LINZ, Austria - Tatiana Golovin's star has been rising faster than ever before since the fall began - the 19-year-old Frenchwoman has won her second Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title at Portoroz, reached finals at Stuttgart and Zürich and this week cracked the Top 15. Now, fresh off the overnight train from Zürich, she adds blogging to the list, straight from the Generali Ladies Linz in Linz, Austria.

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Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Well unfortunately I won't be able to continue at the Generali Ladies Linz this week because I injured my knee in my match today. I'm really disappointed - it sucks that the season had to end this way for me. I guess it's just my body's way of telling me that's enough and I've played too much. It could have been worse though. I'm able to walk and it doesn't seem to be too long-term. And at least now I can look forward to some time off and some well-deserved rest, and get ready for 2008.

We're going to try to fly out to Paris in the morning. I've got some things I'd like to do out there, then I'll head back to Miami after that. I'm really looking forward to going back home - I haven't been back there since the US Open. I'll probably take a vacation to the Caribbean, see some friends... just try to enjoy myself!

I've gotten some really nice comments about the blog this week. Hopefully all of you enjoyed it. I try to do as much as I can to give back to the fans, and the blog is a great way to let people know who we are. We don't just think about tennis 24/7 - and this is a great way of showing that. And I'm so thankful for all of the support from all of you; I've had some tough times this year, and to have people out there caring and supporting you helps keep you positive in those times.

So another season ends... you know, despite what happened today I'm so happy with my season. I was injured in the middle of the year but I played some good tennis at the beginning and then came back strong at the end. So now I can take some time off to get myself fresh for Australia. I'll spend some time in Europe and am probably going to the mountains in November, so I have a few things planned... I'll share that with you next year as I look forward to blogging again!

Oh and I've attached a picture of me trying on the snow shoes I won on Tuesday night at the player party...

Take care, thanks for all your support and talk to you soon :)

Tati

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Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Hello again everybody,

I'll start at the beginning... I had a run in the morning next to the river, which was really nice. It's a little chilly outside but I like that - I love that you go out and your cheeks go all pink! Living in Miami I obviously don't get that at all. I'm really trying to enjoy the change in climate while I'm here in Europe. Another thing I really like about winter here in Europe is that they roast and eat these nuts that fall off the trees - in French it's called Marron, but I'm not sure it's chestnuts - but it's the ones that you see a lot around Christmas time, and you can make jam out of it too... anyway, that's not something you see in Miami!

I went into the city afterwards and found this cute little store that sold things like crystals and beads. I also found this amazing Bob Marley CD - "Forever Loving Jah" - it has been in my head for a while now. I was so excited I found it. After my little trip into the city I got back and had a nap. Then I went to practice but I didn't serve, as I'm still trying to save the shoulder for when I play...

I wasn't feeling too great today - I woke up from my nap with a headache and I was thinking of not going to tonight's player party because of that, but I went anyway, and it was really nice. I only stayed for half an hour though because the headache was bothering me. When we came back my physio gave me a head massage then put some Tiger Balm on my face and now I'm feeling much better. I'm pretty sensitive to the weather actually, and I think the pressure was pretty high earlier in the day, but then it rained, so it's pretty much gone now, and now I'm writing to you with Tiger Balm all over my face.

Now I really like this Bob Marley song, but he's not really one of my favorites. I did fall in love with this song though, and when I saw the CD I felt I just had to get it. I actually love all kinds of music - my sister played the piano when I was little and we had a lot of classical music playing, but I was also raised around a lot of '80s music like Metallica, Guns N' Roses, other things... it was definitely a mixed environment. I just got a James Blunt CD and I've listened to that a lot.

Tomorrow I play my first match of the week against Eleni Daniilidou. I played her a few years ago and lost to her both times. Hopefully I've improved since then but she's tough - she has a very clean game, serves well, good groundstrokes and likes coming in. I think I know the kinds of things she'll do, so hopefully I will be ready tomorrow. I just have to play my best and we'll see what happens.

I'm sort of winding down right now as I'm going to be going to sleep soon, but you wouldn't think it if you saw me. I have the TV on, music on, phone on, I'm reading my book... I just can't focus when it's silent! Like when I was going to school, I had to have everything on. Right now, "Letters from Iwo Jima" - the Clint Eastwood movie - is on the TV, I've got 50 Cent playing on my iTunes and I'm reading a book called "The Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer. Normally I don't read sci-fi, but one of my friends recommended it. It's like a vampire love story. I can't really relate to it obviously, but it's nice. It's part of a trilogy I think.

Check out www.golovin-attitude.com - I don't have an official website but this guy has done an awesome job with the site. It's always up to date with the latest news and pictures, and I'm really impressed!!

Take care and talk to you all tomorrow :)

Tati