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CNN Live Today

Interview with Corina Morariu

Aired July 23, 2002 - 10:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Corina Morariu is a professional tennis player who has conquered some of the toughest doubles competition in the world. From Wimbledon to the Australian Open, she has walked away a champion. But her toughest challenge came off the court, and from deep inside, as last year, she was diagnosed with leukemia, and embarked on a battle that would hospitalize her for three months, and subject her to four courses of chemotherapy treatment. Next week, though, she returns to the court and to competition.

First though, she is taking time to visit with us, and we appreciate that. She is in our CNN's New York bureau. Corina, good morning. It is great to have you on board with us.

CORINA MORARIU, PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER: Good morning, thanks for having me.

KAGAN: I had followed your story -- I read about your story, I think, in "People" magazine sometime over the last year, and I was fascinated and I was wondering how you were doing, and it is good to see you, right before us, that you are doing just great.

MORARIU: Thank you. I am feeling fantastic.

KAGAN: You look like you -- that's good. Take us back to last year. You team us with Lindsay Davenport, you have incredible competition, and you win the Australian Open, the double's competition, the women's double's competition.

MORARIU: That was in January.

KAGAN: That was in January. And so, how long after that did you realize that something wasn't quite right with your health?

MORARIU: I was diagnosed on May 17 of last year, and probably about a week before that, I started with more severe symptoms. Some nose bleeds, and some spontaneous bruising that prompted me to go see a doctor, and in hindsight, you know, for a couple months before that, I was having some fatigue and shortness of breath, and problems like that.

KAGAN: But you probably just thought maybe you were overtraining or something at the time?

MORARIU: Yes, I think as an athlete, you are trained to endure pain, and so I kind of brushed things off, or if I couldn't run without getting tired, I thought I was out of shape, and that I needed to work harder.

KAGAN: Well, you did have to work hard once you were diagnosed and went into this incredible treatment. What was -- what were those three months like, when you were undergoing chemotherapy?

MORARIU: Yes, it was, obviously, an extremely difficult time, and came as a huge shock, being an athlete and being young and always taking care of my body, it was tough to deal with, but I had an amazing support system, and my family and great friends, and you know, tried to look at the positive in the situation, and I felt lucky that I had good doctors, and I was able to get good treatment, and had, like I said, an amazing support system, so all those things, you know, helped me -- help me deal with it.

KAGAN: I was wondering what kind of reaction you got among your fellow women tennis players. We hear about what a cutthroat world that can be, but I wonder when a fellow player is really in trouble and fighting for her life if some of your fellow players came to your support.

MORARIU: Absolutely. So many players came to my hospital room, and sent things, and just the outpouring of support was something that I could never have ever imagined that I would get. And Jennifer Capriati, you know, dedicated her French Open win to me, and Lindsay Davenport is one of my good friends, and Lisa Raymond and all the girls were just so unbelievably supportive, and it's an amazing feeling to be fighting for your life, and to see all these people that are doing things for you, and that want to see you again, and they want you to hang around.

KAGAN: That is so encouraging. To look at you now, you look like the picture of perfect health. What's your prognosis, and what are the doctors telling you?

MORARIU: Thank you. The prognosis is really good. My cancer is in remission, and I just -- I am on some oral chemotherapy for the next couple of years, and just have to be monitored once a month, and make sure that -- you know, it stays in remission, and that's kind of the plan for the next couple of years, and after that, I'm considered cured.

KAGAN: And so right now, you're winning the ultimate battle, and that's for your life, but Corina, I guess that's just not enough. You want to go back and play tennis again.

MORARIU: Yes. I am actually currently playing World Team Tennis for the Philadelphia Freedoms, and I am going to start playing competitively again next week at the Acura Classic in San Diego.

KAGAN: And we see pictures of you with Lindsey. Now, she has had some of her own health challenges -- nothing on the level of what you have been facing, but are you both coming back and coming back strong? MORARIU: Yes, we are both coming back around the same time, and she has knee problems, and knee surgery earlier this year. So, I am looking forward to seeing her again, and hopefully playing with her, or against her, just hanging out with her and seeing all the girls again. I'm really, really excited about it, and just excited to be playing. It definitely beats where I was at this time last year.

KAGAN: Absolutely. Puts a lot in perspective, I would imagine.

MORARIU: It does.

KAGAN: We wish you absolutely the best. Once again, you look fantastic. Continued success with your health, and you go get them on the courts, too, OK?

MORARIU: Thank you.

KAGAN: Very good. Corina Morariu taking on women's tennis and her health as well.

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