Mesh Tennis

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Q. It was Serbian semifinal. It was not easy, obviously, to play a fellow countryman. What prevailed in that tiebreaker and ultimately the match?
ANA IVANOVIC: I think the first set we both were a little bit nervous, so I think the tennis wasn’t that great. But I was just really happy that I kept my composure through all the match, actually.
Even when I had set points on 6-5 I didn’t play really well, but still, you know, I stayed right there with her and I fought really hard for two points in the tiebreak. I was happy I could win it, and that gave me motivation to start better the second set.

Q. What are the stats on playing someone from your country?
ANA IVANOVIC: It is something I haven’t experienced much, because we don’t have that many players. So last year or the year before was probably the first time we both were really in that position to play against each other. Obviously it’s not easy, because you know someone you know for so long and you obviously want to win.
You know, everyone back home is watching, and it’s very exciting. But I think you just have to focus on the yellow ball and try to do the best you can, no matter who is on the other side of the net.

Q. You’ve known Jelena for a long time.
ANA IVANOVIC: I’ve known her for a long time. Even though she’s two years older than me we still play couple tournaments at early age, 10 or so. Then she went to America and she was practicing here for a while. I haven’t seen her much in that period, maybe from 10 to 14. But, yes, it is a long time.

Q. This is actually going to help you in the standings quite a bit, because you were in the round of 16 last year. Are you thinking of that?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, I really don’t think much about that side. I just try to play my best tennis and try to win every match, because I just enjoy competition. I hate losing, so I want to win. I don’t think much about points or defending points, because I don’t believe in defending points.
I just believe in going there to win a tournament again, if you going.

Q. What do you think about competition tomorrow, then?
ANA IVANOVIC: Tomorrow I think I’m going to take it easy, I have day off.

Q. Sorry.
ANA IVANOVIC: Tomorrow may be no competition. But on Sunday definitely it’s going to be hard match. We had many matches, and most of them in three sets. So it’s going to be tough one. She played really well today.
But, you know, I really hope we can both play well and have a great match.

Q. Seems like you’re having much better time playing in big tournaments than small like this year. You know, the Middle Eastern tournaments were not great, and then Australian Open was much better for you. That keeps repeating last year. Is it maybe lack of motivation or you’re just like playing these tournaments better?
ANA IVANOVIC: Obviously you peak your form for the biggest tournaments of the year, and Grand Slams are obviously the priority, and Tier 1 is obviously the second priority. But Doha was really disappointing for me because I felt I was in great shape.
And then twisting my ankle at the end of that match and actually having to have break. Practice one day before my matches in Dubai, it was very tough for me. But, you know, I won that match in Dubai because I was just so happy to be on the court again.
It was good experience. I mean, it was something probably I haven’t experienced much before. But, you know, just coming into this tournament, obviously haven’t had that many match preparation as I hoped for.
But still, I tried to get into the matches, you know, just playing match by match.

Q. I was reading how your trainer was treating you when you were injured recently. And talk a little bit about your overall team. Sounds like you have a pretty well organized team from off the court and Sven and everyone.
ANA IVANOVIC: I must say I’m very, very lucky girl to have a great team around me. First of all, my parents and then my manager, my coaches. You know, there are really few good coaches out there. I’m happy I have Scott and Sven on my side and working with me. They’re both working really hard.
You know, we just also have lot of fun working together, and it’s important because if you would just think tennis and intensity, one day you just have enough and you just want to, you know, do something else. But with them, we worked really hard on the court, but then also outside of the court we have fun and we just, you know, joke around a lot.

Q. What do you guys do for fun as a team? Go to Disneyland or…
ANA IVANOVIC: No, but actually one year in Stuttgart I went to amusement park with Scott and my coach at that time, but I like amusement parks a lot.
No, we just go for dinners or sometimes the zoo or sightseeing, just different things.

Q. What’s your favorite ride at amusement parks? What do you enjoy most at amusement parks?
ANA IVANOVIC: I like actually everything. I love roller coasters and I like the free fall. They were joking, because in Stuttgart we went to amusement park, and it was me and two coaches, and there were so many rides there and Scott got sick after second one. Then the other coach after fourth. I went on six rides in like two hours.
They were like, How can you do that? They just felt sick watching me, but I enjoy it.

Q. Is that why you got rid of the coach, you got a new coach?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, he couldn’t keep up with me. (laughter.)

Q. What did your coach tell you after the tiebreak after you won? What was the advice, what you talked about?
ANA IVANOVIC: Well, he obviously listened to what I had to say, and I was little bit — little bit nervous. You know, just, yeah, anxious a bit, so he told me, basically not much.
Just one thing, to move little bit more forward on my return. We just spoke in general. He didn’t say anything much, because obviously I was nervous and maybe too much information at that moment would be too much.

Q. What did you tell him?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, I just said, you know, that I’m a little bit nervous, and that I’m not finishing my shots. He agreed with that, so that was good.

Q. Jelena just mentioned how your style of game does not suit her, that she cannot read your forehands. And you obviously dominate her. I mean, in the last six matches you only lost once to her. What is the key? Do you adjust your game when you play her? Do you think that you’re maybe mentally stronger when you play her?
ANA IVANOVIC: Well, it’s very hard to say, because obviously it happens that, you know, some players adjust better to some type of games rather than others. But, you know, I just work on that. Big players cannot read my game.
Every match I play, I try to play well and also to know what they are doing good so I can maybe take that advantage from them.
Yeah, I just basically try to play my game as much as I can and move forward. I know she’s a great defender and she likes to run, so if I can take that away from her, move forward and give her less time, that’s definitely something that works well.

