical music?
A. Yes
Q. Did the Martina Hingis case surprise you or do you think
these are things that can happen in tennis?
A. It’s a tough question but I think nothing has been proved for
100%. I support the anti-doping programme as well but Martina is
a great champion and I hope she will get through that and as I
said it’s still not proven 100% |
