Diary

Hi, Everybody !!

I am quite myself again, and recently I've got much to do, so many flights, from London to Moscow, spending a day there, and then - a cross-Atlantic flight to the Dominican Republic. My best friend has her wedding and we celebrate it here, in the Dominican Republic. Rain was expected, so all of us were afraid that it would start during the ceremony. Now after all those troubles we’ll be having rest!

As for the Wimbledon performance the final might be better for me but I was very tired. And the Doubles redounded upon me. But maybe, it was the other way around – the Doubles helped me with the Single, and then I had the Mixed doubles at the Centre Court, it was a very hard three-set match, but Andre Sa and me lost it. Maybe it is it's just as well, for I’ve had too many matches. I couldn’t say that this tournament was something special, I always set myself for every match and I was calm even when I got through to the final.

Before the match I thought I would be nervous, but it turned out that it was the same attitude as for the second or third round. I didn’t pay attention to the fact that it was the Centre Court; its atmosphere was so pleasant and homelike. When you are playing, for example, in Arthur Ashe Stadium at US Open, it seems to be so huge that you start to feel nervous unwittingly because of such number of spectators. But Wimbledon is different. It’s a pity I failed to win the Doubles, but after the final with Serena I felt like a boiled rag.
I’d like to tell you about another interesting thing, I had an attitude to reach the 4th round at this tournament. And in case I failed I should perform in another competition before the US Series to gain additional points. And in this case I should miss my best friend wedding. And it is inexcusable!
As for my new coach Sergey Demekhin it came out that I needed anyone for training after Charleston. I asked him to help me as a hitting partner in Moscow, before the clay season. I know Sergey for a long time, we have won the Mixed doubles together at the Russian Championship. He was Alla Kudryavtseva's coach before, and I asked her if I could train with him. She agreed. And we made an arrangement with Sergey for the whole clay season.
He is a good and conscious man. He played tennis himself, he even attended Benabilis Academy in the USA and he was learning to be a coach. Sergey feels a game well and he is good enough for me! So we made an agreement to collaborate at the US Open Series.

See you soon!!
Vera

translation

Hi, Everyone !!!

I  spent  several  weeks in Bradenton. Of course, I could not train in full  force  and  effect, nevertheless the training was rather good. I trained  twice  a  day  mainly  inside  and I devoted a lot of time to rehabilitation,  I  could  not spend more than an hour on court, but I could  not  hurry.  I  hope  that very soon I’ll be able to start full training!  But,  for  the  time  being  I am planning to try myself in Hong-Kong in order to fully estimate my physical condition! Ooh!!!  The  flight had been so long:

an hour to the Airport in Tampa, two hours and a half flight to New-York, then more than three hours of waiting in the Airport, then five hours to Vancouver and from there 14 hours  to  Hong-Kong!!!  I hope there will be a small swimming pool in the  hotel)))  I’d  like  to  swim  a bit after such a long journey))) aah... yes…, do some excercises for foot, and play tennis for a while.

Also i wish for everybody, that New Year and New decade will be the most funny, peaceful, carefree and joyful !! Smile !! And Good Health !!

translation

Hello everybody!

I am lying in bed in my hotel in Amsterdam. I had an ankle surgery. All seem to be fine; no pain in my leg so far but certainly there is some inconvenience.
The surgery was done in one of Rotterdam’s clinics, so on Thursday I had to move to Amsterdam but I was picked up and transported by the car. At present I walk on crutches. The operation was performed by a reputed surgeon Nick Van Dyke who operated on many football players and now helps Cristiano Ronaldo. It turned out that I flew in on Monday and he was able to schedule the operation for Wednesday. The decision wasn’t an easy one. After the Final Championship I came back to Moscow and got in touch with many famous specialists and my physiotherapist Jean-Pierre recommended Nick though I intended to fly to the US and booked a ticket but then I changed my decision. I hope that by Australian Open I’ll be on-stream.

