ROLAND GARROS

June 4, 2021

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

Press Conference

A. PAVLYUCHENKOVA/A. Sabalenka

6-4, 2-6, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What was going through your head at the start of the match when you were 3-1 down?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: I got a little irritated because obviously I had straightaway 15-40 on her serve the first game and I felt really good today, I was in a good state of mind going into the match.

Then, yeah, I thought I started off well, kind of missed a few chances to break her in the first game. She started to attack a lot and played very aggressive. It was very quick 3-0 to her.

Yeah, that's definitely not how I wanted to start the match, so I got a little irritated but still kept on fighting.

Q. It's not really how you start, it's how you finish. You were very emphatic with the way you finished. What happened in the final set to have the blowout?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Yeah, actually to be honest with you, it went so quick. I didn't even expect that score. All I remember, all I know, after having the medical timeout, I was just focusing so much on my leg. I was really disappointed in a way because I felt like I'm in a good shape, playing so well. I am here to compete and to fight against the best players. Then my body is not following up. I was kind of focusing on that.

I found myself playing, of course, every point and fighting. I was all of a sudden 2-0 up. That gave me I guess push that I'm okay, 2-0 up. I felt way better, positive. Just kept on playing. I don't know. It was kind of quick.

Q. You're through to the second week for the first time since 2011. How would you describe you've changed as a player and as a person?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Well, 2011. That was a while ago (smiling).

Right now I'm honestly, I know it's a cliché, I was the first one to laugh at this, players would say, I'm going to go and enjoy out there. I'm there, Like, yeah, right. Go enjoy, of course, good luck.

Now I actually do that. Even today on the court, apart from having pain in my knee and my leg, I was enjoying. I'm trying to embrace this. I'm enjoying much more now every point the tough matches than I used to before. I guess that also the reason why I'm still here in the second week.

Also I feel like I'm fitter. Because I'm enjoying playing tennis, I work harder. You work hard, you enjoy the hard work. I think that's the best combination.

Q. Madrid there were the jokes about you're no longer the youngest one in the room. You're getting these results being a veteran player. What does it mean for you at this point in your career to get these results?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: First of all, I think it says a lot about my also level of play. As we say, I'm not the youngest right now. Usually the youngest players, they should feel sort of like fitter and fresher. I'm still here in the second week, still playing good tennis. That shows me that I was playing good tennis 10 years ago and still now, and probably I feel like I play even better and smarter. That's obviously of course a positive thing for me.

I feel like I've got a lot more to improve and still have a lot of potential to maybe open up and play even better.

Also I just try to now stay in the present. I mean, I just thought, Okay, what's the point to think about my age or whatever? It's 2021. I'm here this week. I'm in second week of the French Open. Let's just enjoy this. Why think about anything else. Try to do even better, try to go forward.

I'm here right now and right now is great.

Q. Are you concerned about your leg, how you can maintain your body?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Yeah, of course, I'm concerned because it's been only three matches. My goal obviously is to go further and play better. The matches going to get even tougher probably.

Again, it is what it is right now. I'm just trying to do the best recovery I can for the next match and take it day by day. I mean, there's nothing I can predict or say. I'm just going to do my best to be in the best shape for the next one.

Q. The next match, a couple established players. Your thoughts on playing Vika?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Right now it's tough to say something because I don't want to go too much into the future. All I can say is she's great, obviously, very great player, great fighter. She's been proving and showing to everybody that she's still got a lot of fuel, especially the last year at the US Open, probably one of the best and amazing tennis she showed.

We're at the Grand Slam second week now. There is nothing to say. You just got to beat the best players, great players, try to do your best.

Q. I believe that was your 37th career win against top-10 players. Why do you think you're so effective in those kind of clashes?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Sometimes I guess it's easier -- well, not easier, but mentally you maybe have less to lose. The better player you are, the more players want to beat you, the more they are fired up against you.

At this point, like, I'm not focusing on the rankings any more, not focusing on anything, on the names, nothing. I'm just there. I just take match, this particular match, and I want to win this match. That's it. I have the tactic to play this player. I have a few things how I would like to beat her. That's it basically. I don't really focus on rankings any more.

Q. At what point did you start to feel like an adult on the tour?

ANASTASIA PAVLYUCHENKOVA: Probably I still haven't arrived there (laughter).

But I definitely feel much better probably only this year I'd say honestly. Like, it took me a while. I feel like I have slightly different approach on life and tennis overall starting from not long ago. I think that shows also in my game a little bit, in my behavior on court and off court.

Again, I'm just also enjoying it much more than before.