Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / TENNIS
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Tennis Contents:  Live scores | Results | Skills | Rules and Equipment | Get Involved

Thursday, 29 June 2006, 09:49 GMT 10:49 UK

Myskina learns to love SW19

By Mike Burnett
BBC Sport at Wimbledon

Her only Grand Slam title was on clay but Anastasia Myskina believes her best is yet to come - on grass.

" I'm trying to be more aggressive and I think it's working"
Anastasia Myskina

Anastasia Myskina The 2004 French Open champion headed to her seventh Wimbledon this week, oozing with confidence after a promising build-up to the grass-court showpiece.

Last week, she reached the final of Hastings Direct Championship in Eastbourne on her 2006 grass debut, only to be denied on a third-set tie-break by Justine Henin-Hardenne.

It was a match that Myskina knows she should have won after failing to convert three match points.

But the 24-year-old Russian preferred to see the result as an indication of how far her game has come.

"I could have won the match," she told BBC Sport. "It's a good sign - it's a sign that we're working in the right way.

"I'm not at all disappointed because it's a great tournament before Wimbledon and that's the most important thing.

"I wish I can play at the same level as I played in Eastbourne and then I think I can do well at Wimbledon."

"Yes, I won the French Open, but I still prefer to play fast courts like hard-courts or grass"
Anastasia Myskina

The Eastbourne workout certainly seemed to have paid off on Wednesday as ninth-seeded Myskina dismissed her first-round opponent, Cara Black, 6-0 6-4.

Myskina, who next faces German Martina Muller, feels the surface suits her game.

"Clay is definitely not my best surface," she added.

"Yes, I won the French Open, but I still prefer to play fast courts like hard courts or grass. I feel more confident. I like the fast games and short rallies.

"I'm trying to be more aggressive and I think it's working. It's everything - controlling the point, coming to the net, returning well and so on."

It was two years ago that Myskina dazzled the world of tennis by routing compatriot Elena Dementieva at the French Open to become the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Myskina has yet to reach these dizzy heights again and suffered a relatively poor season in 2005, despite sneaking into the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.

But with her mother back after suffering from cancer and now travelling with her on the tour, Myskina feels this season has been one of her happiest and most productive.

"I'm thinking more positive and my mum is with me - everybody healthy.

"She understands me really well and we have fun together. She's also cooking for me which is definitely much better than room service at the hotel."



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Eastbourne win for Henin-Hardenne (24 Jun 06 |  Tennis )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Latest scores
Results
Singles draws
Order of play
BBC coverage
TV and radio times
Wimbledon weather
Wimbledon
ITF
ATP
WTA
LTA
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | World Cup 2010 | Formula 1 | Olympics | Vancouver 2010 | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorbikes | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Tennis Contents:  Live scores | Results | Skills | Rules and Equipment | Get Involved

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©