Of all the Russian women's tennis has made the greatest impression at Wimbledon 16-year-old Maria Sharapova. In the fourth round she lost to her compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova. At a farewell press conference, Sharapova, who was in charge in English, visited our correspondent Andrew Beketov.
What memories you take away from Wimbledon?
Sharapova (smiling): Just pleasant. I received great pleasure from his own good play, from the atmosphere: go for the first time on court number one was amazing. I proved to myself that I can compete on equal terms with the strongest. I'm scared like to deal with all the difficulties. I gained confidence in himself, forbade to think about failure. Said to herself: "I can win here!"
You dream to come back and become a champion?
Sharapova: This is now my main goal.
What is particularly remembered at this Wimbledon?
Sharapova: Strawberries taste better than last year. I am now - among the older players, the conditions better for them than for juniors.
Tell me how you moved to the United States.
Sharapova: So my parents decided. In Russia, too difficult to develop a professional career. In the U.S., I arrived with my father because my mother could not get a visa. It was a difficult time, a foreign country, I did not know the language, do not know where to find myself. But I knew why I came here - to play tennis. For this purpose it was necessary to get into the academy of Nick Boleteri, but I was only there two years later, and when I started my career.
Why in Russia it is difficult to play tennis?
Sharapova: There's a very cold winter. You can play only 4 months a year. There are, of course, the rooms, but there one hour costs $ 30. True, the conditions become better tennis - and more popular, they engaged in more and more children.
You realize that you have won the hearts of many British fans?
Sharapova: I can not not notice when I go to court. Such support - it's great! When the game you have a bad mood or feeling, is to hear "Come on, Maria!" How everything goes. And when it turns out, the admiring exclamations forced to play even better.
And off the court? To you this note for you all the time the photo shoot.
Sharapova: This is not always pleasant, especially when tired, and no longer want to smile at the camera, as now (laughs). But nothing can be done - it's part of what I do.
You said recently that Russian girls are trained harder.
Sharapova: In order to become better than others, they are giving training for an hour longer than others.
You said that you read the last book about Harry Potter. Good?
Sharapova: Yes, I would recommend.
Do not say who the main characters dies in the end.
Sharapova: She would not say. However, it is clear from the outset. Can not you guess? (Laughs)
Andrew Beketov
"BBC"
01.07.2003
