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by Christopher Gerby After jumping through the series of hoops which make up the WTA Tour's interview request process, I met Annie Miller for a Q & A about her showing here in Montreal and her return to the WTA Tour. Considering she'd just been demolished 6-0, 6-1, the University of Michigan student seemed to be in a great mood. Minus a few pleasantries at the start and end of our chat, here's a complete transcript... On The Line: So is there anything positive for you to take away from today's match? Annie Miller: Uh...I had fun. OTL: Well, that's something. AM: Yeah. It wasn't as painful as the score would suggest. It was hard because I couldn't get any rhythm. Basically, I thought I played the first point well and after that...I don't know. Just with Conchita, the way she plays, it was hard for me to get in a groove. Plus my game is pretty rusty still, now that I haven't been playing matches. I just felt a little helpless out there. I was playing so far behind the baseline and she hits so heavy and deep. I was just kinda lost out there, but it was fun. OTL: How relieved were you to get that first win out of the way yesterday? AM: Oh my God, totally relieved, because I lost three first rounds in a row out in California. It's pretty easy to forget how to win, forget the feeling of winning. It was a relief, a really nice -- I don't know if I want to say surprise -- but a nice feeling to finally win a match again. OTL: Have you made any decision yet about returning to the Tour full-time? AM: Not quite yet. I'll see how next week goes. I have a ranking back, although it's not a great one. At least it's a ranking, which can get me going again. You know, I'll kind of see. It's been a lot of fun coming back after a while in school. It's given me a little more perspective. You wouldn't have seen me smiling out there at all a couple years ago. I probably would have been moaning and crying. So at least that's a big change for me. But it's tough after two years, with the tour being so strong. You've gotta make realistic decisions, so...we'll see. OTL: Is any particular part of your game coming back more slowly than the rest? AM: Uh...well, my groundstrokes are fine. I couldn't get a groove today, but, again, that was my whole game prior to not playing for a while. I mean, I could work on everything besides that and that. Footwork, volleys, serve -- everything. So much to improve. OTL: Are you playing the U.S. Open? AM: Not as of right now. I asked for a wild card, so we'll see. I don't know what the USTA thinks about givin' me a wild card. I don't know if I'd be up on the list. OTL: Did the injury ranking expire before that? AM: Yeah. OTL: Are you still enrolled at Michigan? AM: Yes, I am enrolled. OTL: OK, and the semester starts... AM: September 6th. OTL: Lastly, where does the Annie vs. Anne thing stand now? What should we be calling you? AM: Oh gosh. That's up to everyone. I mean, most of the people that know me call me Annie and feel uncomfortable calling me Anne. But then there are other people, with the whole -ie thing on the end of the name, they think... If I say "Hi, I'm Annie," I don't know if it sounds childish to them, but they're not comfortable calling me Annie. So anyone can call me whatever. Just nothing mean, please. |