Roland Garros June 1 2011 - Rafael Nadal

R. NADAL/R. Soderling

           

6‑4, 6‑1, 7‑6

           

           

RAFAEL NADAL

            Q.  You said you were perhaps not playing well enough to win the title after the last match.  Do you think perhaps your mind has been a little changed today?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  I said two days ago today I am not playing enough good to win Roland Garros.  We will see in two days.  That's what I said.

            And today I played better.  Much better, in my opinion.

            Q.  Obviously you're playing Andy in the next round; you know him very well.  Can you just talk about your friendship with him and how you've seen his game so far this year?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  I think he had a fantastic start of the season during Australia.  I thought he had one month without playing his best, but after that he came back and very well playing a very good tournament in Monte‑Carlo; after, playing, in my opinion, a good tournament in Madrid.  But he lost against a player that ‑‑ Bellucci was playing unbelievable there, so was tough match for him.

            And after, in Rome I think he played fantastic match in semifinals against Djokovic.  Was the closer player to beat him this year.

            So he's doing great.  Right now he is in semifinals having tough match against Troicki the other day saving important moments.  So he's coming with confidence, and will be a very difficult match for me in semifinals.

            Q.  Coming back to the match, how tough was it to finish the match in the third set?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, this ‑‑ you cannot expect to be in semifinals of Roland Garros winning 6‑1, 6‑1, 6‑1.  That's true, no?

            I was winning very comfortable, I think, playing a good level, 6‑4, 6‑1, 2‑0.  I think, in my opinion, I had few more mistakes next in that game.  Probably I played a little bit more nervous.  But he played well.

            I lost the game, but the game must be deuce, because the umpire had a mistake with my serve, in my opinion.  Because when you do a serve to the line, the opponent cannot return the ball.

            In my opinion, the line said out later than Soderling touched the ball.  So that game, I came back in that game, and that game must be deuce.  And with the moment of the match, how that match came, was big chance on me to put the 3‑0 in the score and probably finish the match early.

            But anyway, for me was very positive to play a tiebreak, to win a tiebreak in a tough moment like today, losing the first point with fantastic backhand down the line of Robin.  I think I did a lot of things very good today, so...

            And in the same time, was positive to have a close end of match.  Because you have these feelings, you feel the pressure, and that help me for the next match, in my opinion.

            Q.  I know it depends also on the opponents, but two days ago you said you couldn't win the tournament.  Today, the way you played today, you can win the tournament?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  I don't know.  I can be in semifinals.  I am in semifinals.  So for me is very good result in semifinals.  Six semifinals here in Roland Garros.  Easy to say; very difficult to do.

            Seriously, for me is fantastic news, fantastic result, especially how the tournament came without play my best during all the tournament.

            Today I played well.  Quarterfinals another time playing I think a very good match against a very difficult opponent.  I don't know if I can win the tournament.

            Today I was ready to beat the No. 5 of the world and two‑times finalist in this tournament.  We will see what's going on next round.

            Q.  I'm assuming that you know that Andy hurt his ankle quite badly on Saturday and has been playing with lots of treatment and painkillers.  How difficult is it to play a guy you know pretty well when you know he's injured?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, playing five‑sets matches and today playing a tough match and keep winning, probably he have pain, but the pain is not limiting.  (Translation.)  (Laughter.)

            I wanted to say like this but, I don't know if was right.  So that's what I feel, no?  I think probably that the pain is on the ankle, just turned ankle.

            I had sometimes in the past, and is something that you feel pain, but in my opinion, is not limiting you when you are playing, because just resist a little bit the pain.  It's not something that you gonna go down or you feel that the foot is not have enough power to keep running, no?

            So in my opinion, that's not gonna affect him and his confident to be in the semifinal.  He's playing well.  He's big player.

            Q.  What do you think about Djokovic/Federer semifinal?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, the best player of the world today against the best player of the history, so difficult to say more things.  Gonna be, in my opinion, fantastic match.  Will be for sure a really tough match, in my opinion.

            We will see what's going on.  I think both of them have chances to be in the final.  Djokovic is playing fantastic; Roger did very well during all this tournament.  Roger have enough potential to beat everybody, and you know how good can be Roger in the final rounds of a Grand Slam.

