|
 Anna
Chakvetadze is set to make her Olympic Debut in Beijing after a
breakthrough year in 2007 that saw her enter the world's top 10
and help Russia win the Fed Cup title
How excited are you about this year's Olympic Games?
Well, I'm very excited because it's going to be the first time
in my career I'm playing the Olympics Games. That's a
great feeling. Just to get there is already a big deal, I
think, especially when you have so many players in your country
who are playing that well. To feel that you're one of
them, it's a great feeling.
What is your strongest
memory of the Olympics?
My last memory is from Athens when Anastasia Myskina lost against
Justine Henin from 5-1 in the third set in the semi-finals and she had a
chance of taking the gold medal. I was a junior at that time.
And actually after that, I bear her at the US Open. But I have a
very good memory of cheering for her during that match, but
unfortunately she lost.
When you were growing up, did you ever think you'd get a chance to
actually be part of the Olympic Games?
No, I never thought about that. I never thought that I would
become a top tennis player because I started late and I never was that
good under 14, under 16, even juniors. So I never thought about
that. That's why I'm so excited.
What are you looking forward to the most in Beijing?
I am just looking forward to getting there. I think the atmosphere will
be completely different because there's going to be so many people
there. I think it's going to be very different from a Grand Slam event
because it's just one time in four years. It's not like playing
four Grand Slams a year. I look forward to seeing how it's going
to feel.
Will it be daunting to match out for the opening ceremony with the
rest of the Russian team?
Definitely, because tennis is actually an individual sport, and you are
always by yourself or you're with your small team, like coaches or
trainers or hitting partners. There, it's going to be a lot
people, I realise that. Of course, I hope I will do well.
That's my dream. Just to get there will be good, but to play well
there will be even better.
Do you have friends in other sports that will possibly be at the
Olympics?
yes, I have friends in ice skating and wrestling. Hopefully, I'll
see them there.
Is there another sport that you'd like to be able to participate in
at the Olympics Games, what would you pick?
If I was boy, it would be soccer, but I also like volleyball. I like to
watch it and play sometimes.
What else are you interested in doing when you get to Beijing?
I don't know how it is going to be or how it is going to work. I know
that we are going to have our national coach with us and she's going to
help us all with our practice plans. So I don't know if I will
have time to go around, to look around there. It will be in the
future. |
