INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 12, 2021

Nadia Podoroska

Press Conference

N. PODOROSKA/S. Williams

7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you just first talk through the match a little bit, give us a sense of what happened out there and what do you think was the key to getting such a big win today?

NADIA PODOROSKA: I think it was a very good match, high level. I knew that I have to play every point, fight for every ball.

She didn't play a tournament for a while, so I knew that maybe she did too many mistakes at the beginning or I have to push her to do them. But I think I played a great match.

Q. Your level and the way that you were hitting the forehand, the way that you were moving, finding a way to dictate and play offensively against Serena, would you say this is maybe the best that you have played your level since maybe Roland Garros last year?

NADIA PODOROSKA: Yeah, since Roland Garros I think for sure it's the best tennis that I play on clay, no? It's also my first tournament after that. I played a few weeks ago the Billie Jean, but I wasn't comfortable playing on clay at that moment. So, yeah, I think it's the best tennis I play.

Q. Why do you think that was? What do you think happened today that allowed you or inspired you to play at the level that you played at today?

NADIA PODOROSKA: I think of course playing against her it's give me like a plus, I don't know how to say in English, but play against her, it's an honor for me. I saw her playing when I grew up, so it was a special match for me.

But of course I was practicing and training first like to reach this level.

Q. What does it mean for you to beat Serena? It's obviously a result that many players are very proud of when they can get it, but for you to get a win over Serena, what does it mean?

NADIA PODOROSKA: Yeah, it's special win. As I said, she's a great athlete. She did too many things for our sport. It's history.

So for me it's very special. But most of all, I'm happy the way I played. Like, I felt again comfortable on clay, on my game, and that's most important for me.