INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 12, 2021

Angelique Kerber

Press Conference

A. KERBER/S. Halep

1-6, 3-3 [Ret.]

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A tough way obviously to win a match and advance, but can you just talk through what you saw on your side of the court with respect to Simona's injury and all that?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Actually, I was focusing more on my service game, because I start to play better in the second set. Then suddenly she called the trainer. Yeah, I know that Simona is not calling trainers just like this.

I knew, okay, something happened. But I really didn't saw the moment, so I don't know what exactly happened in the moment.

But, yeah, of course, I mean, I was feeling so bad with her, because this is not the way I would like to finish, yeah, a tough match against also a friend on the other side.

So, yeah, I was trying to helping her as much as I can, but yeah, I hope that she will get very soon back and it's not too bad.

Q. It did seem that in that game and the game before you started to find your forehand a lot better. Seemed like something maybe clicked in terms of how you wanted to play the rest of that match against Simona. Can you talk about that a little bit, what you struggled with up until then and maybe what clicked?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I mean, in the first set I think my start was a little bit slow. I was, you know, not moving too good. I know that I have to move good against Simona, that the rallies are long. I was not serving actually too good in the first few service games on my serve.

But then in the second set I knew, Okay, now I have to fight for every ball, I have to move better, and maybe to not overthinking everything. Also not looking on the scoreboard. Just playing point by point.

And, yeah, I know that I'm practicing good. I had good matches in the last few tournaments. I was more trying to thinking positive and not to overthinking every single ball and being also aggressive.

Yeah, I was starting to changing a little bit my way how I played the first set and then changing a little bit the game I played in the second set.

Q. It seemed like you started getting a lot more depth on the forehand.

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah.

Q. Really stepping in. After all this time, is it still hard to kind of get the fact that you're playing on clay out of your head and maybe just play it like you're playing on a hard court or on grass?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I mean, to be honest, yeah, because, you know, I can play on clay, you know. It's only mentally I think (smiling) because I played so many good matches in the past in Paris, in Stuttgart, Charleston, also here in Rome. I played semis one year.

So it's I think not that my game is not fitting on clay. It's more like mentally that I have to, you know, to take the challenge that I can also play on this surface.

I'm trying. I'm trying really my best. Yeah, let's see how far I can get here, and at the end of the clay court season I knew how the clay court season went for me.

Q. In Madrid you were practicing with Simona. Seemed like you guys had a good time and some very nice moments after her retirement with the both of you. I'm just curious as two very fierce rivals who play very long, heavy, highly competitive matches, at what point did your kind of friendship with Simona I guess not happen but, yeah, things maybe changed a little bit to where, you know, there seems to be genuine camaraderie between you guys?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I don't know. I think over the time. I mean, we share the tour together. We know each other very well on and off courts. This is our life on tour now, so we get through all of these situations the last year, especially now.

We played also doubles in Miami, so it's also a lot of fun we had there. It's like more, you know, when you're getting older I think it's also a little bit easier for us. No, we are very good friends. That's why I'm really, yeah, also I'm feeling not really great when I see something like this what's happen today. Yeah, I hope that, yeah, like I said, she recovers soon.

Q. You play Ostapenko tomorrow, a slightly different type of player than Simona.

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah.

Q. Can you just talk about the challenge of playing her and what you need to do on clay to get the win?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, I think it will be completely different match, but it's also, yeah, a good match before Roland Garros to have, because of course I have to, yeah, I have to play a little bit different than against Simona. Also like my match against Cornet last night. It's more like that I have to, yeah, be more aggressive, moving good.

But of course like the plan A is always focusing on me and then, yeah, how my opponents are playing. But of course I think they are a little bit shorter rallies but faster rallies. So, yeah. Let's see tomorrow.