Eastbourne AEGON International. June 12 2001. Heather Watson

Heather Watson

Q: How important is Eastbourne for your Wimbledon preparations?

Watson: Eastbourne is the tournament before Wimbledon and everyone wants to get in a few matches here on the grass. It is tough today, it’s raining and there is bad weather tomorrow so it looks like it could be indoors a little bit. But I’ve had some practice on grass already, last week in Birmingham and the week before in Nottingham. I’m really enjoying it so hopefully this week goes well.

Q: How do you feel about the progress you are making, Heather?

: I’m really pleased with my progress, I’ve cracked the top 100 now which was my goal, end of year goal and I just want to keep it going, keep improving, getting fitter and becoming a better player.

Q: Elena Baltacha has talked about how she thinks it’s good there is this healthy rivalry between you. How do you feel about that?

Watson: It’s really good – we are putting each other along and it’s great to see her doing well. She’s playing the final today, I don’t know whether she has played it already, in Nottingham. It’s great to have someone more experienced and who has been at the top as like a leader for me. She’s someone who can tell me about the tour and everything. It’s great to spur each other on when we are doing well.

Q: They could have given you and easier draw couldn’t they?

Watson: Yeah, it’s a great opportunity though. I’m really looking forward to it.

Q: Have you played here before?

Watson: No, she’s going to be the highest ranked player I’ve ever played.

Q: You have got nothing to lose…

Watson: Yeah, nothing at all.

Q: With the rain, how does that affect your preparations with the rain?

Watson: It’s tough today, I think I’m practicing indoors this afternoon. I would normally practice twice today but it’s difficult and I don’t want to get too used to the hard courts. It’s tricky but it’s the same for everyone.

Q: How much are you enjoying your tennis at the moment? You seem like a really bubbly character off the court and on the court you really seem to enjoy yourself as well.

Watson: I’m just enjoying life at the moment. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself because previously I have been doing that and losing some very close matches which I should have won just because I have put too much pressure on myself and gotten tight. But it’s working a lot better now and it’s working on and off the court and my results are showing as well.

Q: How are you finding adapting to grass because you don’t get that long really before a major tournament going from Paris on the clay to Wimbledon to sort of get used to a new surface.

Watson: Yeah it’s tough. Clay and grass couldn’t be more different but I think I’ve converted pretty well and I feel like I’m playing well and I’ve got a lot of confidence.

Q: You’ve already had a great year but what would represent success for you over the next month? What would you say you’d like to achieve?

Watson: Just to keep climbing the rankings and take everything I can and learn as much as I can especially from this next match coming up against Vera. Just get fitter and stronger and become a better player.

Q: How are the likes of Zvonareva when you walk past them in the locker room – do they just bang you with their bags and not look at you or…

Watson: No, they are actually really nice. The higher up they are, the nicer they are actually. It’s more down in the rankings where it is more cut throat and everyone is just trying to get into the top 100 and into these WTAs but it’s nice to be around players.

Q: How does it feel to be in the main draw alongside the Williams sisters?

Watson: It’s great – I’m pretty close to Serena in the draw. So that’s really exciting.

Eastbourne AEGON International. June 12 2001. Francesca Schiavone

Francesca Schiavone

Q: What have your preparations been like for Wimbledon since the French?

Schiavone: I think I bring the rain. In one week I play four hours maybe.

Q: How do you feel about the grass? You’ve had different results on it.

Schiavone: You know that’s tennis. I try to work as hard as I can to feel good when I start Wimbledon but it’s not easy. Time is short but I take example from Rafa and from Roger that they are great on both surfaces. I try to follow them.

Q: Do you feel it’s difficult to go from one surface to the other?

Schiavone: Of course it’s difficult. Everybody feel the difference between clay and grass – it’s normal. But at the same time people say ‘how do you change your play’. You don’t have to change, you just use a different type of muscle. The most important thing is to have a good serve, a good return because the first and second ball can make the difference. You have to use your reaction much more on the grass for sure. It’s the small things that can make the difference.

Q: Do you go in to a Wimbledon with the same confidence that you do with a French Open?

Schiavone: On the clay, I arrive I was not in such a good shape because I played three tournaments that I couldn’t arrive at a semi final. I say come on. And then in French Open I start and was better and better so I hope to give to myself the chance to win the first round and then follow my way.

Q: What do you feel about the Williams sisters returning here this week?

Schiavone: It’s great to have them back I think not just for tennis but for us. They are champions, they are great athletes. They come back, it’s tough, it’s tough for everybody but it’s interesting because when you play with the big athletes, personally I like the fight, to give the best to win. It’s great.

Q: Do you think it takes the pressure of you a little bit? That all the focus is on them?

Schiavone: No. I think everybody have pressure in different ways. I don’t know if they have big pressure because they just arrive and they have nothing to lose. I know Serena and Venus when they come back they are ready to compete so maybe high pressure for them. But at the same time every match is pressure when you play tennis.

Q: Do you have any different physical preparation for the Wimbledon?

Schiavone: Yeah, I eat more hamburgers! No, that’s a joke. You have stay a little bit more down with the legs and be good reaction with the foot so I try to work on the exercise that can give me much more reaction in the low part.

Eastbourne AEGON International. June 12 2001. Victoria Azarenka

Victoria Azarenka

Q: How frustrating is it for you, this weather and not being able to practice and things?

Azarenka: Well it’s depressing a little bit. You just constantly want to sleep and wearing like two lifejackets not to drown in the rain. There is nothing you can do about it.

Q: What do you do when it rains like this?

Azarenka: Nothing, absolutely nothing. You are just on the internet, watch a movie, read a book, blah blah blah with people. It’s a little bit like a zoo right there, in the lounge.

Q: You went into Roland Garros as one of the favourites and now you are one of the favourites for the grass court season. How do you feel about that? Is it pressure?

Azarenka: There is a lot of favourites right now especially with Serena and Venus coming back you know. It’s a good problem to have to be one of the favourites. It’s a very long way to go, it’s not because you are favourite that you are going to win, it’s a lot of hard work and a lot of things that have to go in the right place for you to succeed. Honestly I’m just looking forward for my first match on grass is going to be here so we’ll see how it goes.

Q: What’s been the reaction to Venus and Serena coming back? Are people scared, happy?

Azarenka: You should ask people, I don’t know. I can only speak for myself and I’m excited that they are coming back. I think it’s great for the sport, great for the competition and for me I’d love to play both of them so I’m happy they are back healthy. It’s good.