Former French Open winner Anastasia Myskina says she is taking her battling Wimbledon inspiration from her cancer-hit mother.
The Russian 23-year-old has endured a disappointing 2005 becoming the first defending champion in history at Roland Garros to lose in the first round as she tried to cope with her mother Galina's illness.
On Friday, Myskina reached the last 16 at Wimbledon with a punishing 6-0, 5-7, 10-8 win over Serbia's Jelena Jankovic while, in the first round, she struggled to beat Czech qualifier Katerina Bohmova 5-7, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.
"My mum called me after the match and said she almost died and that really wasn't good news," said Myskina who could have wrapped up the tie on Friday in straight sets after having two match points.
"She was watching the match from home in Moscow and it's really hard for her. But she's really proud and happy and that's good."
Myskina, the ninth seed, faces compatriot Elena Dementieva, seeded six, on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals and she paid tribute to her family who supported her after the devastating loss in Paris.
"It was hard after Paris because I couldn't defend my title. I was really upset but then I talked to my family and my coach and they said that I just had to go out there and play a lot of matches to get my confidence back.
{{/usCountry}}"It was hard after Paris because I couldn't defend my title. I was really upset but then I talked to my family and my coach and they said that I just had to go out there and play a lot of matches to get my confidence back.
{{/usCountry}}"So it was the right decision to play in Eastbourne last week (where she made the quarter-finals) and be here right now."
Despite her problems off the court, the Russian Fed Cup star insists that she is regaining her confidence again although she has never got beyond the fourth round at the All England Club in six previous appearances.
"I have started believing in myself again," she said.
"I know what I can do right now even if I am not playing my best tennis. But I am fighting and I will do my best no matter what."
dj/ak/lp05
Tennis-GBR-Wimbledon-Myskina