The current top four in the world have not won a Grand Slam this year. Do you lay emphasis on Grand Slams or rankings?
Both are important. I don't think any player would not want to win Grand Slams and be No. 1 in the world. It's been my dream since I was young to do both. I've won a Grand Slam, and I would obviously love to be No.1.
What made you opt to play a tier-III event like the Sunfeast Open?
We travel a lot but each year we play pretty much the same events. So, to go somewhere different is exciting. I'm hoping I can start the indoor season by playing well in Kolkata. I've always wanted to travel to India, so when I heard there was a tournament in Kolkata, I thought it would be a nice place to go the first time.
What do you think of Sania Mirza's prospects?
Sania is a great player who h its the ball hard. Her results this year have been impressive and I expect them to get better. She will need to improve her consistency, but I know she likes going for her shots, and there's nothing wrong with that. I definitely think she has potential to be in the top-10. And to win a Slam, why not?
Last year's French Open has been your only Grand Slam title. What do you remember of the experience?
It's the highpoint of my career. It was amazing, because it also made me the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam. It's nice to create some history. I've felt more pressure to perform since winning, but that's what you have to expect when you're a top player.
You were also excited to be a part of the Olympics?
For Russian athletes, it's an achievement to compete in the Olympics. I was proud to play in Athens. Being in the athletes' village was an awesome experience.
Could you talk about your performance in 2005? It has not been as good as 2004.
My mother was sick earlier in the year and I wasn't thinking about tennis too much then. She's a lot better now. I've been able to concentrate on my tennis. I'm getting my confidence back. My current coach, Jens Gerlach, has been a positive influence on my career. He has brought good ideas to my game. He has made me believe that I can be a top player.
You travelled with your father for a few years before opting to hire a coach. Do you feel it is a bad idea to have a parent as your coach?
It's different for each player. Some parents can be good coaches for their children because they have a good relationship with them. Others might work better with people outside their family.
You were also excited to be a part of the Olympics?
For Russian athletes, it's an achievement to compete in the Olympics. I was proud to play in Athens. Being in the athletes' village was an awesome experience.
Could you talk about your performance in 2005? It has not been as good as 2004.
My mother was sick earlier in the year and I wasn't thinking about tennis too much then. She's a lot better now. I've been able to concentrate on my tennis. I'm getting my confidence back. My current coach, Jens Gerlach, has been a positive influence on my career. He has brought good ideas to my game. He has made me believe that I can be a top player.
You travelled with your father for a few years before opting to hire a coach. Do you feel it is a bad idea to have a parent as your coach?
It's different for each player. Some parents can be good coaches for their children because they have a good relationship with them. Others might work better with people outside their family.