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A. Big story. I think it's - I was lucky. I just, I was in the sports centre and just - okay, my family was sports, but nothing for, nothing with tennis, and just watched one coach from tennis, and he just asked me, "You want to come with me? I have one hour off. I like your style", and all this stuff. And finally say "Okay. Why not?" And I just went there, and next day I said to my own family that I really want to go again, and after one week I bought a racquet, and I just start. Q. How much did you pay for it? A. For the racquet? Q. Yes? A. Was cheap there; not like now the racquet. Q. Eleni, you were clearly aware that Jennifer was in some kind of physical distress because the trainer was a regular visitor to her chair. When it came to taking the break, you had a quick break rather than a ten minute break. Was that because you wanted her to keep going or - - - A. I just, I wanted to go for toilet. Q. Yes. A. Too much water. It was really hot in there, in the court. Q. But you could have broken for a lot longer if you wanted to? A. Yeah, I can take ten minutes, but it was only for five minutes. Q. Was that because you thought you had - sorry to use a boxing analogy - you thought you had Jennifer on the ropes? A. I knew it before to go to the court was injury and, but that's why I make her a little bit run more in the court. But I felt really good in the court. Q. Eleni, were you surprised at the amount of Greek support you had out there today? A. I knew before. I mean, I played 99, Junior, I won the Doubles with Razzano. It was also again, like this, so many Greek people there, and I really - everybody helped me, and really I have to say thank you very much to the Greek people. Q. Does it help you lift your game to a higher level, with so many Greek fans out there in Australia? A. For sure. I feel like, like to play in my country; and really, I hope to, to help me also next year. Q. Eleni, Jennifer rattled off six games in a row. Did you run out of energy at the end? Was that the problem? A. I was a little bit tired, but she's a really big player, really good player and I just try from the beginning to stay in the match. But I was really nervous. But finally I really enjoyed the match. Q. Was there a particular area of your game you think you need to improve in? A. I think everybody can improve everything, and I really have to improve many things. I'm young, still, and I'm looking forward to really playing good tennis. But I think, for today, maybe, go more to the net with Jennifer. But I really - she was really tough. Q. With the serve - you are quite tall - do you plan to make more of the serve? A. Yes, today was - I mean, I didn't play many times in big courts, and really, I have some problems with my serve today. But I think I can serve better than even today. Q. Would this be the biggest crowd you have played for? A. I'm sorry? Q. In the arena there were ten thousand people; would this be the biggest crowd - - - A. I really like to play in front of the people. But I think I really need a few more matches like this, and to be better in the court. Q. We saw yesterday, when Venus was in trouble against Daniela and then came through it was similar - not the same, but similar to today; do you think that you younger players breaking through, there's still a big level of intimidation against the top names? A. I mean, now we are really many young players. But I think not yet. I think we are not ready to do the surprise, like the men's. Like, I mean, in men's, every round, it's almost surprise. But the good thing, it's good really that we are really many young players and I think it's coming. Q. There's probably not a lot of role models in Greek tennis. Who are your heroes here? A. I really love, like, also like a player, Mark Philippoussis, and Sampras. I mean, he's really typical, like my style, I really like, and I hope to be like, like them. Q. Do you have a coach, Eleni? A. Tough question. I'm looking. For one year I was injury, with knee operation, and in last year really tough time. I mean, I was eight months out of the court. Q. What was the injury? A. It was during a tournament in England, and I broke ligament in minisc, to my left one. And still, I think you can see in the court I was, I'm not really hundred per cent. But I think it could be better next year. Q. Does the Greek Federation give you any help? A. Tough question. We are really back in the tennis in Greece, and the support is not, not so big, not so much; but really, I don't - my family is really next to me, and I have to say thank you very much. Q. So Merv Rose isn't your coach? A. It's coach of my Doubles partner is Caroline Schnyder. And he really wants to help here, finally work together. And we try from last week, I mean, after Canberra, that I play in the WTA, to prepare for Australian Open all together, and finally we did it, and I'm really happen to. Q. So Merv Rose is your coach? A. Maybe we are going to work. But we, we speak and we say that after the, all the matches, and after the Open, we decide what, what are we going to do. Q. Five stars. A. Thanks. back<7td> |