1) What do you think about Kournikova's new found childhood?

Anna follows the advice of her management. They rightly think that she will have a much more valuable image as a resident of the US. She prefers to forget her Moscow past, when she struggled to get financial support. As an American player, she is financially worth more than as a Russian. Anna understands this, and accordingly exploits all opportunities of media exposure, and thereby maximizes her income.

2) What do you think of Kournikova's inability to question her game, and thereby to improve it?

I don't share your opinion of her game. Anna was able to improve her game, notably in singles on fast surfaces (semi finalist Wimbledon 1997) and in doubles (World # 1 in 1999). But of course she must go on developing her game. To be in the top 10 at twenty, with victories over Hingis and Davenport, is already remarkable. Her game ( which features serious risk taking with service-volley or return-volley) also demands a perfect technique and a lot of maturity to reach its full potential. Let's give her a few more years to reach it.

3) What do you think of her last trainer saying her game is inescapably going down the drain?

First, EricVan Harpen is disappointed because he is no longer training her. He is a very good trainer. He proved it with Conchita Martinez and Patty Schnyder. But like most trainers who succeed in giving a specific game style (with use of the lift or the slice), he has not been able to adapt his training methods to Anna's particular propensity to win a point in two or three strikes, to risk more (with less effect), and foremost her yen to play while moving forward. Anna plays a fun game which consists primarily to win points volleying, as in doubles. If Anna wants to reach a higher level, she will need a better program with, most importantly, periods of 100% rest. She will have to isolate herself from the stress of competition, from media demands and from exhibitions. In life, one needs to make choices. Because she has only rarely rested, she can struggle with injury. Her program is hellish. If she wants to compete with the top five, she will have to remake her organization and her planning. That way, she could get to perform better and more reliably through the 10 months season.

4) What do you think of her handling of the press?

She has many interview requests, far too many. During the tournaments, she needs to recover from the physical and emotional pressure and stress. In order to understand her behavior and her reactions, which are sometimes justified, newsmen should imagine themselves in her place. As all players, whether winning or losing, she participates in all post game interviews. For particular requests, the system and the rules allow her to accept or refuse (TV, Internet, pictures), which would be fairer.

5) Why did you stop your career when you were World # 1 in double?

I concluded that after 15 years of professional tennis, I had given it everything.. and I had reached my best level in single and in doubles. I have always said that I would continue as long as there would be a combination of the following: 1) Evolution of the game 2) Improvement of performance 3) Pleasure of playing I felt I had reached the peak in all three. Therefore I decided to stop. It is my choice, and I hope that I took it at the right time. Tennis is my passion, and I have loved all my years on the circuit. I was lucky to have a trainer who became my husband, and thanks to this balanced life that I have always had, I wish to start a family and have a stable life. My last year on the circuit has been, I believe, my best one (2 single titles, Eastbourne and the Japan Open, 15th in the WTA ranking, 10 double titles among which one Grand Slam: the US Open with Ai Sugiyama and ITF World champions in doubles). I think I finished at the top and, foremost, at the right time. It is true that I could probably have gone on for a few years being competitive, but that wasn't my goal. I think that for many of my supporters it was a surprise, even a disappointment, but I hope that after explaining my decision to stop, they will always be with me to cheer me in my new tennis projects.

6) When are you going to return to the Fed Cup as:

a) a supporter?

b) a captain?

c) a TV commentator?

I will be a consultant for Pathé Sport for the semi final (and also for Wimbledon), and I will certainly be their supporter. Though I don't get along with Natalie Tauziat, the other players are my friends and I wish them a lot of success and happiness in the Fed Cup french team. It is a tournament I like very much and it is great to be able to share the emotions, especially when they are intense. As for the captainship, I don't feel I have the courage to choose between candidates. I know them all too well, and I don't want to hurt them. Sometimes a selection hinges on so little. But I think that during the Fed Cup, I would feel at ease at courtside to advise the players and to motivate them. But I prefer first to keep my friendship with the players into the future. In a way, the captain's role is a thankless task.

7) I read recently that 90% of the Germans know Anke Huber. In France, if we kept such statistics for Julie Halard-Decugis, we would be far below, or else, around me everybody belongs to the remaining 10%. You said that you had somehow made the choice of staying in the background, far behind Mary Pierce or, more recently, Amelie Mauresmo. But don't you think that choice kept you from getting the recognition that you career and your results deserved?

I don't know how many people know me in France. For me that is not the most important. I have always preferred to have a certain amount of peace and therefore of freedom around my professional and my private life. What I am sure of today, it is that women's tennis in France is far from getting the recognition it deserves. Compared to men's tennis, there is a big difference with the performance of the french women in 2000; there were 5 of us in the top 12! In spite of those exceptional results, in the media we were far behind the men, inspite of a slight improvement. Finally, I have remarked that the Enlgish or Japanese have much more consideration for women's tennis and for the doubles. Mentality changes very slowly in our country (of which our federation is a part), and it is even worse in the media. We must continue to fight for women's tennis. In conclusion, I will simply say that I was recognized by a French tennis population which, I believe, was faithful to me throughout my career (20 selections for the Fed Cup and three for the Olympic Games), and I hope I have shown those fans that one could succeed at the highest level while remaining happy, balanced, and healthy. And I thank them again for their support which enabled me to surpass myself to reach my best performances (World N° 7 in single; #1 French 1997 et 2000; 12 titles on the WTA circuit; World # 1 double 2000 and 15 WTA titles).