'Perhaps I quit when I'm 20'
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TR: What do you like most on being a tennis-pro ? Kournikova: I can make my living out of my hobby and I love travelling. TR: Do you mind that spectators are frequently more impressed by your looks instead of your tennis ? Kournikova: If I couldn't play tennis , I wouldn't been where I am now. If I was number 500 on the WTA list , nobody would see me. TR: If a shampoo-concern should sponsor you on condition that you have to cut your hair , would you do that ? Kournikova: No way !!! I want to stay the way I am. If I should cut my hair , that's only because I want to. TR: How should you describe yourself: Kournikova: I don't because others do that already. I don't like to talk about myself. TR: Is becoming number 1 at the WTA list your goal for 1998: Kournikova: No , it isn't , I just try to play my best tennis. I'm still young and there's time enough to be number one of the world. TR: How did you get your new coach Pavel Slozil ? Kournikova: I already know him for a long time and he's a good friend. He's got a lot of experience and was a good player. I'm happy with him being around. TR: What's your weakest point on the court ? Kournikova: I contol every stroke but I have to learn to win. At toptennis , everything is about mental power. You can beat a technical better player if you're mentally stronger. TR: What do you think about the rivalry of Hingis and the Williams sisters ? Kournikova: Martina and me , we're good friends. We go to party's together. On the court we're rivals but outside we're friends. That's the same with the Williams sisters altough I've less contact with them. TR: What do you think about the youthful age of the tennis pro's ? Kournikova: When you start early , you can also quit early. Today, you can quit by the age of 25 to start a family. If I've won everything at the age of 20 , I could quit then if I want to. TR: Do you want to start a family ? Kournikova: Offcourse. Every normal human being wants that sooner or later. However, I don't know how many kids I want. TR: Can you imagine having a boyfriend on the tour ? Kournikova: I sure do. To make one thing clear : I don't have a boyfriend right now altough others claim different. TR: How's your bond with Russia , your country of birth ? Kournikova: I'm home a lot because my friends and family live there. TR: Was it hard to move to Nick Bollettieri in Florida at the age of ten ? Kournikova: No. It was very important to go there because Russia doesn't have such an institute. And you can see it wasn't a wrong decision. TR: Which music do you like: Kournikova: Mostly pop-music and especially Savage Garden. TR: What do you like to do if you aren't playing tennis ? Kournikova: I love a lot of other sports and art. I visit a lot os museums and concerts. I also like ZOO's. I can't sit still because I'm an very active person. TR: Which injuries did you heve already ? Kournikova: Last year a had a broken toe. I haven't been injured since. TR: We wish you a lot of succes.
Kournikova: Thank you and see you. |
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