Q. What about about against Svetlana? You have a pretty good record against her. Why have you been so successful against her?
ANA IVANOVIC: She’s a very powerful player, so I think it’s important to stay right there with her and not give her many chances. I think we have little bit similar games. She likes her forehand, likes to run around her forehand. I’m not going to say now my tactics so she can read it tomorrow.
But, you know, definitely I know what I’m going to do, you know, once I get out there. But definitely I’m going to look to control the points.

Q. Are you excited about getting into the final, or do you feel you are already used to it?
ANA IVANOVIC: No, I’m very excited. Every final you make it’s always very special. Exciting. This is a big tournament. I’m really proud the way I played this week, so that’s — I’m definitely very excited to be in final and looking forward to that match.

Q. Did you watch Monica Seles when you were growing up?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yes.

Q. How old would you have been?
ANA IVANOVIC: I started watching when I was four, four-and-a-half. And at the age of five, actually when I started playing, but before that, I watched her and, yeah, that’s how old.

Q. So when did she stop playing? How old were you?
ANA IVANOVIC: When I started playing, she wasn’t on the tour for a year or two. Yeah, I never got chance to play against her.

Q. I was just wondering, because you were talking about psychology this week, and maybe that was too young, but did you realize how mentally strong she was as a player at that age, or maybe you were too young?
ANA IVANOVIC: I didn’t realize, but I remember she was a huge fighter, and that’s what I liked. Yeah, but I think if I would have had to — if I had to play her it would be quite tough for me, because playing against your idol. It’s not really easy.

Q. In some of your earlier matches this week you said you got a little too emotional at times. Were you happy with your focus today?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yes, very happy. That was one of the things I knew I had to be strong today and not show any emotions, and I kept my composure really well. So that was a key today, I think.

Q. What have you been doing with your free time here? Svetlana kind and Novak said they’re kind of bored around here.
ANA IVANOVIC: Well, it’s different. It’s definitely different. (laughter.)
We sort of had our routine on our days off. We usually go for lunch somewhere outside of the club, somewhere around. And then afterwards we go to Barnes & Noble and relax there for a bit. We kill some time there and maybe go back and watch some tennis if they are showing or just a movie or…

Q. Do you agree it’s kind of boring here?
ANA IVANOVIC: It’s different. It’s not the place probably would live at, but it’s — for a tournament I think it’s great, because you have to keep your energy and your focus for matches, and, yeah, for preparation.
So I think in that way it’s perfect, because you don’t lose much energy doing other stuff.

Q. Your team, you go to Barnes & Noble? You have coffee or look around?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, we grab a few books and have a coffee and then read, yeah.

Q. Like being a student?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, yeah. Almost like that. You know, you go, you pick some books, you put it under your arm. You see it and just read and exchange our thoughts. Oh, is that book good? The problem is that every time I go there I want to buy so many books, but then I can’t carry them. I always have overweight when I’m traveling, so I really have to be selective.

Q. Did you buy any this week?
ANA IVANOVIC: Yeah, I bought actually two from Freud.

Q. More Freud?
ANA IVANOVIC: I was looking for couple more but they didn’t have them in stock, so I’m waiting for Miami.

Q. If you were to say to the tournament, We would like this over here so we’re not bored, what would it be? Roller coaster?
ANA IVANOVIC: Amusement park. (laughter.)
Couple of roller coasters.

Links to youtube kept popping up and disappearing (probably due to NBC), but Novak Djokovic’s site seems to have a more permanent copy of his appearance on the Tonight Show.

Check it out by following this link.

Q. Didn’t seem like you out there, Maria. She played well, but you looked a little slow, late to the ball, all that.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: That’s pretty much right. You can keep talking. I’m sure it will be correct.

Q. She did a good job dictating with her forehand, she served pretty well. But with you, you never seemed to get any rhythm.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I was just playing with a much slower pace than I normally play with. You know, I wasn’t — I wasn’t going for my shots as I normally do, and as usual, I wasn’t seeing the ball that good. I wasn’t taking the short balls and doing anything with them, kind of giving her the opportunity to get back in the points.
There were a couple important points that could have changed the match, and she ended up winning them. I think from that she gained confidence and kind of steamrolled after that in the third set.

Q. Do you have any idea why you weren’t doing those things?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I’m human. You know, I’m allowed to make a few mistakes in my life and in my career. You know, that kind of was the story today.

Q. Is it fair to say you’re just a little bit worn out from Australia to now?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Absolutely, yeah. Definitely. I’m playing a lot of tennis, been flying a lot. It’s all been work since I took a week off after the Champs. It’s pretty much been nonstop from the season to all the tournaments I’ve been playing, and Fed Cup as well.
It takes a toll on your body and your mind as well. You feel like you have to go out on the court and, you know, spend a lot of emotion and energy out there, and sometimes you just don’t have it for every match.

Q. Is there any obvious opportunity for you to take a break?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Absolutely. I plan my schedule, so, yeah, if I feel like I need to, yeah, absolutely. I think I just have to be clever about the decision — I mean, this year is so young and I still have so many big tournaments ahead of me and so many goals that I want to achieve this year, so, you know, I obviously have to be smart about how I’m going to — what my schedule is going to be like from today.
Just kind of, you know, analyze it with my team a little bit and, you know, and set my priorities to where they should be.

Q. Have you got any idea when that might be at this stage, or when you might take your next break?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don’t know. Maybe next week. I don’t know. (laughter.)

Q. Did you think going into the third set, you know, maybe it will come, maybe it will get a little more fiery, the balls will land in, maybe I can kind of fake my way through it? Or did you think, Ah, it’s not going to be my day anyway?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: There are a lot of maybes. Not a lot of yeses.
Ummm, like I said, if I could have got my hands on a few of those tougher points and kind of gave her something to think about, then maybe it could have gone my way somehow, but just didn’t.