            Q.  Was there anything you did or any adjustment you made that got you to the point where you played to this great level today?  Was it an adjustment you made in practice?  Was it really not until you got on court that you felt, Okay, I've reached this new level and I feel better?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  It was nothing secret, nothing magic.  Just I said every day, and I don't want to change what I said every day.  Just I try my best in every moment.  I try my best in every practice, in every match, trying to play with positive attitude all the time, trying to find solutions all the time.

            Today I found a lot of solutions in my opinion.  So I am happy about how I arrived to the semifinals, especially after the big victory of today I think against a difficult opponent.

            So that's what I did.  Is no secrets in this sport.  Only try your best every day and try to enjoy it, suffering sometimes.

            Q.  Matches between you and Andy seem to produce something special every time, almost like you enjoy playing against each other.  He certainly says he always enjoys playing against you.  Is it the same for you?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I prefer playing against an easier opponent, that's for sure.  (Smiling.)

But play against Andy always is a big challenge, because you know how good is he, and his talent is difficult to compare with a lot of players, in my opinion.

            Yeah, he has all the shots.  He can defend very well; he can attack very well; he runs fantastic.  The only thing that you can beat him is playing at very, very high level.  It not gonna be impossible.  That's what I gonna try.

            THE MODERATOR:  Spanish questions, please.

            Q.  Incredible match.  Once again, you're going to spend your birthday here.  Well, we'll see on Friday.  But today you were able to control the serve of Soderling and you returned very efficiently.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I think I was able to move very well, even better today than in any other matches in this tournament.  I had the feeling I was really covering the court much better and I was able to run a lot better than the former matches.

            Sometimes he was putting me out of the court, and I was able to run back.  I think he was a very tough opponent, and I was able to put him out of the court because this is how I like to play.  What I like is play a bit slower with higher balls, and I was able to play that game.

            I needed to hit the ball very many times before I was able to win the point.

            Q.  I think what counts beyond the score is in fact the way you were able to win that match.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, what satisfied me most without any possible doubt was the improvement in my game.  I'm happy to be in the semifinal again of the French Open.

            But now what I believe is I was able to overcome a very tough situation.  I reached the semifinal without playing my best tournament.  Well, today was my best match, I believe.  My highest level in the tournament.

            I think I improved every day.  I was able to today find solutions that I didn't think I was able to find.  So I'm very happy that I was able to find those solutions today, and I was happy because I was very focused during the whole match.

            I think during the whole match I didn't have any letdown, so I was able to maintain my game at the level I wanted.  He's a tough opponent, and I was able to play very good points to be up in the score.

            He gave me nothing.  I had to fight all along the match.

            Q.  The other day you were saying that every time you were meeting a tougher opponent you were adding something to your game and you were doing something better.  Can you tell us how you can practice that?  And also, two break points, one in the tiebreaker, you were able to serve extraordinarily well.  How can you save those serves for these important moments?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I never try to save something.  Never.  I always try to do my best.  And also, how can I raise my game when I need it?  Well, you know, your opponent helps you to improve your level.

            Today I was able to improve my game enough to be able to win.  Sometimes it's not enough.  I don't know if you can practice on that or not.  But I believe the best players always are able to do that, because otherwise they wouldn't be the best players.

            During the past years, I was among the top players in the world and I was able to do that.  I believe one day I won't be able to do it anymore, but today I did it.  I'm going to keep going and remain very cool, because what I did is now reach a semifinal in a very important tournament for me and for everybody else, too.

            I was able to win many points, and I have many points to defend.  But what is important is not the points I'm making but just playing well and just being in a good position in the ranking.

            Now, of course, for the serve I always try to serve the way I believe is the best for me to win the following point, and I always try to hit where he doesn't expect.  I don't want to give him an easy ball.

            Sometimes I try to gain some time.  I try to serve in a way that gives me more time to return.  In the beginning he ‑‑ what I tried to do is serve on his backhand.  I tried to serve in the important moments on his backhand and put him out of the court.

            Because if you always serve in the same place he always goes to the same place.  Sometimes I tried to surprise him.  That's always what we do.  Sometimes if you do the contrary that you have been doing before, you surprise him.  This is what happened in those moments.

            So I used that in the tiebreaker, and it was very useful.  It was also very useful in other important moments.

            Q.  I would like to know, can we say that this was the most complete match you have played in the season on clay, given the opponent you had?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  No, not of the whole season.  I played two finals in a row.  You should not forget that, because you can't reach finals in a row like this being unsatisfied with your game all the time.

