THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2021

Angelique Kerber

Press Conference

A. KERBER/K. Muchova

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I actually don't want to ask a question about the match. Hope it's okay. You went through a tough stretch, kind of a dip. When was the toughest moment? What was the toughest part? Did you ever think of stepping away?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You mean here in this tournament?

Q. I mean in the past months and years when your ranking fell and the results were tough.

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, of course the last few months it was really tough. Of course I was not being able to having this result which I was actually looking for it.

Also the last few months for everyone was not so easy. For me, I was never stopping believing in myself, in my team. For me, I love to play tennis and I love this sport, to go out there and playing again in front of the fans. I think this gives me also, like, that push me to playing my best tennis right now.

I have always in my career some up and downs. I was always believing that I can come back because I know what I can. The belief, yeah, I never stopped to believe in myself, how I can play.

Q. What is it about grass that just brings out the best from you? You'll face Ash Barty next. Your thoughts on that?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I'm really looking forward to play against Ash. I mean, we never played on grass court. I mean, she played so great the last few months, years. I know that I have to play my best tennis, and she will push me to that, to give everything out there.

I love to play on grass. I'm back here in the semis. I will try to enjoy it, playing another good match. I mean, of course I go out there with the mindset to try to win the match.

Q. What does it mean to you to have your name already on the trophy as a Wimbledon champion? Maybe can you give some context as you pursue another possible championship, how that affects your thinking.

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Of course, it's a good feeling already to have the trophy at home and to won it here. I think it's more about this tournament for me because when I was a kid I really looked forward to playing this tournament good and playing my best tennis here.

Now I'm back. I'm coming after really tough time. I was not playing good the last few months. Now winning, like, last week a tournament at home, now playing well here again, that means a lot to me.

For me it's more the experience that I had few years ago. I played twice the finals here. I tried to, of course, taking the experience with me for the semis.

Q. Can you compare the way you feel now to the way you did three years ago in 2018 at the All England Club? Do you feel you're playing a similar game, as well as you did back then?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think it's tough to compare the years because, yeah, we are three years ahead and a lot of things change.

But I think what I feel is that I really enjoy to play on the Centre Court here. I mean, even Court 1, it's such a special court for me. It's more like the feeling how to play on grass court, how I feel three years ago. I remember how I played here. I know how to play on grass court.

I just try to, you know, continue my play on grass and to having, of course, the confidence from the last week coming here with a title in my bag gives me also confidence that grass is really my surface and I played well on this surface.

Q. At the French Open last month they had four players in the semifinals who had never made a Grand Slam final before. This tournament is different. There's three former No. 1s in the semifinals. You, Barty and Pliskova. Sabalenka, No. 2 seed, is not a big surprise either. What do you think about this set of four players left, what it says about women's tennis right now?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think, I mean, for women's tennis right now, I think there's such a big chance for everyone. Doesn't matter which tournament, you have to be ready from the first round. It's also a good and a big chance for the youngsters to getting experience, playing good against the best players.

I think this tournament, it's like everyone wants to play here her best tennis. You see it now, like you said, who is in the semis. I think it's also good for the crowd to see like three former No. 1 players. Sabalenka is No. 2 seeded.

Yeah, I think it's really interesting to see that. Yeah, I'm really happy that I'm one of the four (smiling).

Q. You were saying you have to play really well against Ash Barty in the semis. What do you have to do specifically against her? Also, when you went through that period where things were not going well for you on the court, how do you not get discouraged by that situation?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think, first of all, you have to stay calm and still staying positive and believing in yourself. I think in this time I was, like, more looking back also to my career. I had always up and downs. I always try to coming back stronger that I can. I tried it also this year. Here I am actually.

Also, against Ash, I know that I have to play my best tennis. She has a lot of confidence right now. She played well. I know that I have to play my own game. I have to just think how to play, be aggressive, and trying to taking the match more in my hands and going for it. Even if I miss few shots, I have to stay there and trying to pushing her.

Q. As someone who obviously has gone deep and knows everything about the second weeks of slams, the pressure, what did you make of what happened to Emma Raducanu yesterday, what your reaction to it was?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Actually I just heard that she is fine, which is good news. I didn't saw the match completely so I didn't know what exactly happened. So I don't know what to say about that.

But I just hear that she is fine. I was also asking this morning because I hear that she was not feeling well. But, yeah, she is fine so far. That what I hear.