Q. When she’s in a good way, she is not the kind of player you want to be playing on a day when you’re not at your best, huh?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, she’s a very tough, tough player. She’s not No. 2 or 3 in the world for nothing, you know. Absolutely not. I give her a lot of respect for her consistency for what she’s able to do on the court and how strong she is and how many balls she gets back.
You know, she showed a lot of that today and, you know, this court definitely suits her, her game and her serve as well, because the ball kind of jumps up. And even though I’m 6′2″ - wish I was like 6′5″ on these courts - it would be a little bit easier. But it still kind of jumps up away from you, and especially today she used that to her advantage.

Q. So what do you do during the next week? Do you put the racquet down and just relax before Miami or…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don’t know. (laughter.) I’m going to play it by ear. You know, my body is kind of hurting a little bit. Like I said, I just — I just want to — I just want to be smart about the decisions I make, and that’s going to be, I don’t know, made after a good night’s rest, and have a little sitdown conversation.
You know, just see. I mean, you know, at this point of the year I can’t really be putting any pressure to myself and saying, You got to go out there and play next week. If I’m not going to be ready, I’m not going to be ready. No one’s forcing me to go out there and play.
It just has to be smart decisions just because this year is so young and because I’ve already played so much. As a 21 year old, I, you know, I’ve got to kind of stand up and make some mature decisions that will help me throughout my career, you know.

Q. It’s sort of unfair in a way, too, that Justine, Serena and Venus get to take this off, right?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: What?

Q. Justine, Serena, and Venus don’t play here, but Miami is a mandatory. So if you take off Miami and they’re playing, is it a big deal for the tour or not?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I actually don’t know. You can ask them. I’m sure that there’s a pretty big fine, but the body’s more important than a fine.

Q. And mentally you’re talking about being mentally fatigued. I imagine that’s considerable, too.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It’s not so much mentally as just getting yourself prepared with every single match you play. I mean, to be honest, I haven’t taken more than three days off since I started training for Australia. You know, even when you’re taking the time off, you know, in the back of your mind you’re already — you know, you are very careful about what you’re doing.
In your mind you’re already thinking about your train and go your goals and you never really have time to just kind of chill out. You know, that’s why it’s hard when you have a season so long to kind be ready each and every tournament and feel like it’s a big priority. I mean, you’re trying, but it’s a bit unrealistic.

Q. Has it been kind of catching up with you, or did you just feel it today? In other words, did you feel it in your last match or did you just feel it today? Kind of today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, actually when I got to Doha I wasn’t feeling good for about a week. I wasn’t, you know, I wasn’t sure that’s because of the jet lag from all the way from LA to Doha or what it was.
Then I eventually got sick. But I was, you know, I was able to play through. I mean, obviously I was playing, you know, with confidence and I was playing good tennis, and that helped me get through that tournament.
And then, you know, in the back of your mind you know that you have, you know, at that point even before Doha you’re supposed to play Dubai and have to play in Indian Wells and Miami, so you’re already kind of thinking towards that and you’re working towards that.
But as you go on, things change and physically you start feeling it, and, you know, in your mind as well, so…

Q. What do you think Svetlana’s chances are of going all the way here the way she’s playing now?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I don’t like to evaluate next matches, because I don’t know if it sounds greedy or selfish, but when I’m out of the tournament, it’s sort of done for me. I don’t really like to think about what’s going to happen next rounds, that’s why it’s good when you win. You don’t have to answer that question right? Or any of the others you guys ask.

End of FastScripts

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Looks like Maria is having at least a shoulder problem, presumably similar to the same injury that has plagued her for the past several years. Unfortunately, it has cost her place in a major hard court tournament, the Sony Miami event, and if anything liek previous years, could do more damage to ger schedule and level of play.

Her agent, Max Eisenbud, said the injury is not serious but that Sharapova “is trying to learn her lesson from last year when she didn’t take care of the shoulder as soon as the problem happened.

“She’s going to take a week off and not play any tennis,” Eisenbud said. Sharapova is expected to be fit by the time the U.S. clay court season begins on April 7 and, though she is not signed in to either Amelia Island or Charleston, S.C., she might consider requesting wild cards into one or both tournaments.

Giving a wild card to Sharapova wouldn’t take much thought. The decision not to play South Florida comes a day after Sharapova’s 18-match win streak to start the season was ended in a straight-set loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals at Indian Wells.

“She’s pretty disappointed. The Sony Ericsson is one of her favorite tournaments,” Eisenbud said. The tournament won’t lose her altogether, though. Sharapova will be at the tournament site on Tuesday to meet with reporters and do some publicity for the tournament.

Sharapova “tweaked” the shoulder reaching for a wide serve in Tuesday’s Pacific Life Open match against Alona Bondarenko. “It was nothing major, but after everything that happened last year, she was a little scared,” Eisenbud said.

“She has a very loose shoulder, like [New York Mets pitcher] Pedro Martinez. The same guy that worked on his shoulder worked on Maria’s. She has a very loose shoulder joint. It’s just something you’re born with. It helps with the serve because she gets that extra whip, but the problem is that when fluid gets in there it’s very hard to treat and hard to get out.”

Sharapova continually tried to play through the shoulder injury last season, but won only one title (San Diego), retired from one match and gave a walkover in another. She was a disappointment at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, the two Slams she had previously won.