            I think those matches were good.  I don't believe this is the best match of my season.  I played very good matches in Barcelona against Ferrer or the first round in Madrid, against Llodra in the quarterfinal.

            So I had many matches that were pretty good in my view.  And also the final in Rome was very good for me.  I played a very positive match there.  I think that I was able to play my level on clay.  Sometimes when conditions are more complicated I was able to play well all the same, and this is very positive.

            Also, I was able to recuperate after tough matches, and this is good.

            Q.  Can you answer in Spanish something you answered already in English?  Can you tell us what do you feel that now you are playing Murray?  And what do you think about the other match between Djokovic and Federer?

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, I believe that Murray was able to play five‑setters lately, and I don't believe the fact that he has some pain in the ankle will limit his performance at all.

            It happened to me also to have some pain, and the issue is how you resist the pain.  For me, logically I believe that as the tournament goes on, you improve every day, and you don't think about what you feel.

            I think on Friday he will have no pain anymore.  He'll be 100%.  He's a very special player.  He has a lot of talent.  He does many things very good.  The only way of beating him is to play my best level, very aggressive.

            I have to oblige him to play many good points to win me.  I will enjoy my match.  I will play very focused, and I hope I will play as well as I did today.  He's one of the best players.

            Among Djokovic and Federer, I believe it's the best player of the time against the best player of history.  So there again, it's going to be a beautiful match.

            I would watch it if I was a spectator.

            Q.  This year you seem more serious.  You don't laugh as much.  You used to make many jokes before.  You seem a bit sad.  Can you tell us why?  Is there a reason?  Are you just tired of the press or the questions we're asking?  Maybe it's just an impression of mine.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, maybe.  Maybe you're right.  I didn't realize.  I'll think about it, and I'll come with a smile next time.  I'll try to be more happy.  (Laughter.)

            Q.  The level of the tournament is very high.  You had difficulties.  Of course people must realize it's very tough what you're doing and the tournament is difficult.

            RAFAEL NADAL:  Well, people who are just spectators who are not in this world of course don't always know what is our daily life and what are the difficulties we have every day.  Because we have to keep winning every day, and to reach where I am, again, it takes a lot of work.

            But it's not a problem for me.  Everybody knows I think that in top competition anything can happen.  In end, there's only one winner.  It's just mathematics.  The other hundred players lose.  Every tournament is the same.

            I believe it's a very demanding sport, mentally and physically.

Roland Garros June 1 2011 - Andrea Petkovic

M. SHARAPOVA/A. Petkovic

           

6‑0, 6‑3

           

           

ANDREA PETKOVIC

   

            Q.  What went wrong today for you?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  I think it was the beginning, definitely.  I think I started off really slow.  Well, actually, more my serve I think was a big problem today.  I didn't feel my serve at all.

            And I also felt she played flawless in the first set.  I think she maybe made two or three unforced errors.  Normally you expect Maria to give you more free points.  She didn't at all.

            I think she also played a great, solid match.  So it wasn't only me.  Definitely my serve wasn't as good as the previous matches before, so she took full advantage of it.

            I think in the second set I came back, and it was just maybe for an instant I could have turned the match.  Unfortunately, I couldn't take the chances that I had.  But I think it was just for an inch and maybe I would have turned.

            As I said, I think she played a great solid match.  Yeah, she definitely deserved to win.

                   (Through French translation.)

Q.        What was the biggest problem in Maria's game today?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  (In English.)  Okay, switching to French.

            (In French.)  I think she played long.  There were very strong balls, but she plays very long balls, as well, and you can't attack on her balls.

            But she's very stable, mentally speaking.  She's playing each point, and she's a great champion.  I have huge respect.

            But I also think that today I didn't play my best tennis.  I didn't play that well.  When I play better, I have opportunities against any player in the world.

            But she did play very well today.

            Q.  What's the difference between today and the match in the Australian Open, not just the result?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  Well, I served much better, and that does make a huge difference against her, because I think she's one of the ‑‑ she has one of the best returns on the tour.

            In the Australian Open I served very well, but today I had no serve, no service.  I think she played much better, as well, because she didn't make any unforced error.  That did make a difference.

