INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 13, 2021

Elina Svitolina

Press Conference

E. SVITOLINA/G. Muguruza

6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk through your performance today. Especially in the second set, seemed like everything was working well for you.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, really it was working well, but I had to work. I had to find this edge, to find this good game because I think I missed few chances to get earlier lead in the first set. I wish I could play little bit better because I had some game points on my serve. I was breaking again, again game points. I wish I could play a little bit better in the first set. But I was happy that it went well and I won eventually the first set.

I was just trying to find my good game, trying to move quick, trying to be aggressive at the same time.

Q. When you were walking to your bench after taking the first set, you pointed to your head, like it was a surprising amount of frustration. Is that just about your level, not being able to close it out earlier?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, because I think I got some chances and I played maybe not right at some moments. Obviously Garbine, she's a great champion, so she took her chances in the end.

I was leading all the time. That's why it was a bit frustrating that I couldn't serve it out a couple of games where I had the game points, was really dominating the game, then just let her back into the game. This was a bit disappointing.

But, I mean, she was fighting and she was trying to find her own game, so this was a good fight, some really tough moments in the first set. I was happy I hold and was still really aggressive.

Q. Especially with somebody who has as good of counterpunching and defensive skills as you do, how do you go into the match game plan-wise against Garbine where maybe there's a temptation of playing a little bit more defensively to see if you can get errors? It seemed tonight you wanted to take your game to her.

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, I've been working on this since three, four years now to be more aggressive. Even when I play against some big hitters like Petra, Garbine, Aryna as well, they are really taking big swings. You have no time to do anything. So you have to be really quick, you have to be on your toes all the time, try to get your own, create your own opportunities.

That's why I was going into the match with an aggressive mindset. I think in the end I was really composed and really tough on the important moments.

Q. You get Iga next, someone you're quite familiar with in terms of practicing. Talk about the challenge of playing her. Is she a good practice partner? Does she make enough balls for you? How different will it be to play a match against her?

ELINA SVITOLINA: Yeah, definitely she's a great hitting partner. We had fun for two weeks in Australia. She's very nice person, as well. It's going to be really interesting match, really competitive. She's a great fighter.

For me, I will have to just focus on my game, try to build the level that I showed today and try to find a good (indiscernible), try just to be composed with my game. Yeah, try to be relaxed at the same time because I really love to play on this court. It's very nice to see the crowd, as well. I'm sure there are going to be lots of good rallies. I'm looking forward to this match.

Q. You're probably the top player that has hit with Swiatek the most of anyone. What's her ball like? What makes her a unique player?

ELINA SVITOLINA: I will tell you after the match tomorrow (laughter).

No, she's a great fighter. She makes lots of balls back, as well. I think physically she can be very strong on defense and attack as well. She has a different game style, her own unique one, because she puts spin on her forehand, the backhand is a little bit more flat. Yeah, it's kind of Jelena Ostapenko style.