What would you have done if you hadn't been a professional tennis player?

I always wanted to study chemistry for no other reason than I liked the little test tubes.

When did you start playing tennis?

My parents played at a club for fun.  When I was little, three or four, I used to go with them and they play with me for a little bit.  Mostly, though, I just hit against a wall when I was starting out.

Were your family big tennis fans?

Yes, I remember on weekends whe the Grand Slams were on my whole family would watch the matches on television.  We'd drink tea and coffee and eat cakes while we watched players like Borg and Evert.  It was often the middle of the night and the ding, ding, ding of the balls used to lull me to sleep.  It's one of my favourite memories.

Who are your best friends on tour?

Anke Huber, Chanda Rubin and Patty Schnyder.  We go to the cinema or out to dinner and talk about stuff outside of tennis.  If we're in the USA we go out for Japanese food which I absolutely love, and when we're in Europe we have pasta.

What is your proudest moment on a tennis court?

When I first beat a top 10 player, Katerina Maleeva in 1992.  I was very young, and about 16 and I beat her 7-6 in the third after three and a half hours.  It was in Kitzbuhel, Austria.  It was an unbelievable moment for me because there were so many people watching.  I felt like a big star.

And the worst moment?

Against Steffi Graf on the centre court at the 1999 Australian Open.  I lost in about 40 minutes 6-1 6-1.  I was ashamed not to  even be out there for one hour.  That was not so good.

Who is your most feared opponent?

I don't really fear anybody, but I respect players in front of me in the rankings like Martina Hingis.  I don't really love to play the Williams sisters and Lindsay Davenport because of their power.

Which player do you admire the most and why?

Steffi Graf, because she was a really hard worker.  Winning the Golden Grand Slam was an incredible achivement.  Steffi's former coach Pavel Slozil told me once that he couldn't remember one practice session with her were she didn't give 100% and that really impressed me because that's almost not possible.

Which is your favourite Grand Slam?

The Australian Open.  I like the people there and the tournament is well organised with excellent transportation.  Everything is so close.  You don't have to drive half an hour to the hotel, you could walk there in ten minutes if you wanted to, which is really comfortable for the players.  Sometimes at Wimbledon it takes you an hour to drive to the hotel, which really frustrates me.  The Aussie Open's players' party is always really memorable too.

If you could be one person from history, who would you be and why?

Kaiserin Elizabeth.  She was a powerful and people in Austria and Hungary loved her.  She was very athletic for the period she grew up in, loved her children and was a great personality.

What's the most dangerous thing you have ever done?

I've never done bungee jumping or anything like that, but the mountains that I walk up at home in Austria can be pretty steep and dangerous.  When I was little my parents walked me over a horrible suspension bridge made of wood, hanging over a gorge.  That was the most frightening thing I have ever done.

What do you like most about your job?

I like travelling, meeting different people and getting to know different cultures and I like being in different places throughout the year.

What do you hate about your job?

I really hate living out of a suitcase.  You always have to wear the same stuff and it's always crumpled when you unpack it.  As a tennis player you have to do a lot of ironing.

When did you last cry and why?

When my grandfather died in 1999.  That hurt me pretty bad.

What is your favourite way of relaxing?

Taking a massage and going to the warm water at a spa.  I'd follow that up by having a good dinner.

What is the most important lesson that you've learned in life?

Live every day as if it's your last, and make the most of the time you have.

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