            Q.  According to you, who could be the favorite of the tournament?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  That's very difficult, but I think Maria has great experience.  I think she has great opportunity to win the grand Grand Slam.  I don't know how you say it.

            But mentally she's very stable.  She played very well today.  She's very solid.  That makes her a lot of difference having the experience of winning, winning a slam.

            So she has a great opportunity.  But all the others, I mean, all the other girls have an opportunity to win.

            Q.  What do you think about the way Marion Bartoli evolved?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  I played her in Strasbourg, and I did realize how well she plays.  After the match, I said, Well, Marion I hope you're gonna recover, because she had withdrawn at that time.

            I said, I hope you're going to recover because you hit the ball perfectly, and I think you're going to be perfect in Paris.

            She does show that I was right.

            Q.  So you're not surprised by the way her game has developed on clay?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  No, not at all.  I played against her, and, you know, when you're actually on the court playing against another player, you can feel the balls.

            I could feel that she had wonderful strokes.  That's in Strasbourg that I did realize she would play very well.

            Q.  All these gimmicks, all this routine in between the points, is it a problem for the opponent?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  I don't know.  I can't say for the others.  I can't speak for the others.  But as for me, I'm not looking at what the other player is doing.

            I'm just focusing on myself.  I'm not looking at what she does, but all girls are different.  If it makes her feel comfortable, she has to do it.

            THE MODERATOR:  Questions in English?

            Q.  How do you think you've been in this particular tournament?  Have you been pleased with how you've played, obviously, up until now, but overall and in comparison to how you did last year?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  Well, I am pleased with the way I played here.  I have to say I didn't really play ‑‑ except one set against Maria Kirilenko I didn't play my best tennis, but I was able to get through to the quarterfinals.

            Sometimes that's worth more than playing well, incredibly well, and getting to the quarterfinals.

            So I'm pleased with my mental stability now.  I'm pleased with the way ‑‑ also, today, you know, nothing was really going well, but I was able to stay in the match, and I almost turned it around.

            I'm pleased with the way I developed from last year, and I still think and I still believe I'm at the beginning of my road, and I'm going to be much stronger in the years to come.

            So it's okay.  Of course today it wasn't my day at all, but I think you have to just look past that and try to learn from it.

            Q.  And what will be your plans and preparations now to go on to the grass court season?  How do you make that shift from Paris?

            ANDREA PETKOVIC:  I really like playing on grass.  I really enjoy ‑‑ I think I have a good volley, and I think I'm going to try to get in more often, and also try to play a little bit more slice and mix it up a little bit.

            So I'm really looking forward to developing my game and bringing it to the next level.  I'm gonna take two or three days off, try to relax a little bit, take care of my body.  You know, during a Grand Slam some things just turn out a little bit ‑‑ not injuries, but things start to hurt after three or two weeks.

            So I'm gonna take care of my body, and then go to Eastbourne and try to prepare.

Roland Garros. June 1 2011 - Maria Sharapova

M. SHARAPOVA/A. Petkovic

           

6‑0, 6‑3

           

MARIA SHARAPOVA

           

            Q.  You had a tough first game there, and then you kind of rolled.  You know, you have had a problem sort of revving your engines here in matches, sort of getting behind, but clearly that wasn't the case here before.

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Yeah, there were a few games in the beginning that went to deuce and ad in and ad out.  Even though the first set was 6‑0, we played it for quite a bit of time because of those long games.

            You know, I just did really well in those, you know, those important points in the first set.  I think that was the difference in the beginning.

            And then, yeah, there was a little bit of an up and down in the second, but...

            Q.  This is your first time at this stage of a major since Australia '08.  Can you just talk about that journey and I what it feels like to be back here?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Yeah, it's really exciting to be back in the semis here, you know, in general.  I put a lot of work in, you know, to be in this stage of the Grand Slams.  You know, I'm really happy that it's here.  I'm going to have a chance to go further.

            Q.  When we look especially at the second set, was it like in general a tougher match than what the score of 6‑0, 6‑3 reflects?  The second question is when we look at your general performance, tennis, and moral condition, can we say that this is the best Roland Garros, the best Sharapova we've seen at Roland Garros so far?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Well, to answer the first, yeah, it was definitely tougher than the scoreline says.  Because like I said, in the first set there were a lot of games that could have gone either way.

