WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 19, 2021

Angelique Kerber

Press Conference

A. KERBER/J. Ostapenko

4-6, 6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. First of all, can you just talk through the match a little bit? Obviously a tight and tough one. How did you see each set? What do you think made the difference in the end?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, I think first set was really close. I mean, we start both very well. Yeah, she just have the one break, which she made at the end of the first set.

Then in second set, I was just trying, you know, to still staying in the match and being aggressive, trying to, yeah, getting my chances just from the beginning of the second set.

The third set was a little bit roller coaster. Was coming back, coming back from 0-3, and then I was up 5-4, I think. Yeah, I couldn't serve for the match. She hits, I don't know, three winners I think in this game.

So, you know, I was just trying to staying, yeah, focused and fighting for every single ball, especially at the end of the third set, like, playing point by point and, you know, just going through, trying to being aggressive and, yeah, taking the match more in my hands, especially at the end of the match.

Q. How much did Bad Homburg and your success at Wimbledon this summer, how much did that three weeks, did it breathe like new life into your 2021 season, into your career? It's very easy from us on the outside to think maybe it did. Maybe for you it didn't. I don't know. That's why I'm asking.

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, I think it's a tough question, because, I mean, we play the whole year and, you know, you have to stay focused for every single tournament. I think also Australia where I was two weeks in the hard lockdown, that was not so easy. So I needed a little bit more time to coming back, making a, let's say, a second preparation.

The clay court season is never the best for me (smiling). I was waiting for the grass court season, but of course, winning Bad Homburg, then playing amazing in Wimbledon, that gives me a lot of confidence. I just try, you know, taking this confidence now to the hard court season, starting for me here in Cincinnati.

I just trying taking the flow with me and enjoying my tennis and trying to improving myself, as well, on and off court and playing again in front of fans, which it means for me always a lot, because I need the energy for my game. Yeah.

Q. Do you think that had a big difference? Obviously there were fans at Bad Homburg, at Wimbledon, here in Cincinnati, sounds like there will be fans in New York, as well. Is that something that kind of changes so much on the court, especially for a player like you?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I mean, of course it change a lot. I mean, when you have now, you know, you played without fans, now you play with fans, it's change a lot.

But on the other side, you know, I was just trying to staying calm and positive the last few months, also after Paris where I lost in the first round, you know, because I was practicing really hard, really good the last few months. You know, it just needs time. I know how it is. I'm so long on tour. So when you worked hard, one day it pays off. You need to have the patience. And, yeah, and then just to take it when it's there.

Of course it's easier to say than to do it, but, you know, with all my experience, I know a little bit sometimes what to expect, what not. And of course you have to go through up-and-downs, and it makes you actually stronger.

Q. Looking ahead to playing either Petra, who you know very well, and have played many, many times --

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yes.

Q. -- and Ons Jabeur, who is playing incredibly well this season but also during the hard courts now. Can you talk about the challenge of playing each player?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Against Petra, I don't know how many matches we played, the last one in Bad Homburg. It's always a tough battle against her. I know I have to play my best tennis. She's also lefty, so it's always tricky, but I think to playing against her it's always, yeah, a good match, which everyone can expect.

Against Jabeur, I mean, we played in Australia, I think, against each other, and she's a tricky opponent. I mean, she can play everything, she is there, she has a lot of confidence, she played amazing season.

You know, I think doesn't matter against who I'm playing. It's more like having another good match before going to US Open.

Q. With the two matches that you have played in Cincinnati off of not a long break, there is no such thing as a long break in tennis, but a few weeks off, how are you feeling physically? How are you bouncing back from the matches you feel so far?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I'm feeling good. After Wimbledon I had a break, because I was a little bit, yeah, light-injured and, you know, I was trying to recover soon, and now to having like these matches, that gives me actually also confidence for my body that I feel good.

The conditions are not easy here. It's really hot and humid. So I'm happy that I had the matches, and let's see how many matches I can still have here and having the best preparation I can have before then New York.