Maria Kirilenko - Official website

Post match press conference of Maria after the round of 8 in Stanford against Shahar Peer (ISR) to watch on Facebook, click here.

Dani
Please allow me to ask, what was your most favorite or most happy moment outside of your tennis-career…?
My most happy moment to be with my family at home!

Maxime
Why don’t you play with Flavia Pennetta anymore ? Are you in trouble ?
We were playing almost one year with Flavia and then we decided to stop and change partners. Maybe we were tired of each other, it is normal.

Leo
Everytime you play in Korea, all the audience really cheers you only. What do you feel in this situation ? If you have to define Korea in one word sentence, what is it ?
For me Korea is a great country. And people there are a so nice and so friendly, that’s why I love to play in Korea and all people who support me!!!

Tyler
What would you like to do after your tennis career ?
I didn’t think about it yet. If i will be all right with my health I just love to play and play.

Kevin
How do you explain that Tarpischev never calls you even after your great Australian Open when the top russian players didn’t want to play… Was it your decision not to play ?
They have called me several times to play for Fed Cup. My schedule was different everytime and I didn’t think that I could help our team for that moment. We have so many russian players who can play as well, that is so good!

Liam
Which has been your own personal favourite career win ?
All my wins and titles are special for me.

Josh
Who has helped you the most in developing your healthy approach to the game ?
I have a big team around me who are helping me with everything.

Zvika
What do you have to improve in order to be a top 10 player?
I think everything! It is always nice to have a room for improving.

Tanaka
What kind of main food do you always eat for keeping and maintenance of your body. In other words, what kind of the best food do you think is to exclude fatigue, to play tennis, and keep body and soul.
Before each match I always eat pasta, to have anough energy.

Luke
I would like to ask you, how did you feel a few days before your tournament in Paris? How is your feeling and attitude to Roland Garros this year ?
I was feeling good before tournament and after as well.

Dennis
What grip do you using for your top spin forehand ?
It is difficult to explain. It is better to show.

Kevin
What was the biggest fear of your life ?
When I saw a scary movie with Agnieszka Radwanska in LA last year.

Photos by Joeri Moerman

Pool or Ocean?
Pool, because I am so afraid of sharks and every time I go to the ocean I’m thinking the sharks will find me!

Coke or Pepsi?
Pepsi, because it has less fizz

Cereal or Toast?
Cereal, its more healthy.

East or West?
(Long pause) I don’t know! (Laughs)

Australia or US?
Australia because I like the people, I like the place, its very friendly and welcoming.

Henin or Clijsters?
I like them both! They’re both nice to me.

Federer or Nadal?
I think Federer. They’re both good players, but Federer is more talented.

Bath or Shower?
Bath, because I like to relax in it.

Elevator or Stairs?
Elevator, because I’m always tired!

Paper or Plastic?
Paper, because you can write something, you can make some plans; if you forget something, you can put it on the paper!

Forehand or backhand?
The forehand because I can do more things with it.

Beating Sharapova or reaching the third round in Australia?
(Laughs) Its good to beat a good player, but to reach the third round is more important.

Maria Kirilenko, did your left leg hinder you at all at the match? You had the trainer out there.
In the beginning, I didn’t feel it. Then after three games, like we had such long points. I start to feel it in my right leg. Then the physio taped my right leg. Then after the break, the five minutes’ break, I start to feel it on the left again. I was kind of feeling pain everywhere. But, I know that I lost not because of my pain in my legs, just because she was playing much better than me today.

What makes her a tough opponent?
She was running very well. I thought that I’m making winners, and she’s there. Maybe I had to come more to the net today because on the baseline, I didn’t have a chance. Plus for me was difficult to move. She was moving great, without any mistakes.

Is there anything you can take out of this tournament for the future, for the rest of the year?
Of course, it’s first time I reach the quarterfinal. I think it’s the best what I did in the Grand Slam. It was nice tournament for me.

Do you think she’s the fastest mover on the tour? How quick is she?
There is some girls who is also fast as her, like Dementieva. I think they’re kind of similar, you know, moving on court. You need to do something different. If you feel that you losing on the baseline, you need to change something. But, I tried. I tried to come to the net. But, she was just good today.

You played doubles yesterday. Because of your injury now, was it a mistake?
Well, if I would feel bad, I would not play doubles. Physio, they did really good tape. I said to my partner, « So I’m not going to run too much in the doubles, just help me a lot ». She was help me actually a lot. I could sit on the bench and you could play without me (laughter). I didn’t hurt myself at all in doubles yesterday.

