|
Q&A: SUNDAY, JUNE
30
Elena Dementieva: ready to soar again
By
Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net
Susan
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
|
FROM WIMBLEDON –
It's now been almost two years since Russian Elena Dementieva took
the tour by storm, reaching the semis at the '00 U.S. Open and grabbing
the Olympic silver medal. But since that time, the leaping ballerina
with earth shaking groundies and ragged service motion has struggled
to do exactly what people accuse her more famous countrywoman Anna
Kournikova of not doing – win a title.
Last week, Dementieva reached the
final of s-Hertogenbosch
on grass, and somewhat shockingly lost to rising Greek Eleni Daniilidou.
On Monday, the tall blonde will face '01 finalist Justine Henin,
who wiped her out in Australia earlier this year. In third round
of Wimbledon, Dementieva looked lethal in clubbing Iva Majoli and
believes she may be on the verge of a mental breakthrough. tennisreporters.net
sat down with Dementieva on Saturday.
Susan
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
|
tennisreporters.net:
You finally seem to be getting your feet on grass.
Elena Dementieva: I feel much better
this year on grass. I feel stronger than last year. It's never easier
to play on grass. The bounce isn't always right but it feels better
now. It seems like its pretty good for my game but in the past I
didn't play that well. Mentally it's different because I didn't
grow up on it. Every time I came here it was something new, I want
to think positive. This year I'm trying to change my mind.
tr.net:
How do you feel about the loss in the final of s-Hertogenbosch to
Daniilidou?
ED: It was a good chance to beat her.
I was 3-1 up in the third set and a good chance to win the title.
She played very well. I was upset that I lost but it was good result
for me to get to the final.
tr.net:
At Roland Garros, you lost to a player that you are better than
on paper, Clarisa Fernandez. Explain. Was it a mental problem?
ED: Yes. I had some many chances and
didn't use anything. It was a good draw for me and I was very disappointed.
She's a player I have to beat.
tr.net:
What have done in between Paris and London to improve that?
ED: We're working on mental game a
lot. It's always like I'm up 40-1 in the second set and then I lost
the set and the match. I couldn't continue the good start. Here,
I've won all my matches in straight sets and its been better. I'm
trying to play point by point and forget the score, focus on my
rhythm.
tr.net:
Can you really challenge Henin?
ED: Of course, she's very good. The
last time I played her, I didn't play at all. It was just a bad
day. This time it feels like she's good but she's not 100 percent.
But it will still be very tough. I feel good.
tr.net:
Where is your confidence compared to 2000?
ED: It's seems so far away. I don't
remember being that confident. When you are that young, you just
go the court and have nothing to lose. It's your first experience
and your feel very positive.
tr.net:
It wasn't until Elena Bovina won a small title two months ago that
any of the highly-touted group of Russian women – yourself,
Kournikova, Petrova, Myskina, and Krasnoroutskaya – won a crown.
Is it a mental thing with Russian women.
ED: It's not about Russia. It's about
all the players. Many players have a very good start and then they
stop progressing because of injuries or mental problems.
tr.net:
How does the Russian media treat this issue.?
ED: They always say how many good
players we have and that we are not ready top win a tournament mentally.
They are wrong because we are ready. It just feels like some small
things always stoop us.
tr.net:
Are you ready to beat Justine and maybe reach the Wimbledon semis
?
ED: I think so.
|
