ROLAND GARROS

June 12, 2021

Linda Noskova

Press Conference

L. NOSKOVA/E. Andreeva

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congratulations. What does it mean to you to be a Grand Slam junior champion?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Thank you. Well, it's amazing feeling, undescribable. I'm really proud of myself that I was able to make it through the whole tournament. All of the matches were tough for me from the beginning to the end till last match.

I am very happy. Is my first win, Grand Slam, so is amazing.

Q. Your celebration at the end was very nice. What were you feeling right at the end?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, I had tears coming out, what doesn't happen too much. Really emotional day for me.

Q. Congratulations, Linda. You're the first Czech player to win the girls title here since Hana Mandlikova. I just wonder how important is the history of tennis to you, certainly of Czech tennis and obviously the success of the Czechs, on court right now, but the success of the Czechs in general?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, it's an honor to be a winner of Roland Garros, be winner of Grand Slam after this long time. I am speechless right now. I don't know what to say actually. This is very special moment for me.

Q. Can I ask you a bit about the match? Obviously first set served for the first set, broken and then a tiebreak. Then in the second set, I think you were 3-1 down, five games in a row to clinch it. What's your take on today's match?

LINDA NOSKOVA: I think my game was really good from the beginning to the last ball. Erika's as well. We just fighted for each ball, and I think that is the most important thing.

The result is not really that important for me, just the fact that I was able to make it through with such a tough opponent and with a good game.

Q. Can you tell me a bit about your background? How did you get into tennis? Who inspired you? How did you get to this point?

LINDA NOSKOVA: I started when I was like seven years old, but even before that I was just like in diapers, and my mom and dad were playing tennis, so I was just jumping around and trying to hit the ball, unsuccessfully sometimes (smiling).

Then I started at seven years old and I tried to practice as much as I could, because I really enjoyed the time on court. I had like an hour per day with coach and with three other players. Then I had, like, I don't know, two, three hours with my dad, just really enjoyable time.

Then I went from (indiscernible) to better and here I am now, I guess.

Q. Which players inspired you when you were young? Who were your favorite players?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Well, Serena Williams is my biggest idol from the very beginning, so I'm trying to go in her path.

Q. What about other Czech players? Petra Kvitova, some of the others?

LINDA NOSKOVA: Yeah, Petra Kvitova is national hero and always will. I really look up to Barbora Strycova. She's a big fighter. Even though she finished her career, I think she's one of the biggest tennis players in our country.

Q. What's next for you? Obviously this is your first junior event of the year. Will you be playing Roehampton and junior Wimbledon, or are you focusing on the ITF Women's World Tennis Tour?

LINDA NOSKOVA: I will be playing as many Grand Slams as I will be able to. Of course I want to play adults tournament more, but I got to mix it both, I got to play some ITF tournaments as well.

I will be focused on adults tournament more, I think, just to look in the future.