Dementieva loves atmosphere Autralian open 2010
MELBOURNE — It was very tough to wait 10 hours on Monday because of the rain to play my first round — tough on everyone — but I had a good start. But mostly players are in a happy mood. I feel this is the most exciting Grand Slam because it's the first one of the year. Everyone is coming off the offseason and you don't know what to expect from them. It's all new. Everyone looks very fit and ready to play. For the crowd, that makes it the most interesting to watch.
Elena Dementieva
And I just love the atmosphere of this tennis tournament. You play in front of a nice, supportive and knowledgeable crowd. Every time you come to the court you see all these long lines waiting for you to get into the stadium. The people are friendly and it's just so popular here that you really feel like everyone appreciates the way you play.
Elena Dementieva
I also enjoy my time away from the courts. Every time I'm in Melbourne I go to the zoo or the aquarium. Really, I do it like every year! I love animals and that's the place to visit. You can get close to koalas and kangaroos and take some great pictures. Nature is beautiful and exotic in this country.
Elena Dementieva
I spent much of my offseason in Malaysia for the first time. I stayed on a beautiful island and practiced there for about three weeks before coming to Australia. Well, not only practice. I took some time on the beach and I had a nice experience, but I was really disappointed with the water. It was full of jellyfish, and I got some stings on my legs! (I guess those are animals I don't like so much). But the rest of the time it was very cool.
Elena Dementieva
My mother, Vera, usually travels with me to tournaments but last year she was sick and couldn't make it to Australia. This year she is here. I'm just so happy she was able to come this time. In 2009, she watched me on TV winning Sydney, so I was so thrilled that she was with me watching live when I beat Serena Williams to win again last week. It was a very emotional moment.
Elena Dementieva
My brother was also here with us for a week but he has gone back to Moscow. And I am with my coach, Andre Karatchenia. It's just so important to have someone from your family traveling with you. This is the biggest support you can have. It's not easy to travel with all this stress and competition and matches. Even when you are on the court, you don't have to talk to them, but a little eye contact can help you.
Elena Dementieva
Now I have a very big challenge ahead of me: Justine Henin. I've never faced her in the first or second round in my life because usually I face her in the semis or the finals. It's going to be for sure a very tough match for me to win (she is 2-9 career vs. Henin). Coming back after an almost two-year break, Justine looks even better, more fresh, more fit. She was really missing the game.
It's the same with the whole tournament. Look at the draw — it feels so tight. The competition is so tough because those two Belgian girls (Henin and Kim Clijsters) are coming back. It was very impressive to watch them playing in the final at Brisbane (on by Clijsters). It was a very high level of the game. It's very exciting to have them back.
Elena Dementieva
I hope to build on last year's success. I had my best result here — first time in the semifinals. This time again I had a good preparation by winning Sydney. I know that I am still looking for my first major and at my age in tennis it's not getting easier. But my goal is still to win a Grand Slam, to be No. 1. I still have my motivation.