ROLAND GARROS

June 6, 2021

Tamara Zidansek

Press Conference

T. ZIDANSEK/S. Cirstea

7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What does this mean for your country? You're the first woman from Slovenia to reach the quarterfinals. Do you know any of the other Slovenians that are famous?

TAMARA ZIDANSEK: I mean, I'm getting a lot of messages that everyone is watching. I've already said it means a lot to me. It means a lot to me that I'm able to get across to the message to young people and everyone in Slovenia that we can do it. We're a small country, we don't have that many players, but we have good players.

I'm really happy I can get that across. I'm pretty sure it means a lot to them, as well.

Q. Do you follow any of the other Slovenian sports people that are well-known like Ilicic who plays for Atalanta?

TAMARA ZIDANSEK: I know basketball players, like Dragic, Luka Doncic. I know we have cyclists, too, who are first and second on Tour de France. Yeah, we have a lot of good athletes even in skiing. We had a gold medalist. In snowboarding.

Considering that we have only two million people, I'm really happy to be a part of the athletes that is doing this good.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about the match, saving the first set point, how did that change everything?

TAMARA ZIDANSEK: Yeah, well, I think that we both went into the match a little bit nervous, which is I guess normal. A big opportunity for the both of us. It took me a couple of games to settle down. It was good that I got that first game on the scoreboard.

Yeah, I started serving better and better towards the end of the first set which also helped me to save that breakpoint, which was also a set point. From then on it was just in the tiebreak fighting for every point. Once I managed to get the tiebreak, I started feeling more comfortable out there. I started feeling more comfortable about going after my shots. That showed well in the second set.

Q. How are you rating your performance? What were your goals coming to Roland Garros? Have you achieved them or are you planning on going deeper in the draw?

TAMARA ZIDANSEK: Well, I knew before the Roland Garros that I practiced really good. I'm in good shape. I had good opportunities to play a lot of matches, also against Barty in Madrid. So that helped me a lot to get a confirmation, I guess, that I can play well.

Yeah, I was feeling really good. I'm just trying to go match by match actually and just trying to show my best game.

Q. What about your next match? Vondrousova or Badosa?

TAMARA ZIDANSEK: Well, a lot of respect to both of them. Vondrousova has played the finals here. Badosa is in great shape. I can say that we grew up together. We're like almost same age. I've known them for quite a long time. I played against Badosa in juniors. Against Vondrousova no.

It's completely different match. It's quarterfinals of a Grand Slam so I'm just going to get some good rest and prepare well for the match.