Myskina: 'Seven years was not enough - but it was a good seven years'

Anastasia Myskina is still officially a WTA player - but she is spending this week in Mumbai as Margarita Gasparyan's coach.

The Russian last played on the tour at the 2007 French Open having turned professional in the year 2000, winning in Palermo the year before in only her second tournament in a main draw, and then suffered a series of shoulder injuries that pushed her further down the rankings and eventually forced her off the court. 

“Sometimes I think seven years was not enough, but they were a good seven years," Myskina told the Indian Express.

She reached a career-high ranking of World No.2, and became the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title when she was victorious at Roland Garros in 2004.

Myskina was a contemporary of Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dinara Safina, and Vera Zvonareva - who has recently returned to action following a break for study and parenting.

The 37-year-old also has children now - three boys - and is an administrator with the Russian tennis federation, who also give her coaching assignments - hence her appearance in India this week. She has also captained the country's Fed Cup team, leading them to the 2015 final, and thinks being a mother also helps her work with players.

“It’s a very tough job, but you learn how to understand the needs and wants of a child. You know how to help them,” she explained. “You become patient and that always helps you deal with the problems a player goes through. The only thing is that you can help them only when they are off court.”