Media Conference
Transcript - Elena Dementieva, Igor Andreev, Yaroslava Shvedova, Andrey Golubev
6/01/2010
Elena Dementieva and Igor Andreev (Russia)
Yaroslava Shvedova and Andrey Golubev (Kazakhstan)
Courtside
Ladies and gentlemen Elena Dementieva and Igor Andreev...
.... Well Andrey may have made all the difference?
(Dementieva) Yeah we were trying so hard but they were too good today especially Andrey was playing unbelievable in singles and double mixed as well. So we can just rest today.
It looked like you enjoyed building the ball with Andrey back and forward across the net there at various stages, testing the power.
(Dementieva) Oh that’s very hard to stay on a fast court with him especially with his forehand side. I was so scared to play against him.
And Igor talk about building the ball, you nearly killed poor old Slava there at one stage with that fire that went straight at her.
(Dementieva) This again, too fast.
The ball you hit was very hard at Slava. It was hearts in mouths.
(Andreev) Andrey was hitting so hard so I had no choice. I was like “hold my eyes and slap the racquet” and the ball went so fast. When I saw the ball going to her I was very scared. Really my heart was going like this. You know it’s a game but still you have to be a little bit careful with these kind of shots.
Some nights it’s just not your night, is that how you felt?
(Andreev) Excuse?
A difficult night for you.
(Andreev) Difficult but we lost today to our friends and they just played very good today. Andrey give me a lesson today – I was a junior in our singles match and mixed as well. But still we had a good time and the guys really deserved to win today.
Well you can still make the final. We look forward to seeing the both of you against Great Britain in a couple of day’s time.
If you would keep your applause going for the Kazakhstan team. It is a historic night for them - a Hopman cup victory and qualifiers of the tournament. Slava the smiling should be beaming. What a great moment for you.
(Shvedova) Thank you. I really enjoyed it and happy we beat the Russian team because we are competitive and they are friends also. But still I am happy we beat them.
Coming here as the qualifiers, did you think it was possible to win a tie at the tournament?
(Shvedova) Yes also like our previous match against England where our match ball didn’t make it but anyway we played well. We came here to win, not just to play and enjoy the game.
You look like you are really enjoying it and finding it exciting.
(Shvedova) Yes I am very happy, I’m always smiling. It’s my job but still I love my job and I’m enjoying the game.
And what about your partner tonight, he was dynamite in the singles.
(Shvedova) But he was killing Igor and he was running around and hitting the balls. He played unbelievable and I was so happy for him to win.
Well the man of the hour is Andrey. Finishing the job by winning the tie, how about that? A good night?
(Golubev) Yes today was a very good day for me. First I had a good play in singles then we enjoyed doubles. Also we played great matches and we played good so we lost just one break. Then we served good. I ran all of the court but not like Igor. For one point yesterday to beat England, I don’t know the rules of Hopman Cup, but with Victor it is much easier to go through to the final.
You are right in contention that’s for sure. Were you confident when you walked out in the doubles given how well you played in the singles?
(Golubev) Yes I concentrate on my matches. Unfortunately I didn’t see much of the matches of Yara, only on the television, because I was warming up. But I wanted to give my best and my point to the team.
Are you enjoying your time here in Perth? I imagine it just got a whole lot better.
(Golubev) Yes I enjoy it especially when its 35 degrees. It’s great because we come from Europe. Where I live there is snow like this. So it’s a little different.
So how good would it be as the qualifiers to win your way into the final which is the next task.
(Golubev) Sorry?
Aiming to make the next final? It would be some sort of achievement to win the next tie and make it to the final.
(Golubev) Yeah and we try to win but it depends on how UK play with Russia. If UK wins of course with three victories we have no chance. We play at 10am the same time which is strange but it’s cool.
Well we look forward to seeing you at the end. Slava just let me ask you before we go. The ball that Igor hit that was so fast and going straight at you – did your life flash before your eyes?
(Shvedova) No I didn’t have time for this. I saw him hitting hard so I just reacted and I don’t know how I hit the racquet. I panicked and I just turned and somehow my racquet just hit the ball. I missed it a little bit but its fine.
It’s been an amazing night. Congratulations to you both. I’m sure we all feel privileged to have seen it. Kazakhstan winning the tie at the Hopman Cup.
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