Roland Garros 1999
2nd Round
Anna Kournikova beats Amy Frazier
6:4, 6:1
May 27, 1999
2nd Round
Anna Kournikova beats Amy Frazier
6:4, 6:1
May 27, 1999
Q. How did you find the match today as
opposed to the match a couple days ago?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think I was -- it was better. It was much better. I felt more comfortable. First round is always difficult, you know, like I said before. But today I felt comfortable. I think I was hitting the ball really well. It was a good win against Amy because she's a very experienced player. I think that I mixed it up a lot. I think I tried to use the whole court and I was trying to play smart.
Q. What was the difference, because you were 4-2 down?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I never played her before, so I had to find out a way how to play her. When I found out the way to play her, I started doing it. That's the result.
Q. You're nearly 18 years old. As you grow older, do you find yourself increasingly disturbed perhaps or concerned about the number of people who want to photograph you not because of the way you play, but because of the way you look? Does that bother you?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I don't think about it at all. Like I say, I'm here just because of tennis. If I wouldn't be a tennis player, if I'd be walking on the street, nobody would notice me.
Q. On the same subject, really. We've had a lot of stuff written in the papers and magazines recently about the way some of the players are actually physically building up their bodies, the muscle and everything like that. Do you notice any difference with them? Do you think it's taking a little bit of glamour away from the sport? Do you think it's good that they look so athletic now?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, the only people that are worrying about glamour and the physique and everything else is you guys. All we worry about is how to win and how to play, that's all. I have no idea what to answer you except just all I'm concentrating is on tennis and practice and playing. That's all.
Q. You recently changed agents from IMG to Advantage.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's been a long time ago, it's not recently.
Q. Why?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Why? Well, I've been explaining that already a long time. It's been in a release why I changed it.
Q. Maybe you could refresh my memory.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, because I needed a change. I needed something new. I needed new people to help me. I just wanted to move on, take a new step.
Q. Did you perhaps want to be presented in a different way?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. Of course, I wanted if I change it. Like I said, I wanted to go different, something new. I wanted the change and to take a new step forward.
Q. Did you want Advantage to present you more as a tennis player and less as an off-court personality?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Like I said before about the physique and glamour, I don't worry how people represent me, I don't think about that at all. Like I said before, all I'm thinking about is why I'm here. Why I'm here is to play matches. I have to go play doubles now, and play singles after tomorrow. That's all I'm worrying about.
Q. It's undeniable that yourself and Martina and Venus and Serena have brought a certain glamour to the sport, new fans to the sport. Do you not think with the rise in muscle power in some players that tennis may suffer and may lose out in terms of fans and commercially?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, like you said, glamour brought some different fans. I guess the physique will bring some different fans.
Q. It was very noticeable in Australia when you played doubles and won the doubles with Martina Hingis, that you really enjoyed the whole time you were on court. You enjoyed the tennis and everything. You seemed to be full of fun, enjoying the chatter with Martina. Has that made a big difference to your approach now and how much you are enjoying playing with Martina now?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think before people were always making a huge rivalry between us. Of course, when we play against each other on the court, we want to beat each other or whatever. But off the court, that was never true. People, I guess, were very surprised when we started playing doubles because they thought we were like, I don't know, didn't like each other. But we were always friendly off the court, and of course definitely it helps me to play with her. I respect her as a player, as the No. 1 and everything. I think she's a great tennis player.
Q. Can you talk about next round match?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it's going to be a difficult match. I'm going to have to get ready. I think that Patty might win her match, so I will have to get ready to play against her probably. I have to be very focused. She's a tough player. She gets a lot of balls back, and I have to be very patient with her.
Q. There seems to be some special rivalry with Patty Schnyder?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. Again, I think that's something made up. I beat her twice, two weeks in a row. Hilton Head and Amelia. I don't know if that's a rivalry. Like I said, all I'm focusing on is going on the court and showing it with my tennis, that's all.
