Nicole Vaidisova wants to forget about an injury-filled 2007 season and is already looking forward to her biggest challenge of 2008, the Beijing Olympics.

The 18-year-old Vaidisova started the season at 10th in the WTA rankings, but finished 12th at the end of the year.

The Czech's injury troubles in 2007 were: a split finger at an exhibition in Hong-Kong in January, an injured right wrist in April that kept her out of much of the clay season, glandular fever in July that saw her miss nearly two months between Wimbledon and the US Open, a problem with the ligaments in her left knee in September and another injury to her right wrist in October.

She is clearly hoping that 2008 will be a more healthy year than 2007:

Q: Nicole, have you started training for the new season?

NV: I have been building fitness since last week and I have just started actual tennis training a few days ago.

Q: I heard you have a new fitness coach. Is he strict?

NV: Yes, but I need that. (laughs)

Q: Tell me something about his training methods.

NV: I had not been doing anything for four weeks so we were starting practically from scratch. I mainly do a lot of jogging, sprinting, squatting and gym work. Nothing unusual but a lot of practice.

Q: As for tennis, are you working on anything special with your father Ales Kodat?

NV: We have some points which show themselves in unsuccessful matches that I need to improve on. I don't want to talk about the main one but in general those are the technically-tactical things - going to the net or positioning on the court.

Q: What about your health?

NV: I am tired from the fitness training but apart from it I am absolutely fine (laugh).

Q: So that is a change from what was otherwise a really unsuccessful year in terms of injuries. Are you happy that the season is over?

NV: To be honest, yes I am. I was happy to see the season over. I am looking forward to moving away from it and having a new start. I hope the next year will be better than this one. And I am working hard to make that happen.

Q: Has there been anything positive that stuck in your memory from 2007?

NV: It was a strange year. I had a great start, reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open, I played well at the French Open after the wrist injury. I don't have only negative memories of this year, it was more like up and down.

Q: Many people predict you to be a main star in 2008, what are you objectives?

NV: I have just one objective, to go through the season without being injured or ill.

Q: What about returning to the top 10, a Grand Slam final or taking part in one of the Masters Cup events?

NV: Of course, I have an idea in my head what I would like to achieve. But that can be achievable only if I stay fit. Now it is useless to speak about it.

Q: Are you looking forward to the Olympic Games in Beijing?

NV: Enormously. The Olympic Games are one of the 2008 events that I am most looking forward to playing.

Q: A lot of tennis players don't want to take part in it. Have you considered not playing there?

NV: Not at all. I would rather miss other tournaments than the Olympics. I love the tradition and the fact that you don't play just for yourself, that you also play for your country.

Q: The chances of winning the gold medal there might be open as Justine Henin is considering skipping the event. Why do you think she is ruling the tennis world in such style?

NV: Of course she has unbelievable strokes, but foremost, she is a big fighter. How she plays under pressure, in critical situations, that is simply unique.

Q: You are saying that you want to be the world number one in the future. So, would you like to have Justine Henin's fighting spirit and psyche?

NV: I would not like anything from her (laughs). I would like if I personally make improvements.

Q: So, what are you lacking, except the points, to be like Justine?

NV: (laughs) Probably a sense of how to solve some exact situations on the court. But we are working hard on that. We need a little luck, for me to be fit and hard work. Then we will see.

Vasek Kadlec translated from Sport / Eurosport