INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 13, 2021

Jelena Ostapenko

Press Conference

J. OSTAPENKO/A. Kerber

4-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk through the match a little bit, kind of how did you see the match and what do you think was the key to get a tight win?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, she was playing really well today. It was tough conditions also. It was very windy. Right in the first game I felt it was much tougher to play today because, as I said, it was windy. Especially on serve I felt it a lot.

Yeah, I mean, I think the key today was that I stayed aggressive even I was losing some points and missing some balls. I was still staying aggressive in the deciding moments. I think the last game I won because I was staying aggressive and it helped me.

Yeah, but in general I think it was a good match.

Q. What do you think is kind of clicking in Rome maybe with your game this week?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I just like this tournament a lot, this city. I mean, I just enjoy time here so much. I wanted to come here. I think all this good feeling. In general I think the courts are good here. They fit my game, too.

Today was a little bit slower because it was so windy and was almost like on hard court, like little clay, not so much clay because the wind blew it away.

In general I'm enjoying this tournament and the city. I think the positive vibes are helping me to play better.

Q. Do you think today's win against Angie, the way that you played, taking control of the match maybe when you were missing, how much does that help your confidence? How meaningful is getting this win?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I think for sure that gives a lot of confidence because I was losing 3-1 I think in the third set. I was fighting like every point. It was deuce, advantage in one game like very long game, very important one. I never gave up. I was fighting till the last moment. Yeah, I was just there on the court, trying to play my best and be aggressive even, as I said, when I missed it.

Q. There was so much about the match that felt very similar to the Roland Garros final against Simona. Did you have any sort of flashbacks at all to that or is just us sitting in the seats watching?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I was just trying to play my game. I think I always play aggressive, try to hit winners. But today, as I said, it felt really difficult with the wind because it was blowing the ball so much. Some moments like when I played against the wind, the ball didn't come close to me. No, sorry, the other way. Sometimes the ball was too fast and sometimes it was, like, not coming to me. It was very different. I really had to adjust, like, every game.

She was playing, as I said, really well. I really had to hit so many winners to beat her today.

Q. You play Pliskova next. Can you talk about the challenge of playing her and how different that matchup is for you compared to today's match.

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I think it's going to be completely different match. Angie was running so well today, getting all the balls back. Not just getting them back, but hitting some great winners from, like, crazy positions.

Karolina is really good player, too. Her game is more kind of built on the serve, I guess. I mean, I know how to play against her. We played already this year in Stuttgart.

Of course, it's going to be much more different because we're outdoors. There, I mean, she played incredible match, served so many aces. I guess here it's going to be a little bit different, especially if there is some wind.

Yeah, just try to play my game and serve well, just try to break her serve couple times in a set, then I can show my best and have opportunities then.