            I thought I just, you know, played really smart in the important points and the deuce points and when I had advantage.  It was a long first set, even though the scoreline was 6‑0.  Yeah, I have been really strong and I've been put into tough situations in some of the matches here being down and sometimes down in the beginning, and, you know, facing tough challenges.

            But I've found a way to overcome them and, yeah, here I am.

            Q.  Were you always confident that you'd get back to this stage in a major?  Did you always think, It's just a matter of time; I'm putting in the work I'm going to get there?  Or were there tough moments there?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  There's no doubt there's tough moments.  I don't think without tough moments the good ones would feel so good.  I have certainly put in a lot of work, and I never ‑‑ you know, I was never hesitant.  I always tried to push myself as much as I could.

            You know, I have a really good team of people around me that, you know, support me and that have helped me in the tough moments and tough decisions that I've had to make in my career.

            It's a long process.  Like I said, I don't think the great moments or the great feelings feel as good as when everything comes easy to you.

            Q.  How would you assess your level in this tournament versus maybe some of the last few slams?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Yeah, in the last slam I lost to Petkovic; today I beat her in the quarterfinal stage.  I would say I improved definitely, yeah.

            Q.  I guess what I'm saying is considering some of your past comments about the surface and maybe this is not the major where you would have expected sort of things to start to fail into place for you.

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Well, there's no doubt that I've improved on this surface.  There's no doubt that I felt ‑‑ you know, as the years went on that I felt better and better.  Towards the end of the clay season for me, I would always feel like, Oh, I'm feeling good.  I want to actually play more tournament.

            It's a pretty short season.  We only play a few events.  Yeah, I feel like I've physically overcome many challenges that maybe a few years ago, four years ago, would have been tough for me.

            And just the recovery process after matches, and, you know, sliding and recovering after tough shots, I feel like I'm better in that.

            Q.  Not everybody expected two pair of players, Sharapova, Li Na, Schiavone and Bartoli being in the semifinals at Roland Garros.  There is one name out of these that surprises you most, that you didn't expect to the in the semis?  You are the only one that won three slams; Schiavone won one, and the other two never won one.  Do you think that favors you in a way in terms of experience, or the fact that Schiavone won last year helps her to be more confident?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  I don't think those numbers really matter, because this is just a new tournament.  You know, obviously experience definitely helps me.  I know that I've been ‑‑ I mean, I can only speak for myself.  I know that I've been in these types of situations; I've been in this stage of a Grand Slam before.

            You know, here, this is my second time at Roland Garros, and my goal just looking at myself is just to take it a step further and try and take it to the finals and see what happens.

            But what was the first question?

            Q.  Out of the first four...

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Sorry.  His questions are longer than my answers, so I forget.

            Q.  I'll try to be []...

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  You have to write it down.  You can't remember it?

            Q.  No, I'm afraid to miss, to mistake.  I know that you're very precise.

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  (Laughing.)  Am I surprised?

            Q.  Are you surprised more about one of these names than the others?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  No.  To be honest, I think at Roland Garros, with every year you see some surprises more than other Grand Slams.  I'm not surprised at all.

            Q.  What do you think about the level of Marion Bartoli's game on clay right now?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  I haven't seen too much of the matches.  I haven't seen too much of her matches here, so I don't think I would evaluate that well.

            Q.  If you win this tournament, you would complete all four slams.  Is that kind of thought already in your mind?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  No.  I'm in the semifinal stage of this tournament, and my goal is just to take it a step further right now.

            Q.  Just on the crowd, they were behind you against Radwanska, and today they were behind you, too.  It helps you?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Well, I think crowd support is really important.  I think it's ‑‑ you know, when people go out to see you and they support, you know, tennis and they support good tennis, I think it raises ‑‑ you know, it raises our levels.

            You know, I heard a lot of people cheering my name in Russian, which means a lot to me.  Yeah, I've ‑‑ you know, support always feels really good.  I think when you're in the moment, I really try to zone out and really just concentrate on what I have to do.

            But I've been in situations where, you know, I haven't felt my best or my tennis wasn't there, and the crowd has helped me tremendously.  Sometimes that's very, very important.  Absolutely.

            Q.  Tough Melbourne; tough early go this year; then you began to step it up.  Could you talk about how your game has progressed, how you're sort of getting into the swing of things here?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  What if I say that I already answered that question?  What will you do?  Will you just read the transcript?