Q. Just going back to one last glamour question. Do you actually enjoy the glamour, the image, all the attention that comes with it? Would you rather not have the excess baggage that comes with is and just concentrate on the tennis?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Concentrate on the tennis.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think I was -- it was better. It was much better. I felt more comfortable. First round is always difficult, you know, like I said before. But today I felt comfortable. I think I was hitting the ball really well. It was a good win against Amy because she's a very experienced player. I think that I mixed it up a lot. I think I tried to use the whole court and I was trying to play smart.
Q. What was the difference, because you were 4-2 down?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I never played her before, so I had to find out a way how to play her. When I found out the way to play her, I started doing it. That's the result.
Q. You're nearly 18 years old. As you grow older, do you find yourself increasingly disturbed perhaps or concerned about the number of people who want to photograph you not because of the way you play, but because of the way you look? Does that bother you?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I don't think about it at all. Like I say, I'm here just because of tennis. If I wouldn't be a tennis player, if I'd be walking on the street, nobody would notice me.
Q. On the same subject, really. We've had a lot of stuff written in the papers and magazines recently about the way some of the players are actually physically building up their bodies, the muscle and everything like that. Do you notice any difference with them? Do you think it's taking a little bit of glamour away from the sport? Do you think it's good that they look so athletic now?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, the only people that are worrying about glamour and the physique and everything else is you guys. All we worry about is how to win and how to play, that's all. I have no idea what to answer you except just all I'm concentrating is on tennis and practice and playing. That's all.
Q. You recently changed agents from IMG to Advantage.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: It's been a long time ago, it's not recently.
Q. Why?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Why? Well, I've been explaining that already a long time. It's been in a release why I changed it.
Q. Maybe you could refresh my memory.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, because I needed a change. I needed something new. I needed new people to help me. I just wanted to move on, take a new step.
Q. Did you perhaps want to be presented in a different way?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. Of course, I wanted if I change it. Like I said, I wanted to go different, something new. I wanted the change and to take a new step forward.
Q. Did you want Advantage to present you more as a tennis player and less as an off-court personality?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Like I said before about the physique and glamour, I don't worry how people represent me, I don't think about that at all. Like I said before, all I'm thinking about is why I'm here. Why I'm here is to play matches. I have to go play doubles now, and play singles after tomorrow. That's all I'm worrying about.
Q. It's undeniable that yourself and Martina and Venus and Serena have brought a certain glamour to the sport, new fans to the sport. Do you not think with the rise in muscle power in some players that tennis may suffer and may lose out in terms of fans and commercially?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, like you said, glamour brought some different fans. I guess the physique will bring some different fans.
Q. It was very noticeable in Australia when you played doubles and won the doubles with Martina Hingis, that you really enjoyed the whole time you were on court. You enjoyed the tennis and everything. You seemed to be full of fun, enjoying the chatter with Martina. Has that made a big difference to your approach now and how much you are enjoying playing with Martina now?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, I think before people were always making a huge rivalry between us. Of course, when we play against each other on the court, we want to beat each other or whatever. But off the court, that was never true. People, I guess, were very surprised when we started playing doubles because they thought we were like, I don't know, didn't like each other. But we were always friendly off the court, and of course definitely it helps me to play with her. I respect her as a player, as the No. 1 and everything. I think she's a great tennis player.
Q. Can you talk about next round match?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Well, it's going to be a difficult match. I'm going to have to get ready. I think that Patty might win her match, so I will have to get ready to play against her probably. I have to be very focused. She's a tough player. She gets a lot of balls back, and I have to be very patient with her.
Q. There seems to be some special rivalry with Patty Schnyder?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: No. Again, I think that's something made up. I beat her twice, two weeks in a row. Hilton Head and Amelia. I don't know if that's a rivalry. Like I said, all I'm focusing on is going on the court and showing it with my tennis, that's all.
Q. Just going back to one last glamour question. Do you actually enjoy the glamour, the image, all the attention that comes with it? Would you rather not have the excess baggage that comes with is and just concentrate on the tennis?
ANNA KOURNIKOVA: Concentrate on the tennis.
The Anna Kournikova Forever Site 2000-2008
If you find ANY copyright material on this website PLEASE contact me and I will remove it immediately. Thanx very much!
If you find ANY copyright material on this website PLEASE contact me and I will remove it immediately. Thanx very much!