“It hurt her to lift her arm above the shoulder level,” Eisenbud said. “It’s not a sharp pain, but you can feel it. And that’s not going to go away without treatment.” After the U.S. Open, Sharapova had an injection. “It wasn’t cortisone, but something that, when put in the area of the problem, acts as a suction for the fluid,” said Eisenbud. Sun Sentinel

So my prediction was completely wrong on who would make it into the women’s final.

Svetlana Kuznetsova slammed the door on Maria Sharapova’s undefeated season, setting up a final with Ana Ivanovic at the Indian Wells Masters on Friday. “I’m human, I’m allowed to make a few mistakes in my life and in my career,” said three-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova, after going down 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. “That kind of was the story today.”

The semi-final defeat in well over two hours ended the golden run of the Russian, who won titles at the Australian Open and Doha and had claimed her last 18 matches.

Sharapova fought to level the sets after dropping the first, but was run down by the second seed in the second.

“I was playing with a much slower pace than normal,” she said. “I wasn’t going for my shots and I wasn’t seeing the ball that good.”

Kuznetsova, 2007 runner-up to Daniele Hantuchova, stands 2-4 against Ivanovic, who is bidding for a sixth career title.

“She plays well, she serves well, she’s improved so much her movement on the court. It’s going to be a tough match, and definitely because I lost last time,” Kuznetsova said.

“But I have taken few revenges already here - hopefully one more.”

World number two Ivanovic cannot advance into the top ranking spot held Justine Henin no matter what the result of the Sunday final.

“Coming into this tournament, I felt a little more pressure being top seed, but I just try to not think about it. I know I have a game to beat anyone if I play well and if I do what I supposed to do out there,” Serbia’s Ivanovic said. Earthtimes

It’s be nice to see Ivanovic win this one…

Q. It’s like a boxing match playing somebody who gives 100 percent like you do. How difficult and how challenging to play somebody like that?
JAMES BLAKE: Well, I mean, outside of the result it’s usually a lot of fun. Playing someone that gets to so many balls, makes you work, can change the pace, can change defense to offense so quickly, it ends up being a lot of fun. You’re not playing a man who’s one dimensional, that just has a huge serve.
Those matches tend to be a little more tedious. This one, it’s a lot of fun. There’s a lot of back and forth, me going for big forehands. Him going for big forehands, big serves here and there.
Just like I said yesterday, I figured it was going to come down to who’s going to play a couple of big points better. I think he probably only had tow break points in the third set. I maybe only had one, and he took advantage and I didn’t.
I had some break point opportunities at 6 5 in the first set. I didn’t get those. That was the difference in the match. Just a couple of points here and there.
You know, I kind of figured that was going to be the case. Just had to play my game and try to play as comfortably as I could and not let his defense and his game affect me. And, you know, he’s 2 in the world for a reason, and he did make his presence felt out there. I didn’t do enough to hurt him on the big points.

Q. Can you just talk about, seemed like the first set you were just kind of battling those unforced errors. Second set I think they had you with only four unforced errors in the second set.
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, I mean, my game has to be aggressive to beat him. I’ve heard a million times so called tennis insiders telling me to be more cautious. I’ve heard it on TV, I’ve heard it in papers, and it’s almost laughable to me, because they honestly would never be talking about me if I played that game, because I’d be retired by now.
I wouldn’t have had a career. It’s laughable for people to think that I have to play this aggressive way to be effective. If they think I haven’t tried every single thing to make myself better, they’re crazy. I’ve tried playing more passive, and gets me beat by guys like this. Gets me beat by everyone, pretty much. I have to play aggressive.
When I’m looking at stats, which I don’t do that often, and I see I’ve got a lot of winners and a lot of unforced errors and the other guy doesn’t, I still feel like I’m the one controlling the match. I feel like I’m the one dictating and forcing the issue. That, for me, is usually a good thing. If I’m laying back and being too passive I don’t win that many matches.
Second set I didn’t have many errors, so I don’t think I was going for any less. I thought I was going for my shots and they were going in. I think the biggest thing tonight was my footwork. At times it was as good as it had been earlier in this tournament, and at times I don’t know if it was nerves, laziness, I don’t know. Just looking up a split second early because of what he’s doing.
Couple times I felt I hit a couple of those forehands flat footed. I know on my Moya match, on my Gasquet match, I remember thinking at the end of the match I felt in control of every single one of those I was hitting. Whether I missed or not, you know, that’s going to happen. But I felt like my feet were there.
That’s what I’m doing when I’m playing my best. I thought I was doing that well in the second set and third set. Maybe I was thinking too much. That can be dangerous, looking up at him, seeing what he’s doing, trying to outthink him instead of going out and playing my game and hitting to my spots and not worrying what he’s doing.

Q. Have you looked at the statistics you just played?
JAMES BLAKE: No.

Q. You hit 41 winners to his 12, which should affirm what you just said. In the first set you were serving at 5 6, 30 40, and a rally ensued. You interrupted play to indicate that you’re preparing to issue a challenge. When you do that, don’t you have to be damn sure that the ball is out? I mean, that the challenge went against you, and you lost the game.
JAMES BLAKE: I was wrong. I mean, I guess if that’s your question, the headline can be, I’m human. I make mistakes. I think he did that once, as well. I’m human. The umpires are human. They make mistakes sometimes, too. The game is so quick that I think I read somewhere the ball actually stays on the ground for something like .1 of a second.
So for anyone to ever say they’re positive, to me, seems a little crazy, because there’s no way you can see it. The human eye can’t see it that quickly. We’re all pretty sure when we make a call or when we say something like that. I was pretty sure.
I thought his ball floated just a little long. He hit so much spin on the ball it came down a little quicker than I expected. I lost that. Until you mentioned it, I had really forgotten about it, because I just had to put that out of my mind.
The next game I gave myself a chance I was up Love 40 to try to break him and didn’t take advantage of those chances. But it’s just the same as if I were to have miss a forehand. I made a mistake.

