Anna Smolina: I feel it my duty to represent Tatarstan 12.08.2010

- My performance was not best today I lost to Ekaterina Kozlova from Ukraine 3-6, 2-6. I felt not very well, it’s hot and the court has a hard surface that heats up very much. I can’t say that it was for that very reason that I lost the match but it affected my performance. I feel more comfortable playing on the ground surface.

- Can you say the same about the doubles match and the singles event as well?
- No, I think that I felt better playing with Lilya Sabirzyanova during the doubles event. But we had bad luck with the drawing. We lost to the second-seeded international pair of Ekaterina Dzenalevich(Belarus)/Ksenia Tsurenko(Ukraine) 1-6, 4-6. They are very strong and I could feel that their performance was perfectly coordinated. It’s no wonder as they played in such tournaments as Roland Garros, the French Open. And as for Lilya and me we met only at the tournament. Although speaking about my performance I can say that I felt more confident playing doubles as I like it. But still my excitement had an impact on me as it is my first tournament with a prize fund. US$ 50,000 is something new to me. I’ve competed at international, junior, ATF tournaments before but none of them had prize funds.

- How much do you get from the prize fund?
- It’s a secret. (smiles) I think no more than 15,000.

- Anna, we need to clarify that the tournament fund is 50,000 US dollars and you got paid 15,000 rubles.
- Yes. (smiles). Exactly.

- Tell us about yourself. The information slipped out that you want to represent Tatarstan in future?
- I’ve lived in Tatarstan for some time and I began playing tennis here. Some of my father’s relatives are from Tatarstan. At present I live in Moscow where I train under the tuition of Evgeniya Manyukova in the Tennis Academy named after Shamil Tarpischev located in the Olympic Village.

- She was quite a famous tennis player in times past. What can you say about her coaching level?
- Yes, she won the Wimbledon title at her time, as far as I recall it was in a mixed event. As for her coaching level the names of her educatees speak for themselves. For instance Ekaterina Makarova is among the strongest tennis players of the world.

- You play in the Russian junior team that apart from Russians is made up of Armenians, Geiorgians. Literally it’s the USSR national team.
- Yes, exactly. Margarita Gasparyan from Armenia is in the junior team as well. She dropped her doubles match. Nanuli Pipiya, Georgian be nationality, lost in the tight battle to eigth-seeded Lesya Tsurenko (Ukraine) 6-7, 5-7. Plus it’s me and Yana Buchina who was defeated by fourth-seeded Nina Bratchikova (Russia) 2-6, 4-6. The junior team assembled the most talented girls of our country.

- Does the fact that you are of different nations affect your communication?
- I wouldn’t say so. But keep in mind that tennis is an individual sport so we are in ourselves.

- Do you intend to represent Tatarstan with a view to qualify for the Universiade?
- I wouldn’t look that far to the future. Let’s say I feel it my duty to represent Tatarstan.

- What place do you take in the Tatarstan rankings?
- Well, I’ve never thought of that. If Ksenia Lykina is at the beginning of the top 300 and Avgusta Tsybysheva closes top 400 then I believe I rank third in Tatarstan. But keep in mind that these girls are elder than me and I turn just 16 in September.

- Will you follow the matches of the tournament?
- Yes, I’ll watch the games to gain experience, to study tactical versions of the players.

- You are a rare guest in Tatarstan now. Do you notice any changes the city goes through?
- Of course I do. And I’m amazed at how fast the sports venues are being built. Like mushrooms after the summer rains. It’s awesome, it’s a great job. In my opinion there are not enough tennis courts in Moscow now.

- Your matches proceeded to the accompaniment of operating construction equipment as the Universiade Village is being built near the Tennis Acadamy. Did it interfere with your focusing on the game?
- They say that nothing can interfere with a good player’s performance. Nothing interfered with me.