Thinking back, the SE Championships turned out just crazy; on the one hand I was happy that I managed to perform, on the other however I wanted to take care of my health. My only match turned out to be a crazy one: in the beginning I was loosing in all respects but then I recollected myself and managed to impose struggle. In addition Caroline started having problems, so it turned out to be not a match but a complete torture…

Therefore for me it seems to be a new stage and a new start. I will try to take with me only the best from the past season – a semifinal in Australia, a win in Indiana, and to think away the rest. Since now I will try to walk onto a court only when I am completely recovered.
I plan to stay in Amsterdam for two weeks, if I like it all here, I will work with physiatrist Leo Echteld from  "Fysiomed" (photo).
I was hoping to go on holidays somewhere this year at last. After Moscow Olympic Games in 1980 my mom received a tourist voucher to visit Cuba and she liked it a lot; for a long time she keeps suggesting for me to go there on holidays but it doesn't seem to be my fate again... Nevertheless Amsterdam is not the worst place either, though it’s a bit cold here :))
After this I am going to Florida where I will get busy with physical training to start with. Besides I am going to meet with my coach Sam to discuss our further plans. Lately he wasn’t accompanying me due to some personal circumstances and my traumas prevented from normal work as well. I hope to continue our cooperation.
Also, as you noticed, a new version of my site has been opened. There are three new sections about UNESCO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Rett Syndrome. Please leave your comments  :))

See you soon!!
Vera

translation

Greetings to all !!!

Now I’ll tell you what has been happening with me lately and the beginning of my story will be US Open.
I had approached it in not the best form, the more’s the pity that my injury prevented me from normal training before the tournament. I had to be extremely careful while training in order not to twist the knife. I knew beforehand that US Open would be very difficult, I wanted to go through one round only, but then I became accustomed and got into shape a bit. Nevertheless, my injury didn’t let me forget about it. It was hard to play, in addition, my tendons inflamed. Hard matches against Anna Chakvetadze and Elena Vesnina took not so much time, but because of my leg and general physical condition, they were quite painful for me. More matches more fatigue and, finally, this condition played its role while game against Pennetta.
During the second set, I got a cramp in my feet but generally because of the fact that they were bandaged. Then I understood that if I had gone down in the second set, I would not have enough strength for the third set. It is very difficult to play against Pennetta as she is always forcing her rival to move too fast and one should be in ideal condition in order to stand against her. Despite I had match points I was not upset, I know that I did all my best but unfortunately, I did not have enough strength.
The next day after the match, it was my Birthday. My mood was not so cheerful, but in order to feel fest I and my sparring-partner Alex Ageev decided to eat at a restaurant. We found one and ordered a chocolate cake and ice cream – that was my birthday!
Several days later, I went to Moscow and then on 17 September I went to Khanty-Mansiysk to take part in congress of UNESCO “Education for Sustainable Development”. I had been invited to participate in the congress, as I am one of promoters of the campaign on gender equality. It was very interesting for me as representatives of UNESCO from more than 25 countries of the world came to take part in the event. I had prepared my speech for the congress in advance. I liked it. Everything was very successful. It was my first visit to Khanty-Mansiysk, there had been built a chic tennis center. This year, a week before “Kremlin Cup” there will take place the Russian championship.

I taught a master-class for children there. There were about 50 boys and girls. Everybody was satisfied, I dispensed many autographs, there were taken many photographs. After the master-class, I met the Governor of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District. I even found time to have a sightseeing tour, but it was rather windy outside. By the way, I stayed in the hotel where participants of the World Cup on biathlon usually stay. It is called “On Seven Hills” and it is situated exactly at the ski depot.
Then I came back to Moscow, where I am staying now. I do not train as I have been recommended to have a short rest. At present, I go to the gym but try no to do abrupt movements in order not to make the situation worse. Then i am going to play in Tokyo.

Embrace all,
Vera

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