Q. Can you go through that game when you were up Love 40 on his serve at the end of the first set. What happened after that?
JAMES BLAKE: I’m trying to remember what happened at Love 40. I know one of them…

Q. First point you missed a service return and then you made four successive errors.
JAMES BLAKE: All right. Photographic memory, apparently. I’m glad I don’t have one of those. Well, you know, I don’t remember all the points. He can tell you a little better, apparently. But, you know, I seem to remember a couple of them being pretty hard fought points where he made me work.
Seem to recall going after one of the returns and just not making it, but that’s what got me there, was going after the returns and being aggressive on them. That’s the way I had to be. But after that I felt pretty happy with the way I rebounded in the second set, coming back and getting up early, and holding throughout that whole time.
It’s not easy to go through a whole set and getting broken by Rafael Nadal. Maybe just footwork slipped a tiny bit and he capitalized. I might be able to get away with that against some other players and I can’t against Raphael Nadal when he’s’ playing his best tennis.
I tip my hat to him. Like I said, outside of the result it was a fun match to play. We both had a lot of spectacular shots, a lot of great winners, a lot of good gets and forcing our opponent to errors. You know, well, I don’t know what else to talk about.

Q. You might give us your thoughts about the next match for Nadal against Djokovic. What are your thoughts?
JAMES BLAKE: I’ve never played Djokovic. He’s one of the few guys I haven’t played. I was actually looking forward to getting that matchup, because I think he’s an excellent player. I think he’s similar to Nadal in the way he can turn defense to offense so quickly and hits a huge forehand anywhere on the court to put it away.
His serve is little more effective. Gets a few more free points off his serve. But both of them move so well, and it’s going to be a lot of fun. Nadal, I’m assuming, is going to try to get that forehand up high to his backhand like he does against every righty. We’ll see how Djokovic counters that and he’s going to try to get it going a little more to Nadal’s backhand.
It’s going to be a fun match to watch. I don’t know if I’ll be watching it, but for every other tennis fan it will be fun.

Q. Are you planning on sticking around or going to Miami?
JAMES BLAKE: I plan on going to Tampa. Since I only live a few hours from Miami, I’ll try to get a couple nights in my bed. Always a bonus. And then drive down to Miami probably Tuesday, and, yeah, get a little training together in Tampa. First a day or two of relaxation and then get some training in.

Q. Can you evaluate your run through this tournament and where you are now with your game?
JAMES BLAKE: Yeah, I actually feel pretty confident in my game. Tonight’s match was a pretty high level, I think. I felt great about getting my first win against Gasquet. I guess finally evening the score with Moya at 6 6. I always have a lot of fun playing him.
So I played some guys that made me work and I had some good wins. I’m upset right now, but I can’t hang my head too low about losing to a player like Nadal who has clearly improved in the last couple years and is playing much better hardcourt tennis than he was in years past.
You know, I can’t say it wasn’t like I got blown off the court. It was one break here and there. I feel confident. I feel like going to Miami I can still be dangerous, and I feel like I can still get better and I’m playing a lot better than I was at this time last year.
So my evaluation is pretty good. You know, outside of one tough result, I feel good about it.

Q. The other night you were kind enough to talk about presidential candidate, Barack Obama and about how you endorse him and share your values. I would kindly ask you to expand a little bit more on that side. You said that you read his book. Have you ever met him?
JAMES BLAKE: No, I never met him. I would love the opportunity, but obviously he’s a little busy, and he’s doing a great job. I’ve donated to his campaign. I’m very proud of the work he’s done so far, and his record in the senate is impressive. I hope he gets the opportunity to change some of the things that have happened in this country in the last few years.
I think, in my opinion, he’s got the best strategy for Iraq. He can help the economy, I hope, and I just really have a lot more confidence in him than the other candidates.

Q. Supposing, assuming that he might invite you, let’s say to rally for him, would you do that?
JAMES BLAKE: As long as it fits in my schedule, I’d be there, yeah.

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Svetlana Kuznetsova is returning to the final at the Pacific Life Open, after defeating Maria Sharapova 6-3 5-7 6-2 today. I didn’t get to see this match live, but it seems like something is up again with Sharapova’s serve. Anyone getting the feeling that her old injuries may be starting to bother her again? We’ll see what she says in her interview.

Kuznetsova will be going up against either Jankovic or Ivanovic.

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Q. You were very expressive at the end that match. Can you tell us how much beating James meant for you tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: The thing is not beating James, no? The thing is being in semifinal and beating against two big players like Tsonga and Blake in quarterfinals. So for me it was very important two matches.
Because in the last months I didn’t have bad results. Semifinal in Australia, final in Chennai and semifinal in Shanghai and final in Bercy. So it wasn’t bad results. But the true is I feel like I didn’t win against the best players the world, no? So when I have two consecutive wins against these players, so that’s very important for me.

Q. At the same time, obviously the most important is getting through. But because you lost three times before to James, that must feel nice to know that you can win?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure. I know he’s a very difficult player for me for play against him, no? Very aggressive player all the time.
I like to play a little bit more from the baseline, no? And he play so aggressive all the time and it’s very difficult for me. Sure, after three loses, it’s very important for me and I’m very happy for that beat against big player like James and difficult player for me, no?