            No, I haven't been asked that.  Something similar, but not that.  Um, yeah, I've definitely stepped it up, and I feel like I'm playing better.  You know, most importantly, I feel like I'm making adjustments in the match situations, but I'm also playing a lot by instinct.

            I think because I played a lot of matches, I think that's helped me.  You know, I've said from the beginning of this year that it will be really important for me to play a lot of matches and stay healthy, because that will really ‑‑ you know, my ‑‑ I think when you go out on the court and when you're playing matches, I was lacking.  I was thinking a little bit too much in certain situations because I didn't have ‑‑ I didn't feel like I had those matches behind my back.

            Things just come a little bit naturally.  You don't think about certain situations when you play a lot.  That's helped me tremendously.

            Q.  Has it felt at times as if your shoulder had a mind of its own?  Are the two of you back in sync now?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Oh, god.  (Laughter.)

            Back in sync?  Yeah.  I mean, my shoulder ‑‑ I still do a lot of work on it and I still treat it every day.  I do a lot more exercises on it than any other part of my body.  But it's normal.

            Sometimes I have to, you know, adjust if sometimes if the weather changes, things like that.  But my shoulder feels really good.

            Q.  Do you ever say, "Come on" in Russian?  You always seem to say is in English during a match.

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  I do sometimes.  I do say other things in Russian, too, that you don't want to know.

            Q.  I think the only tennis player ever to win their first four slams on different surfaces was Agassi, and then he wins more.  Of course if you win this you're going to have four on different surfaces.  I know you know him a little bit.  He's a little bit older.  He started fast like you did, kind of went down, and had the comeback.  Any similarities between you and him?  And did you ever take inspiration from what he did?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Um, I think he's achieved way more in his career than I have, so it's pretty tough to sit here and compare myself.  I admire him for all his achievements, for the way that he was able to come back and not really care about the outside world and just go for what he believed he had in him.

            I think he's also been an incredible example of someone that's done way beyond, you know, what he ever thought that the sport would give him.  And even though he's not part of the sport now and he's not playing, I feel like he's helping so many children and people around the world.

            That, I think, is more incredible than tennis itself.

            Q.  Outside of the slams, younger players have been doing extremely well in the slams.  Like this time again, all four semifinalists are veterans:  a 29 year old, 31 year old, and then you and Marion are close in age.  Is that because of experience?  Is that because their quality isn't quite there?  Can you just talk a little bit about that?

            MARIA SHARAPOVA:  I'm not sure.  I don't know.  I don't know, really.  I'm not really sure how to answer that question.

            I think experience helps, but ‑‑ I don't know.  Tough question.  Sorry.

Roland Garros. June 1 2011 - Victoria Azarenka

N. LI/V. Azarenka

           

7‑5, 6‑2

           

           

VICTORIA AZARENKA

           

            Q.  You have had a great spring; you were playing very well here; but you ran into a pretty tough player today, it looked like.

            VICTORIA AZARENKA:  Yeah, definitely.  I mean, she was a better player today.  She played very well in the important moments.

            I wasn't playing ‑‑ I don't think I was playing my best tennis today, but I was really fighting hard and trying to, you know, get the momentum going.  It just didn't happen today.

            But as I said, you know, I had opportunities in the first set.  It was really close.  But I wasn't just disciplined enough to take them.

            Q.  Were you thinking in your own mind that, you know, maybe getting a second set or something there would be a chance where she would take her eye off the ball a little bit or give you an opportunity to come back into it?

            VICTORIA AZARENKA:  No, but I was trying, you know, to work my way through.  She was just, as I said, very solid, you know, on the important moments and on the key points

Roland Garros. June 1 2011 - Li Na

N. LI/V. Azarenka

           

7‑5, 6‑2

           

           

NA LI

           

  

            Q.  The quality was very high on both sides.  You must be very pleased with how you were able to close it out and not have any problems mentally, choke a little bit or anything.

            NA LI:  I mean, you know, two days ago I was in quarters, so happy already.  But, I mean, you know, I was ‑‑ I have two match points, but I just didn't know what I should do.

            After I win the match I was feeling, Wow, I can play semi in Roland Garros.  I never think about that before.  So many people think I'm not so good in clay court, but I think now they should change a little bit.  (Smiling.)

            Q.  On the first match point, it almost looks like two times the ball might have been out.  What did you feel about that?  What did you see, and did it bother you?