Was it a hip, hamstring or thigh? What was hurting?
It’s hamstrings, it’s between my legs.

Do you think her weakness is her serve? Coming to this match, was the main goal to attack her serve?
I was trying to attack her serve. And she was serving not so fast today actually. Maybe it was her plan because maybe she thought if she gonna serve faster, I’m good return, I make a good returns. She was kind of serving to the body a lot, kind of slice serve, soft. It’s difficult attack from this kind of serve, when it’s coming like low. But from the second serve, was much better to attack because the ball was much higher over the net, and I had more opportunity to start the point with aggressive.

You’ve had a good start to the year. What are your expectations ranking‑wise for this year?
I’m just looking forward to get some rest time now, to recover my body. Next tournament going to be in Pattaya in Thailand, where I’m going to play. Just keep working hard. It’s first tournament. There’s some tournaments in the row this year. And I’m just keep going.

Maria, not the way you wanted to win, but you’ll take it?
Of course I feel very bad. I think to get injury is the worse thing that you can get on the tournament. I saw that something happened, but I couldn’t understand what’s really. Then she told me that the spine, something happened with the spine. She had it before already so… I’m feeling bad for Dinara really.

Did you feel like before it happened you had gotten yourself into the match?
She starts very well and she didn’t miss any ball. For me, was little bit difficult, as well, because I was waiting. And, of course, she was waiting all day today in the club, almost nine hours. For me was little bit difficult to adapt to the night, to make a serve because the sky is dark. And then I tried to make a long rallies. I start to play much better. I move her a lot today actually. Maybe that was a problem with her back after.

Did you notice she was struggling at all before she actually came up to the net and pulled out?
I don’t remember. I think the score was 2‑1. I don’t remember. We had a long game. 3‑2, we had a long game. Then I remember that during this game she came, she went to the chair umpire and asked something. And I understand that maybe it was a physio, you know. But anyway, she was fighting. She said few times, come on. Then the physio came and she didn’t take a break. I didn’t understand what’s happening. Then I saw she’s serving like very soft. Then she said something not really good, and yeah.

First time in a Grand Slam quarterfinal. That’s a big opportunity for you.
Of course it’s nice. It’s my first time in the quarterfinal. I’m happy about it. But I prefer to win and get to the quarterfinal than to win like this.

But it’s been sort of a long process for you to get to that point.
I feel I’m playing good. Even tonight I played quite good. I was moving not bad. I’m happy with my game.

You’ve played Jie Zheng five times. What do you expect from her?
Last time I played her exhibition in Kuala Lumpur. It was such a long game, 7‑5 in the third. After this exhibition, we were laughing because we were so tight. Normally in the tournament, you get so tight, not in exhibition. I expecting to get very tough match. I saw her match today. She didn’t miss any ball. You need to beat her. She’s a very good player. It’s going to be tough for me, for sure.

How are you feeling physically? You had some bandages…
I have some little problem. But it’s okay. I’m fighting. Doesn’t matter for me. Even if it’s painful something, I just keep going.

Last year wasn’t your best year. What is the reason now you have the success you’re having?
Last year when I start to play, I had such a big pain in my knee. I played the first set. I finished the matches, but it was such a big pain. The second set for me was difficult to move. I didn’t make any fitness at all because was so much pain. I played only tennis, played only from the middle. Then when I had a match, it was difficult for me actually because physically I was not strong at all. But after Wimbledon, my knee gets better. I start to make a special treatment. Now I can make the fitness full and practice full. Now I feel that I’m physically ready to play. And that’s helped me a lot.

I believe it’s your birthday in an hour.
That’s true.

What are you going to do?
I don’t know. When I was a kid, I had a dream, you know, to be in a Grand Slam main draw in Australia when I have a birthday. I think my dream comes true.

Do you get to have champagne or do you not have that because you’re still in the tournament?
No, I don’t want to get drunk before my next match (laughter). It’s going to be difficult for me to play then. But, yeah, maybe after when I finish with my tournament I will celebrate with the girls from the locker room, with all my friends.

Can you afford to get excited and happy at this point or do you have to focus and be very serious?
I can say only that I’m focused and I’m still in the tournament. I’m just need to be ready for my next match because the tournament not finished. I need to keep going.