Q. Can you talk about the end of the third set, especially the game where you broke him. You were very aggressive with the forehand and the return of serve.
RAFAEL NADAL: I fought all the time. If I have the chance with the second serve in that game, I going to play aggressive. I going to play the winner inside or outside, but I going to try to do the winner with the forehand, no?
Sometimes in the match is some moments you have to do what you feel, no? And at this moment I feel like I’m playing good, good tennis, very good tennis today. I feel very good the ball with the forehand. So I think if I have to win this match, I have to win with my forehand. Well, lucky for me the ball is on the line.

Q. Next match is Djokovic in the semifinal. You have a better score than Djokovic. Any thoughts on that? Are you assuming maybe…
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, probably I play against one of the well, the best player of the first part of the season, so well, this is an interesting match for me, going to be challenge for me play against him.
The same time, very happy for be in the semifinal. Anyway, right now I have very good tournament, the first Masters Series of the year in hard court for play the semifinal is very good result, and for sure I going to try my best for play against Djokovic on Saturday.
So going to be a very tough match, I know. I have to play like the last part of the match if I want it bin.

Q. If you can compare, if that’s possible, his game and Roger Federer’s game, aside from the double handed backhand and one handed backhand, what are the similarities and differences between the two styles of the game?
RAFAEL NADAL: I’m nobody for speak about that, but I think the style is so different, no? I think, I don’t know, what can I say? But I feel like Federer is more talented player, for sure. Both have very good forehand, both have good control with the backhand, and, well, good serve. Good serve for both, no?
Probably not big powerful serve, but always very good direction, 200, 210, 207 kilometers per hour. Perfect serve for his game, no?

Q. In the first set today, you were serving for the first set and you were down Love 40. Can you take us through what you did to turn it around and win that game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, first, he has one mistake in the return of Love 40 with backhand on second serve. Later I think I played two good points, no? I play one aggressive point. And later in the 30 40 I have a good serve on his forehand and I put one forehand to his backhand and he put the ball out like this.
So, well, the true is it was a very important game, no?

Q. What did you tell yourself going into the third set, because it looked like after the second set he had regained control and he was, like you say, very aggressive and dictating all the time.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, but I didn’t feel playing bad, so I am happy for play good. Try to go to the third set for try to play my best and enjoy the match and enjoy playing my game, because I’m playing fine. Be concentrate, so that’s it.
So just try to play my best tennis. I know if I play my best tennis, my thought was I have to win my serve, because I think I going to have one chance for the break, no? I going to have chances for break.
But I know his big returner, so going to be tough save my serve for all the set. I have some breakpoint in the first game I think.

Q. Can you talk about the hard courts here? Just seem to be very comfortable on these hard courts. How are these different from like other hard courts here in America?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think the different is the ball, no? The ball is getting more topspin here than probably in Australia. The Penn ball is a little bit more favorable for me than the Wilson, that’s for sure.
Well, for other reason I have more comfortable with the forehand, with the backhand, no? The ball getting more topspin and, well, my game is better like this.

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Q. What happened?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, you know, I just hurt my back, and obviously I’ve gone down this road before. I was debating before, you know, you never know, like, okay, I will go out there and maybe it will loosen up.
It was pretty obvious to me after two games that I was pretty sore out there, and it was quite hard to rotate. Obviously with playing tennis you need your rotation, so, you know, I tried to do the best I could. But sometimes these things happen, and when you’re familiar with an injury, you kind of know right away what you’re up against.

Q. You didn’t hurt it out there then, you hurt it in practice?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, it was injured before I came here and I got it better, got it better, and then this morning woke up and just couldn’t move. I actually don’t know what caused it, but, you know, I got here at 9:30 this morning, was with the trainers for three hours or something before I played, and I was hopeful that with all the medication I took and the treatments, but just didn’t happen.

Q. Lower back, upper back?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Lower to mid.

Q. So when exactly did you hurt it?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I hurt it the first time the Saturday before tournament. I came out here Sunday. Was getting treatment, and everything. It got way better and was manageable. I literally have no idea what happened, but I woke up this morning and was not able to move again. The joints were stuck and the muscles had spasmed a little bit.
They did a really great job of getting me through the tournament and getting me out there today. It just I guess it just needs to heal.

Q. You’ve been down this road before, so just talk about what you think is going to happen during the next few weeks.
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, it’s so hard to say, because, you know, I’ve been playing now for nine, eight months maybe, or seven months, and this was the first real injury I’ve had. Which in my book is pretty good. In someone else’s book maybe not so good.
But I’m hopeful because it did get better, you know, for the last 10 days that it will clear up and I’m able to play again hopefully in Miami. We’ll just have to see what the next few days brings.

Q. Does it sort of bring it back home again? I’m back on the tour now, injuries are back?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It’s not so fresh, body’s not so fresh anymore. But, yeah, it’s exactly what happens. You know, I think I’ve played a relatively smart schedule, but coming back from Australia and going right into Fed Cup, couple weeks then to Memphis then to here.
It’s just a lot of tennis, and the older you get obviously it’s no surprise that it’s tougher to come back week after week. But I’m hoping it was just kind of the one off injury and not due to fatigue, and hopefully if I get it better and it will heal up.

Q. It’s a real balancing act for you, too, right? Because you need the matches?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I want to play, and I definitely want to play when it’s in the States. These are the tournaments I was really looking forward to, and thought I timed it pretty well with playing some smaller tournaments before playing the bigger tournaments.
When I finished the other night against Bartoli I felt fantastic. I mean, it was late, but I felt really good. I thought I hit the ball well. I was ready to go. You wake up on a morning like this and the body just doesn’t cooperate. I think I’ll obviously deal with that more now being in my 30s, but I haven’t given up hope completely yet.

