MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 5, 2021

Ashleigh Barty

Press Conference

A. BARTY/P. Kvitova

6-1, 3-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You got off to such a good start. Things really tightened up after that. How important was that early break in the final set for you, even though the third set got a bit tight, as well, but getting the early break?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, I think I started off particularly well, and I think Petra struggled to find the court a little bit. I felt like she gave me a lot of cheapies, particularly in runs, two, three, four in a game, which is always hard to kind of readjust and kind of almost tactically keep doing what you're doing, knowing that a lot of the times it was out of my hands.

I think in the second set Petra served particularly well. I felt like she made a lot more first serves. Even the depth in the box on second serves she was able to get more one-two tennis, kind of what she likes.

It was important for me to manufacture a break early in the third, just to break some momentum I think and try and find my way back in.

Q. A nonmatch question. I think it was the other day you tweeted a picture of the renovations your mum and dad are doing with that brick wall. When you look back at growing up now, was there a period or did you feel that you lost out on some of your time growing up, besides hitting against that brick wall, you know, that you missed out on things that everybody else at your age would have been doing? And if that was the case, do you feel sorry about that?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: There are sacrifices, no doubt, but I was also in a very unique situation in chasing a dream. I got to experience a lot of things that a lot of kids my age didn't get to experience.

So it's a double-edged sword. Of course you can look back and say I missed out on this, this, this. But I got to experience some incredible things. So for me there is certainly no sadness, no regret with any decisions I have ever made with my career, and I think it was all an opportunity.

It was all an opportunity for me to grow and to learn. I grew up in a little bit of a different way to most kids my age, but I wouldn't change a thing for the world.

Q. I looked over some of the stats and saw that you won 20 of 32 second-serve points. I just wanted to ask if you felt that was the most important shot in the match. Something that had that much success for the second serve against Petra is not easy to do.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, it's something we always focus on is finding a balance between being aggressive and not letting Petra climb all over my second serve without being overly aggressive where I'd double fault and give her a cheapie. I think it's been finding that balance.

After playing Petra many times now, I feel like it's always a bit of an important stat. I think when I do it well, I have been able to find my way out of low service games and build pressure. When I haven't done that well, she's been really able to find her way forward and bring her brand of tennis.

Q. You finally got your wish to play a day match on Manolo Santana with the roof open. Seemed like the skies were clear and sunny. Can you describe what the atmosphere was like for you playing Petra under those conditions and with fans there to cheer you on?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, the sun got in my way at one point, but it certainly was nice to play in bright blue sky. It was beautiful. Actually, Petra and I said at the start of the match, she said, It's a beautiful day, sun's shining, like, let's go and play, let's enjoy it.

I think any time you get to play clay court tennis out in the sun, I feel like it adds a different element. The court can become quite bouncy and quick and the conditions can change dramatically.

It was nice to get out there and play in again kind of a different situation and almost a different court when the sun is out. But it was certainly nice to get a bit of a tan today. It was good.

Q. Can you describe, today I think was the tenth time you and Petra have done battle, and now I believe you're 5-5. Can you describe what brings out the best in your game? Seemed like you helped raise her game, as well. Why is this?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, I think we have had plenty of matches that have been really closely contested as well. I wouldn't know the stat, but I'm sure more than half have been three-set matches.

I think Petra and I, we respect each other as tennis players, and, you know, I respect her immensely as a person. I love who she is as a person, and I think that we have -- you know, on the court it's more than just about the result. I think we love to compete, we love to test each other, we love to test ourselves. I think that brings in a really healthy kind of competition and relationship on the court that at the end of the day the result doesn't always matter.

I think being able to enjoy it and have a smile on your face is a massive part why I feel the tennis is always a really good level.

Q. I want to talk to you about your next match. You're playing Paula Badosa, the first woman from Spain to make the semifinals. How do you feel going into that match where basically the crowd is going to totally be in her favor?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, that's all right. That doesn't bother me. I have played matches in Australia where they are completely on my side, so it's a different element. It's exciting to be able to play in front of a crowd.

I think we are grateful this week we've got people to be able to enjoy it with us and enjoy the matches. She's had an exceptional week.

Having played her just a couple of weeks ago, there are things from that match that I learnt, and we try and take those into account tomorrow as best we can and go out there and try and execute.

Q. Taking a look at your record in three-setters, specifically this year, I think you're 11-1 with 9 on the trot. Overall your career it's a really impressive three-set record. I think it's 58-20. In your opinion, is there an art to the three-setter? Is it something you have been able to improve at emotionally or in some way that enables you to have that kind of success in deciders?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: For me, I feel like it's just always staying in the fight, always staying in the hunt and never letting it slide away. That certainly doesn't guarantee results, doesn't guarantee success. It guarantees you give yourself the best chance to do what you do and to figure it out and to find your way.

I think it's important not to panic, but I think everyone emotionally has different ways that they play on the court. I have always been quite calm on the court. That's just always been my demeanor. But for me it's more about just trusting myself and knowing that we just keep chipping away and trying to find a way and then give yourself time to do that.

Q. Do you feel like you have improved in that mindset over the years? Ash Barty of 2017 compared to Ash Barty now in a three-setter?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely I feel like there would be a massive red flag if I hadn't improved. It's about growing each day, about learning from your experiences.

I have certainly been able to do that with the work I do with my team. Yeah, I feel like each day, every facet of my game is getting better but certainly that one as well.

Q. In that third set, were you getting frustrated? Normally you are obviously so calm and you don't show much emotion, but it looked at one stage you were getting a bit p'd off at yourself that you hadn't been able to really consolidate the break. A change of racquets, you actually seemed like you snatched at your racquet. Was there an element of frustration in that, especially in that third set?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, I was frustrated that my string broke on the knot. It was a fresh racquet, and just from how I like to play with my racquets and how I set them out, that was frustrating.

I think more in a way to be able to let that go, kind of get the frustration out, let that go and move on, I think the game at 3-2, I believe it was, to break Petra was a massive one. I think I did a really good job of resetting and finding a way back to control the match from that game.

Q. I saw a stat after the match, I believe you were undefeated this season against top-10 opponents. Playing the best, does that tend to bring out your best, or a bit of luck, the fact that you have done so well overall this season?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, I think without a doubt you need an element of luck. You need things to go your way. But you also need to approach it with the right attitude and kind of be able to execute on that day.

I feel like no doubt when you play the best in the world, you have to bring your best level to be able to compete, and I really enjoy that challenge in tennis is testing myself against the very best in the world. I know that I have to play an exceptional level of tennis to be competitive. I think that challenge in itself really excites me, I think.

Q. A quick question on Barbora Strycova. You've played her a few times, and there was the news that she's hanging it up. Curious if you could give some insight as to what she was like as a personality on tour that you have known for quite some time and as a player and a person.

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, hell of a chick. Seriously, it made me smile when I saw that she announced she's pregnant. I think it's an incredible new chapter for her. Hell of a person, someone who was always bright, bubbly, wore her heart on her sleeve on the court but was probably one of the most respected in the locker room.

Genuinely put her whole, put herself out on the court in a way where you know she never left anything out there but would also look you in the eye, shake your hand, say "Well done" or "Too good."

I think a massive part of her kind of career was that she just always was in the battle, singles, doubles, mixed, you name it. She's achieved so much in her career. She's had a phenomenal career and certainly someone I will be sad to not see around the locker room but really, really excited for her and her next chapter becoming a mum. She's going to excel in that, I'm sure.