ROLAND GARROS

June 4, 2021

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/A. Bogdan

2-6, 7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. That was a great match for both of you. What were your thoughts on the keys to getting through that match?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, I think it was a very tough match. Very mental, as well. I think it was a little bit of everything, because I think she played an amazing level.

In one point of the match, I didn't know what to do. I just know that I had to keep that level and keep fighting until the last moment. Sometimes when the opponent plays like that, you just have the option to keep fighting. That's what I did.

Q. You played her quite a few years ago. Were you surprised with her level? Just for you personally, what were some of the emotions out on court? You talked about the expectations.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, for sure I was super surprised. I didn't expect that level. I think she played unbelievable. She served amazing. Her backhand, her forehand, she was moving very, very good. She fight until the last moment, as well. I wasn't expecting this level.

But I'm quite happy that I came through and that I fight until last moment and that I could win this match, because it was a crazy one.

Q. Even when she was playing so well especially in that second set you looked incredibly calm. I'm sure that inside you weren't, but at least from the outside it looked like you were quite contained. I'm curious how much of maturity, how much of experience, how much of the confidence that you've gained over the last nine months plays into these moments and helps you get this type of win.

PAULA BADOSA: Well, I'm happy you saw that I was calm because I can assure you that I wasn't. I was quite nervous because she was playing very, very good and I wasn't seeing the moment like to come back. That's what I was saying before, like when the opponent plays like that, the only option you have is keep fighting. That's a little bit of what I did.

I tried to keep calm in the important moments. I had match ball in second set. And I stayed very focused, very calm and just believed until the last moment.

Q. When the draw came out, I think a lot of people thought this round would see you play Naomi Osaka who was the seed in this section. I'm just curious what your reaction was to her pulling out and how much it affects your tournament and the whole section of the draw and the opportunity you have.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, it's never easy when a top player withdraws, because sometimes, well, mentally it's tough. You maybe see an option. You see an opportunity in that moment. And I did very good work mentally with my coach when that happened, because it's tough. When you have more expectations, people expect that you win that matches like you're favorite in that moment. So it's tough.

The things that you saw today, when a girl, Ana, she's 100 in the world, but today she played like top-20, top-10 match. So you never know. You never know, and you never know that maybe a top player plays a little bit worse that day. And, for example, today she played amazing.

I'm prepared for every match, and expect that they can play like this.

Q. That was amazing to watch. I guess some wins feel bigger than others. How big did that match feel to win? What were you thinking at the end of the match?

PAULA BADOSA: Well, I'm really proud of myself. I think it was a very tough one, mentally was very tough. I'm proud that I could do the comeback. It was quite tough. The third set, 4-2 down, as well, she was playing very good.

In some moments of the match I was seeing everything a little bit black (smiling). But then, well, the thing that I did is just believe on myself, tried to put my game, to stay aggressive. I'm happy that I could do the comeback and I can win the match.

Q. You talked about the mental work you were doing to sort of adjust to the change in the draw. Curious what sort of mental mindset you have for the rest of the tournament going forward. A lot of people still think you'll have opportunity going forward in this tournament.

PAULA BADOSA: Day by day, match by match. I have a tough one now. Marketa, she knows what it is to play the final of a Grand Slam. She's a very good player, very smart one. So it's going to be a tactic match as well.

I expect it's gonna be a tough one. I will try to enjoy it as much as I can and to give my 100%.

Q. It was such a physical match. I know you had to work so hard through all of those rallies. You talk a lot about the physical work that you and Javi have done. Can you talk about that paying off tonight, and physically how are you feeling right now going forward into the second week?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I think I improved a lot in that section. I have been working very hard with my team on that, and I think today the points were, rallies were very long ones and the match was very intense and very long.

Of course I'm quite tired right now, but I'm gonna do a good recovery. But I'm very happy that I did improve from -- like, I think from last Roland Garros and now, the change of my body and everything, it's a big change, so I'm quite happy on that.

Q. You had such a good clay season, lots of wins in other tournaments. I'm wondering how much of a step up it feels like to try to replicate that and do that again at a Grand Slam? We see players like Sabalenka who won a lot of matches on clay too and go out today. It's a different sort of atmosphere at a Grand Slam? Wondering how different of a challenge it feels to win matches at Grand Slams even if you have been doing it a lot recently.

PAULA BADOSA: I always say a Grand Slam, it's different. The pressure, the atmosphere, it's different, and of course you feel more nerves. Sometimes you feel opportunities, like in my case, or maybe Aryna felt a little bit that today, and sometimes you play with a lot of nerves. You see an opportunity, and you see cannot do it in that moment and it's tough mentally to be calm in that moments and to stay focused and to do your game plan, you know.

A Grand Slam is always tough, and I'm quite proud that I came through all these matches that they were mentally tough.