You are here:
AKFS Home >> Tennis >> Interviews >> 2004 >> World Teamtennis - at Avon 
World Teamtennis 2004
at Avon, site of 3rd WTT event
July 9, 2004

 

 

What drives Anna to conduct a comeback?:

"I don't feel I have to fulfill someone else's expectations or need to get back, other than because I love it. I don't have to prove anything to anybody. I just have to think about how I feel. Mentally, I miss playing. I want get playing competitively again."
"But most important is what I feel. I don't have to explain myself to anybody."
"The only reason I ever wanted to play tennis is because I enjoy it. I do miss playing. To get healthy is my goal. Playing World Team Tennis should help me."

When will she come back?:

"I really don't know when I'll return. I'm trying to get healthy, to get back on the court. That's my goal ... to play competitive tennis as soon as I can. My back is not 100 percent. It's a little sore. But it's really hard to tell much after just two [WTT] matches."
"My goal is to get healthy and play competitive tennis."

 

Will she play at New Haven next month?

"I don't know. I can't say if I'll play in the Pilot Pen in New Haven."

 

US Open this year?:

"I don't know. I can't tell you if I'm going to play in the U.S. Open. My back is still a little sore. We'll see how I'm doing by the end of next week."

 

About Sharapova's Wimbledon triumph:

"Her win was great for the sport. New faces ... new personalities. She deserved to win. She has always been a prodigy. It wasn't surprising she beat Serena [Williams] in the final. She was prepared. It's great for tennis and women's sports to have new faces and new personalities at the top. Whether they're from Russia or Eastern Europe or America or wherever, it's good to see."

 

Russian sport:

"In Russia, tennis has always been very, very popular. We've always had good players. We've always had good coaches. Before, players couldn't travel much because of the cost. Now, there are more opportunities."
"Russia's always had good athletes. Not just tennis players, but athletes in all sports. Before, we didn't have a lot of money to travel and train. Now it's more accessible. That's why there's a lot more people playing and involved. There's a lot more opportunities."

 

Comparisons with Sharapova:

"She's marketed herself. I don't look for any credit. I don't think about opening doors. I just think about playing tennis."

 

Anna a pioneer when it comes to prominence of Russian women in Pro Tennis?:

"I don't look for any of the credit. I just think it's great."

 

 

 


Find out more at Anna's offical website:
www.kournikova.com