Australian Kim Interview
Q: What did you think of the Wimbledon finals?
A: (talking about Goran)
... If Lleyton ever will have a chance to win Wimbledon, he'll have to work on
his service... ...I was quite jealous of Rafter and Ivanisevic. To be allowed to
play the final in such an atmosphere. With all respect for Wimbledon's
traditions, but on such an extra Monday the rich people with their ticket
reservations stay away and the real supporters get to be there, with banners and
horns. Besides, the Australian cricket fans stayed a day longer in London and I
know from experience how much noise they can make. At the end of last year I've
been to Barcelona to cheer for Lleyton in the DC finals. 2000 Australians
travelled to Spain. When you sit between these people you have no choice but to
be boisterous yourself. You'll never get this kind of atmosphere at the Fed Cup
in Belgium. When we played last year in Russia, the venue was cold and
empty.
Q: During the Australian Open beginning of this year, you and
Lleyton lost in the last 16. You lost against Lindsay Davenport, your friend
Lleyton in a heroic match against Moya. I noticed that he had the Australian
public in that match against himself. Is that the price you have to pay for
fame?
A: (astonished) I haven't noticed. I thought the public was on his
side. Lleyton has an allergy problem. When he has to play in the city, he get
respiratory problems.
Q: But his relationship with the Australian public
is in comparison with Pat Rafter and Mark Philippoussis quite two-sided. He is
as much loved as hated.
A: You have to accept this. Thanks to Philippoussis
Australia won the Davis Cup 2 years ago. Now he decided to stop playing DC
because of too many injuries and he is literally razed to the ground. These
things happen.
Q: Since a few months you belong to the world top of
tennis. Do you already notice changes coming from this higher status?
A:
Everyone wants something from me, but my dad shields me from these people. Oh,
and in London I've been to a Madonna concert with Lleyton. We sat in 2nd row and
Elton John, Mick Jagger and Chris Evert were seated close to us. That was really
nice, but it doesn't have to happen every week.
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