MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 1, 2021

Ashleigh Barty

Press Conference

A. BARTY/T. Zidansek

6-4, 1-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Your thoughts on the match today? You got off to a really good start, tough second set.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, really tough match right from the get-go. I think I did a pretty good job in the first set of being able to nullify a few breakpoints, over time work my way into her service games.

A really tough match. I felt probably my margins were a little bit off today. Made a lot of errors. I mean, I think I was missing in the right way, but still just a foot or two here or there makes a big difference. I felt like there were probably too many loose ones for me today.

Q. Did you feel like fatigue was playing a factor because you played a lot in Stuttgart?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: No, I feel good. Obviously there's nothing like playing matches. Particularly on clay I feel like your legs kind of get used to playing a lot. It has been a quick turnaround. But, no, we feel good. We feel ready.

Q. A tough opponent. There's no easy games any more. Were you surprised at the challenge she gave you today?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Certainly not surprised, no. I knew that was going to be a really tough match going into it. It was something I spoke about with Tyz before stepping on the court, is preparing for a tough, physical battle.

I think Tamara has a really good way of being able to control the center of the court, taking the game on when she had to, being really solid when she needed too, as well.

Happy overall I was able to find a way early in the third set to get a little bit of momentum.

Q. Not prejudging what's going to happen, but Swiatek is one set up. Talk about the prospect of facing her, the two French Open champions?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Real exciting. Obviously the first time we will potentially play. She's still on the court now, I think.

Look, a match that I look forward to. I've hit with her once in Melbourne a few months ago. She's got a seriously impressive game. Moves very well on the clay court, can slide off both legs, controls her body really well on clay. Likes to use her hopper, gets around, controls the court with her forehand.

It's a challenge that we go into with a really clean slate, a little bit of a period of trying to figure each other out and just how our games match up.

Certainly one I look forward to.

Q. You have 13 wins in a row on red clay. Do you think this is your best surface because you won the French Open? I think you have the perfect game for grass.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: I love grass. I love grass. I love the challenge that comes with clay court tennis. I probably have grown up most on hard court. To answer your question, I probably can't answer your question.

Each week we change surfaces. Each week we change conditions. I just try and adapt as quickly as I can and feel as comfortable as I can every time I step on the court.

Q. Was the second set a bit of a wake-up call this afternoon?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: In what way?

Q. You started out well, then it seemed like there was a bit of a drop in play, came on strong in the third.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: No, I think early in the second set that 1-All game, I had two or three breakpoint opportunities, wasn't able to take those. I made a couple of errors. She came up with some really good points. The 3-1 game, she hit two lines in a row. You accept that. I made a couple of errors.

I don't think there was a lot in it by any means. We had a lot of close games in the first set, early in the second set. In the third, as well, there were a lot of close games.

I think sometimes you can get yourself in a bit of a rut in the early points of games. I think through that middle part of the second set, probably for four games in a row it was either Love-30 or Love-40, which is difficult to dig yourself out of repeatedly.

I think the response early in the third was good. I was a bit more aggressive, was able to bring the match back on my terms.

Q. As you're coming back in the third set, are you taking it point by point, thinking in the present?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, you can only take it one point at a time. You can only play one point at a time on a tennis court. You just have to be prepared to play every single point to the best that you possibly can. Once it's done, it's done, you move on and get ready for the next one.

Q. Do you think after two matches you're adjusting to the conditions in Madrid?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yes and no. I've played two indoor matches with the rain around, which I'm desperate for a bit of sunshine, get out in some more heat.

Look, the conditions will be what they will be. I'll just try and prepare as best as I can. I think in a couple days' time, the weather is meant to start to improve. Once the roof is open, the sun comes out, it's a different ballgame again. More adjusting, more adapting, more of a challenge.

Q. Give us an idea what it was like for you when the French Open was on. I don't know what you were doing at that point. Did you watch much of that French Open? Was there a sense of frustration you weren't able to be there?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: No, I probably watched all of a handful of points in the very first morning of the tournament there nothing more than accident of flicking on the telly and realizing it. I think it was 7 or 8 p.m. Australia time in the evening. The matches started. I think I saw a couple of Ajla's first round, a handful of points. I didn't watch anything more than that.

There was no frustration, absolutely not. I know I made the decision to not go and play for the right reasons. For me it was the right decision. I have absolutely no regrets about that.

I think there was no source of frustration. If anything, when making that decision, it was tough to come to terms with knowing that I wasn't able to go and do my best and try to defend my title. But it's all good. I get another opportunity in a few weeks' time to go out there and play in another Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

Certainly no frustration. It was just I knew that I made the right decision for the right reasons, and nothing negative or poor was going to come from that.