Last year your performance here wasn't very good, you lost in quarterfinal, you had to retire. What are your hopes now?

Anastasia Myskina - I hope it's gonna be a good week for me because I've been improving my tennis on clay courts and definitely after French Open I have a lot of confidence on clay courts. Just really look foward for this week and I hope to win here.

Dinara won here in 2002. What did she tell you, how to play in Sopot to win? 

Marat Safin - First of all I think I won more tournaments than her so in this case I can teach her still. I didn't came her because she won but that now it's really important, it's the second part of the year. I want to do well and get more and more confidence and more and more matches to get to my best tennis. There're coming two big tournaments now. Olympics in Europe so it's good to have some tough matches so then you get confidence and play better at thse big tournaments.

You both are top seeded players here. How is it to be no. 1 seeded at tournaments? 

AM - I think, for me, it's lot of pressure, I don't know how about Marat, but we have so many good girls, especially on clay courts who can play and who wants to beat you because you're number one seed here. It's important to play your best tennis no matter what and no matter what's your ranking and that's the key.

MS - She said everything right. Also a lot of players here that play well on clay, especially players from Spaqin and Argentina. For them it's a big opportunity to beat us here. It's bit of pressure because I'm coming from hardcourts and I'm trying tp practice as much as I can, get used to it. It's difficult first match. If I'll be able to pass first round it will be easier so the first one is really tough one and players will be fighting untill the end cus they know they have an opportunity.

Two years ago when your sister won here she complained you don't want to practice with her, why?

MS - First of all I'm her brother I'm not her coach, that's why she has a coach and that's why he has to practice with her.

You are not strong built and still you play so fast and strong tennis. Do you have special tricks or it is special talent?

AM - I don't think I have any tricks on court (smiling). I just have one hand and two hands for my backhand. I try to do my best. All the girls hit the ball really hard so you have to hit hard as them but you have to be smart on court. Sometimes I think I play with the head, I use more my head than power.

There is a rumour among the journalists that you are in a real hurry and you are not going to stay in Sopot until the final, is that true? (To Safin)

AM - Oh, he is not going anywhere, we are going to Athens together! (laughing) 

MS - I am here, it's my job and I promised to be here as long as I can. I'm gonna try to win the tournament. It would be my first title since 2002 so I am here and I don't want to waste it. I will have time to go to Athens, there are lot of planes. No rushing, just step by step. I don't want to think too far away.

Your main opponents now are playing on harcourts. Why did you decide to play clay court tournament like Sopot before the Olympics?

AM - We've just been playing on hardcourts. All players have different schedule. It's not just getting used to new surface but European time. I think Sopot is a good preparation and first of all this is great tournament and a great city. I just decided to play because I enjoy to be here.

MS - It's little bit easier to go from the claycourts to the hardcourts than from the hardcourts to the claycourts so yeah, she said it right. It's a good preparation, to play plenty of matches, lot of points, you can works on your serve, with shots and keep on playing and have some tough matches. It's perfect schedule actually. I don't know why all the people ask why I'm going here. First of all I want to win a tournament. Also adaptation with climate and time change so it's perfect week and I'll enjoy it.

What is the prize money from Russian Tennis Federation for Olympic gold medal? 

AM - Prize money? I don't know...I don't think we know that. We are not playing for money for sure, the Olympics...

MS - Don't lie. 

AM - I'm not lying! (laughing) I just don't know! 

AM - Marat knows for sure! 

MS - If I have a chance to win I will know it afterwards. If I don't win I think I don't deserve to have a prize. But I am sure it's gonna be good one, I'm sure.

What do you think about Sharapova? 

AM - We had good matches, I beat her last time just a week ago in San Diego. She's a tough girl, she's a good player. I think she's gonna have a good future. She has to pay more attention to what's going on in tennis life.

How many raquest do you break every year? Do you talk about that with your psychologist? 

AM - You think he has one? (laughing) 

MS - I don't see a connection between breaking raquets and a psycholigist. 

AM - (laughing) 

MS - Well I broke plenty of them. Since I get the for free it's not a big deal. It doesn't mean you have to be crazy when you talk with psycholigist. Anyone can speak to him and when he does you listen to yourself. It's not like he's cleaning your brain and trying to improve something inside of you. You just listen to yourself, you listen to him, he listens to you and then you take the best out of it, But he's not going to change you. They get pay to listen. Basicly you speak but you listen to yourself and then you decide what you want to do in the future.

Can you say what has happened lately in Russia? So many good players coming. I think in a few years they will take first 5 places on WTA ranking.

AM - That would be awesome (smiling). I think the main thing is that we help each other to play better. I know behind my back are so many girls who want to be higher than me. It pushes me to practice harder and play every tournament for 100%. And it's well for them. They want to be ahead of me and it pushes them to practice.

MS - (mysterious look at Anastasia) 

AM - (laughing) That's my opinion not yours! 

Marat, you are second time in Poland, Anastasia third. Is there something that comes to your mind when you think of Poland? Besides sports.

MS - Lech Walesa. 

AM - You have big team for Olympics. I read a magazine and you have so many good sportsmen here. Besides sport it is very friendly country and everyone want to visit here. Sopot is really nice city by the sea. It's not a lot but that's all that I know, sorry.

MS - Maybe that stolen cars goes by Poland from Germany to Moscow. 

AM - (laughing) 

What do you think about Dinara's chances at the tournament? 

MS - First of all I haven't seen her for a long time already. Last time I saw her was in French Open and she had a different coach, was injured. I don't know the way she's playing now. It can be anything. Can be first round, second, she can make final but since Myskina is here, Anastasia, so not win the tournament (Myskina smiling) but still there is a chance. If she makes semifinal or final she will be probably more that happy. If she's happy I'm always happy.

Anastasia? 

AM - Dinara is a great player but she was injuried and i think it will be her first tournament since Wimbledon. Definitely it's tough after injury but I think she has a big chance, why not?

What cars do you both drive? 

AM - BMW 

MS - I have a... 

AM - Don't ask him he has too many! (laughing) 

MS - No, no, no. Mercedes, Volkswagen.

Every actor dreams about a role of his life. As a sportsmen, do you think about any particular moment or achievment after which you can say ' Okay, I'm done'?

AM - It's a Grand Slam and Olympics. As soon as you achieve your goals, maybe no. 1, definitely you want to be no. 1. Then you can finish with good feelings in your heart.

MS - No, I think it is a bit different story. It's not the same like actors. They can do movies and movies and movies. Tennis is different story. It's short career, short period of life. The decision to finish this career is when you start to have other priorities - families, different things you want to do, you're tired of travelling or something that makes big difference in your life and makes you don't want to play anymore. If you win a Grand Slam you want to continue playing because your tide is coming, you can do everything. If you also achieve no. 1 you don't want to just stop because you achieve no. 1, then you will regret. You want to play untill you have other priorities, that's my opinion.

Your match with Sampras (US Open '00 final), you played incredible. Did you played like same level any other time?

MS - Probably I played it but not at as important moments like that match. That's what makes it a completely different story. If I played that in round of 16 who would care? I probably played somewhere the same tennis when I was playing the quarterfinalin 2001 in Australia against Sampras, nobody remembers that. That match impressed myself because nobody thought that I'm gonna beat Sampras so easily in three sets, so that's why it makes so much noise. Before...when I was good.

Like at Roland Garros when you beat Agassi, Kuerten, Novacek, then lost. 

MS - Yeah but I was younger, I was better, better player (smiling) 

Spasibo 

MS - Thank you very much.