ROLAND GARROS

June 4, 2021

Marketa Vondrousova

Press Conference

M. VONDROUSOVA/P. Hercog

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Obviously you have done really well in Paris before, not too long ago. How does it feel to be making another run into the second week of the tournament?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I mean, it's amazing because last year I played Iga in the first round so it was kind of tough. But, I mean, I had some pretty good matches this week. I'm just happy with my game and we'll see how it goes, but I'm happy to be in the second week, of course.

Q. Like that match you played against Iga, did that make you appreciate I guess just how important luck of the draw can be? You made the final one year and the next year you play the person who is eventually the champion in the first round. Maybe you could have had another great run last year but you played the best player first. What do you think of how important luck of the draw can be in these sorts of opportunities?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, it's important to have nice draw, of course. If you want to do good in a tournament, you have to beat like so many players. Of course maybe they are unseeded but they play some good matches also. It's kind of tough to say.

But, I mean, I played Iga here, and everybody was, like, Oh, my God, first round. I was like, She played amazing. Just wait, guys.

And she won the whole tournament. I was, like, Yeah, I told you. So it was kind of funny.

I'm just happy that I'm playing like this again.

Q. How do you think you're playing? I know you're winning, but sometimes players are winning but they're not playing great and vice versa. How do you feel about your level right now?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: I mean, it's not I think the best tennis I can play, but it's not even the worst one. Yeah, I think it's the middle.

I think I'm just very calm in the game, you know. Even though I'm not playing maybe the greatest tennis, I stay calm and I'm just focusing on my game. Eventually I'm winning the matches, so it's kind of important for me also.

Q. Do you consider yourself the type of player who can, you know, play themselves into form, that you get stronger in a tournament? If so, does that give you kind of confidence now that you're in the second week?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, I mean, for sure. Also I think for the players, it's important to play matches, you know. And for me especially if I play good, long matches and, like, maybe two or three, I'm just getting into my game, and I'm just trying to believe in myself, so it's important for me.

Q. Looking on paper, you are the highest seed left in your quarter of the draw. You were in the draw that Andreescu was in, Osaka pulled out. There has been a bunch of different top players leaving. Does that give you more excitement -- I know everyone is good, but does that give anyone any more excitement or anything to know there is an opportunity and you've done this before? You're also the only person that's ever made a slam semifinal in this section, too.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, don't tell me that. No, I'm kidding (smiling).

Yeah, I'm not looking so much at the draw, to be honest, but I just know I'm playing Badosa or Bogdan next. They are both great players. Badosa is playing great on clay, especially this year, so it's gonna be tough with both of them.

I'm just going match by match and we'll see.

Q. How much nerves or pressure were you feeling going into Roland Garros with 2019 points dropping off and Olympic race? There is a lot of other things that are unrelated to the matches that you're playing that I could understand might play with a player's mind. So how much of that was on your mind? How did you deal with it?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: So honestly, I was a little bit nervous, like before the tournament, but when it started, I was, like, Okay, we're going match by match and we'll see, you know.

Honestly, I'm gonna be so happy when my points drop, because it's like two years now. So it's a long time. You know, I don't have like any more points till like the end of the year.

So we'll see. But now I'm second week, so it's good.

Q. The points dropping, is it making you nervous having them still hanging around so long? You're just ready for them to be gone?

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA: Yeah, you know, it's so much points and it's like, I don't know, 1000-something. It's so many points.

Everyone is like, Yeah, it's gonna drop, it's gonna drop. I'm like, Yeah, just please drop it now and I can play calmly.

But now this week was good, so I'm just focusing and maybe I can do more.