Q. Does something like this make you question whether attempting to balance tennis and motherhood was wise?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: No. I mean, as an athlete you get injuries all the time. Like I said, this was the first one I’ve had to deal with, and I’ve got some experience in that.
The only thing that’s tough is with a back injury I can’t hold my son. So it’s been a tough couple weeks in that regard. Haven’t been able to lift him up out of his crib, out of the stroller, out of the car seat.
So I felt I’ve been feeling like kind of a bad mom in that regard. So I’m hoping it gets better in the next few days and not be just the mom giving orders to everybody.

Q. What’s the timetable before you make your decision about Miami? And how much will the Fed Cup affect that decision about playing Miami?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Well, I mean, my decision on Miami will come in the next few days before I’m supposed to leave and see how it feels. It’s so hard, because literally I was feeling really well until I woke up this morning. So I don’t want to be too dramatic and say, you know, that I can’t play right now.
But having said that, it did respond well like 10 days ago, so I’m hopeful. And then just have to play everything by ear after that. Obviously my schedule was to play in the States in Miami and Amelia Island. If that’s not possible, obviously I’ll relook at it and probably play a little bit more in Europe than I had anticipated.

Q. Because the goal is Wimbledon, Olympics, US Open, things like this probably don’t set you back that much, huh?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It kind of works both ways. This tournament meant a lot to me. That would be up there with those, because just of all my memories here and being in being California and being so special to me.
Having said that, if you would ask me, you know, two weeks ago if I would get this far and feel as well as I did throughout the tournament, I’d be ecstatic with where I’m at now.
But, you know, I still have a lot more positive things coming for the rest of the year. Those tournaments you mentioned, I’m obviously looking forward to. That’s the beauty about this game. It’s like you have a setback, but you have more opportunities coming your way in the coming months.
While I’m obviously disappointed, I’m still looking forward to and excited for the rest of the year.

Q. So what’s your feelings on Venus not playing Fed Cup?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I know. I heard that. I was really disappointed. I know that we’re trying to talk Venus into it, but, you know, our chances are much more favorable with one or both of them on the team.
So I have to fly to Miami just for that reason to attack to Serena.

Q. Have you been texting her or anything?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I haven’t. I talked to Venus in Memphis, and she kind of told me there what she was thinking. I haven’t seen Serena since Australia. Hopefully I’ll see her in the next few days.

Q. Are you actually willing to play singles on clay if…
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: I mean, it looks like I have to. Yeah, that wouldn’t be pretty for the U.S., so we’ll try. We’ll see if we can make something else work out.

Q. What were your thoughts on Monica’s performance the other night?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, well, I know she can do better. (laughter.) I actually didn’t think she even had another dance, and someone told me that they dance again on Monday. So, yeah, I think I hope she does better.
Still, it’s so difficult to go out there and do something you’re completely unfamiliar with. I couldn’t even walk across this room in high heels, let alone try and do a dance number.
So, you know, it’s going to take her some time. Hopefully in the next few days her and her partner will come up with a good I think if they do a Salsa or Samba or something. She’ll come out all spicy for that.

Q. Would you mind handicapping the two semifinal matches tomorrow?
LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, they’re good matches. I mean, I know Jankovic plays Ivanovic and Maria plays Kuznetsova. Yeah, top four seeds. Good matches. I don’t know too much about the rivalry between Ana and Jelena. Sometimes when you’re from the same country there’s a lot of history there.
I’m not familiar with their history. I think it will really come down to Ivanovic. She’s the aggressor and how many errors to winners ratio she kind of has, and how many balls Jelena can really dig out and make Ana play.
And the same with Maria and Svetlana. Maria has obviously been playing great this whole year. She’s been really consistent in her kind of aggressive style of play, fighting really hard.
But Svetlana likes to mix it up and give her some problems. I like Maria’s chances in that.

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Q. Did you say at the end of the match, This is my home now?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I did, because in the first set I was playing like I didn’t even belong on that court. I finally got my groove back, and it just felt like, you know, I finally belonged to be out there.
My level just was so low in that first set. I wasn’t going up on my serve, I wasn’t returning. I was making so many errors, and she had she had that first set in her hands and she just didn’t take her opportunities.
You know, to be honest, she did everything better than I did in the first set, and somehow I ended up winning it, and that gave me the confidence. And in the end of that set I started to pick it up, but the second set was great.

Q. So what clicked for you in the second set?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Umm, I think maybe just coming back from being behind and being two set points down and not really being tentative. I went for my shots, I started going for my serves, and after that I just probably gained a little confidence from that. And, yeah. Being more consistent. That helps.

Q. In practice, have you been more consistent on your groundstrokes than you’ve been in matches, or has the ball been flying on you a little bit in practice, too?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It’s been flying here. I think that’s because of the desert. It always flies a little bit. Tension of the racquet usually changes depending on matches. In Doha I was playing every match during the night, and here I’ve played first two matches during the day and this was my first night match. I’ve had to adjust definitely.

Q. Have you felt like you played well in any of the matches here so far? Times I’ve been here in the press conferences you’ve been a little disappointed with your play.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I was disappointed in the beginning of that match, but as the match went on, I definitely picked it up and started playing a lot better, yeah. Best that I probably have this tournament.

Q. So do you feel like you’re starting to find your groove here at this tournament now?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: It’s about time. I played four matches. How long do I need, right?

Q. Are people purposely not mentioning the streak to you, kind of superstitiously not mentioning the streak?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Who?

Q. People around you, friends.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: You guys never forget to mention it. That’s why I have you.

Q. It’s 17 now. I mean friends and even spectators or people coming up? No?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: To be honest, for my team or for myself and for my friends or for my parents, it doesn’t really matter how many matches I’ve won in a row. You take each tournament as seriously as you can.
With every tournament there’s a new beginning, and hopefully you’re the last one standing. At the end of the day, numbers are very relative.