            NA LI:  I was thinking why she didn't hit the ball out.  Yeah, I saw the one ball.  The marks was half in, half out.  I was like, Okay, if she hit this ball out I win the match.

            But, you know, after I lose the point I was like, Okay, next one, next one.  Yeah.

            Q.  You said that some people should maybe think that you can play on clay.  Did you think you were this good on clay yourself?

            NA LI:  So you think I'm not so good?

            Q.  No.  No.  I'm saying some people said.

            NA LI:  Yeah, some people say.  I mean, yeah, after if they saw I play in the semis, they should change.  (Smiling.)

Q.        Did you always believe that you were capable of going this far at the French Open and playing so well on clay?

            NA LI:  No.  (Laughter.)

            Yeah, I mean, I never think can I play semis in Roland Garros.  I think I can play on other three, but never think about for French Open.  You know, for clay court for all Asia people not so doing well because you have to slide a lot.  Also you have to play a lot of topspin.

            But for Asia player we play a lot of flat.  So more important I think ‑‑ more good court for us was like grass court or hard court.

            But after this time I think all Asia people have more confident play in clay court.  Yeah.

            Q.  Speaking of Asian players, it's been more than 10 years since Kimiko Date first time made the semis in Roland Garros.  Do you have any comments on that as an Asian player?

            NA LI:  I would like to say, because tennis for Asia, like, they didn't do many years, like short time for all the Asia country.  Not like European/American that has like over hundred years.  But for Asia, we only have short time.

            But, I mean, for all Asia players they do well.  So I believe after maybe five years, even more short time, there can there can be more top Asia players going up.  Yeah.

            Q.  The final in Australia, now at least semifinal here.  Are you surprising yourself with your success at the Grand Slams this year?

            NA LI:  Yeah, of course, because, you know, after Melbourne I didn't win so many matches until change the season.  So, yeah, and also after Melbourne, I mean, I was a little bit sad.  You play final in Melbourne, but after another three month you even didn't win one match.

            Now in the semi again.  So I was always feeling up, down, up, down.  I don't know where I'm can be, you know.  So sometimes I didn't trust myself a lot, but until now.

            Yeah, the team gave me a lot of confidence and gave me good energy and positive thing.  Yeah, also they trust me a lot.

            Q.  When did you start believing that you could really play well on the clay and here?  I mean, was there a tournament before?  Was there a match in particular where you said, I like this stuff?  I like the clay, and I can do well on it?

            NA LI:  I mean, biggest ‑‑ before the Roland Garros I was play Madrid, Rome, both was come to the semis.  Yeah, so after the team think about, Yeah, you can play clay court.  I was, like, Oh, really?

            Yeah, I mean, I know I win many matches in the clay court, but I still didn't believe I can play clay court.  I also a little bit afraid, you know, because like many people next to you say you are not good clay‑court player or something.

            After one time or even ten times, of course you think, Oh, I'm not good clay‑court player.  But still like the team always say, You do well.  Why you didn't believe yourself?

            So, yeah.  I think clay court not so bad.

            Q.  Was there a particular match or win that you had where you suddenly turned the corner and said, Yeah, not just it's okay for me, but I like this surface?

            NA LI:  I mean, I always like the surface.  In the clay court you can do many exercise, but before I never can win one point.  So that's why I didn't like clay court.

            But now I do the exercise on the court I still can win the point.  So, yeah.

            Q.  You played two women who hit the ball very hard, Kvitova and today Azarenka and next you have Sharapova, who also can hit the ball very hard and who also is not known as a clay‑court player.  What are your thoughts about her?

            NA LI:  I mean, always tough play against a Nike player, you know.  I know it's tough.  Like after we just make the joke.  We say, Oh, in the bottom of the half, all the Nike player was in the bottom of the half.  Not even one in the top.

            Yeah, but, you know, I mean, this is just joke.  On the match, we still fighting a lot.  So I know these three players was like hit ball so hard, not even like Spanish or European player, like play more topspin, dropshot.

            So I think this good for me.  I don't even running too much.

            Q.  Are you happier playing a player who hits flat and likes to end points?

            NA LI:  I mean, I didn't like someone play like Spanish player, like topspin, dropshot, I always have to running and hit the ball.  I hate that.  I like to stand there.  Yeah.  (Laughter.)