Anna Chakvetadze: “I’m looking towards the future“
February 6, 2008
The top seed at the Open Gaz de France, Anna Chakvetadze is trying to recover from a tough start to the year. In December, she was robbed in her Moscow home, a trauma the Russian player is looking to put behind her.
Anna Chakvetadze, your first match is scheduled for Thursday. Is it good to be getting such a late start?
Yes, it’s good for me because this is my first indoor tournament and I need to get some more training in before playing my first match. I’m going to try to play my best tennis and improve with each match.
How would you explain your rough start to the year – a first-round exit in Sydney followed by a third-round showing at the Australian Open?
I had been training in Moscow, but I think that I wasn’t sharp enough to make a run at the title in Australia. Something happened to me during the off season – (ed. note: Anna was robbed and tied-up in her secondary residence in Moscow on 18 December) – and I wasn’t able to prepare like I would’ve liked. It was all very tough to handle. But, now things are going better. I’m getting back on my feet and, mentally, I managed to put that trauma behind me. My level of play is improving. I started the year poorly, but I think that’s only normal. What happened is in the past. I’m looking towards the future and want to focus on this tournament.
Looking back, do you regret playing the Australian Open?
I wanted to play. I really made up my mind to go. Maybe I thought it’d help me get through things. I told that myself that playing would help me get over what I went through. I love Australia, I love the tournament, and I wanted to see what I was capable of. I know I didn’t play good enough, but I don’t have any regrets. I feel so much better today.
Did it also do you good to play Fed Cup for Russia in the tie against Israel?
Yes, I love playing for my country. Last year, we won the Fed Cub, and I hope we will do the same this year. No offense to France, of course! (laughs). I want to keep playing in the Fed Cup. In the next round, we’ll play the United States in Moscow. It’s important for me to be there and represent my country.
Russia’s coach has a lot of players to choose from right now…
Yes. There are so many great players in Russia. And only the best ones are selected. Some players didn’t want to travel to Israel. Me, Maria (Sharapova), Dinara (Safina), and Elena (Vesnina) were there, and it would only be fair for all of us to be called back for the next round (ed. note: Dementieva, Kuznetsova, Petrova and Zvonareva had higher WTA rankings than Vesnina). At home in Moscow, everyone is going to want to play, but we shouldn’t change the team. I think the coach understands that and he will have to make that decision.
Damien MERCEREAU