Q. Do you remember winning a tournament playing let’s say a B level the whole way?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah.

Q. Which one?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Umm, there have been a few in my career. (laughter.)
Probably the biggest one maybe was the ‘06 US Open. For the first four rounds I didn’t feel like I was playing amazing tennis. Just on the important points I was just tougher than the girls I played. And after that, I somehow and then I produced really great tennis in the semis against Amélie, and in the final against Justine. I played really well back to back. Considering I didn’t play that well before, it was a good surprise in a way.

Q. So in some ways it’s raising your level to the level of who you’re playing, too, huh?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it’s a challenge in a way, which I always enjoy, because I know it’s pretty unrealistic to go into every event, match after match, and being emotionally there and to have your tennis there as well, and make every shot perfect and do all the right things.
In a way, because I haven’t been able to produce amazing tennis here, in a way it challenges me. By giving myself an opportunity each match, I’m able to challenge myself to get better in the next round, and that’s a good challenge to have.
As long as I’m still giving myself opportunities, you know, then challenge is in front of you the next day, so…
But, I mean, I’ll definitely have to improve for my next one.

Q. Svetlana next. She’s had a pretty good week dropping just one set.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Right.

Q. Thoughts on that match?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: She’s a very tough competitor, and she’s what, 3 in the world right now? You can never underestimate her level of play, because she’s physically one of the toughest girls out there. She gets a lot of balls back and she makes you work for everything.
I don’t know what my record is against her, but I think I think either we’re pretty even or I’m ahead a little bit, but last time I played against her was also in the Championships and we had a tough three setter. But we know each other’s games well, and, you know, just going to be a matter of, as always, the person who takes her chances.
And, you know, personally I’ll definitely be looking forward to stepping it up and, you know, playing better tennis.

Q. This is a bit of a sleepy tournament, in a sense. It’s not a big busy city, there’s not a lot of fresh air.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Fresh air? It’s a bit sandy. I drank like two gallons during my match the other day. I think my skin is still a little sandy.

Q. But because of sort of the situation here in terms of a resort and all that, do you have a different mindset enjoying it a different way because it’s different than most of the big cities where you play?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: To be honest, it was more relaxing a few years ago because it felt more low key and I didn’t feel like there were so many spectators. I feel like the tournament has grown and there are a lot more people driving in from LA. Just spectators that just want to watch, tennis fans that just want to watch tennis.
So the tournament, it’s a good tournament for me because my friends get to come out from LA and watch me play, you know, which they don’t usually get to do apart from LA tournament.
Yeah, it’s different, but every event is different in a way. And also, we get sometimes we get days in between, so you kind of get your rest and recovery then, and…

Q. You don’t go mountain climbing or playing golf?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, that’s for my dad to do. I don’t do the climbing. I take naps.

Q. That’s really exciting.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: That is the best afternoon that I have: A nap.

Q. You like having your friends come out to play, but do you feel like when they come out that you have to put on a better performance just because they’re around?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Ah, uumm, yeah. It’s strange, because I always feel like I have to take care of them in a way, because, you know, they came all the way here to watch you, and so you have to take care of all the tickets and the credentials and make sure, you know, you go out, you go to dinner with them.
So in a way, you feel responsible in a different way compared to other tournaments, and sometimes you need to draw the line at a certain point, because you still have to treat, you know, every tournament with respect and treat it seriously.
But, you know, I don’t have too many you know, all of them are pretty close friends and they don’t come sometimes they come on the weekends and, you know…

Q. So they don’t say, We want to make a dinner by 9:00 so please finish this match by…
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, no, they totally understand. No, no, my friends my friends are very cool and absolutely understand, yeah.

Q. How much do they know about tennis?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Umm, over the years, a lot. One of my friends who’s an actress just got into it ever since we met. She’s telling me that now she hates me because she is sometimes up at 2:00 in the morning watching the men play, which, I’m, like, wow, that’s just great. Thank you.
So sometimes she’s like, I hate you for getting me into this, but… You know, it’s cool in a way. Some of my friends played tennis when they were younger. One of my really good friends was, that I work with with Nike, used to play tennis in college, and now we’re working buddies.
Many of my friends I’ve met through work, and a girlfriend in LA is, who I’ve known since I was 9 or 10 years old. So I have, you know, different friends and different in different areas, but we all really get along. And, yeah, this is actually the time that a lot I had dinner with them like a week ago. Everyone came up here. Yeah.

Q. How often would you meet someone who doesn’t know who you are?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Umm, well, I don’t usually ask them. I don’t usually walk around going, Do you know who I am?
Well, actually here. It’s very entertaining. I have a little cafe that I usually go to for breakfast and lunch here, and this morning I went to breakfast. I had one couple, a couple sitting on my right, that were talking tennis and saying, you know, the match between Sharapova and Hantuchova will go either way.
I’m looking at them. And I’m, like, (laughter.) We’re sitting next to each other. So I was like, Oh, please, I hope they don’t recognize me now. And then we had another couple that were sitting a few tables away from us also talking about the tennis and they’re analyzing all the matches and the games. It was really fascinating to get like, a, you know, a side view of things.

Q. Did the people recognize that it was you? They never did?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: No, I kind of had my hat low. I put on the hood. It was like because it’s great. You get to hear some amazing things.

Q. Just a short question. Novak talked to us about
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, goodness. Again?

Q. I know. Singing at the French Open and all. Can he sing?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Can he sing? He hasn’t sang for me. I haven’t heard him sing.

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