US OPEN

September 5, 2021

Angelique Kerber

Press Conference

L. FERNANDEZ/A. Kerber

4-6, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on the match.

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I think it was a tough one. I mean, I, yeah, gave everything I had today. She played I think unbelievable match, especially in the third set, also in the second.

Yeah, I think she played also one of her best matches in her career, and she had nothing to lose. She went out there, she played her tennis. She really is going for her winners, and, yeah, I think at the end it was just two, three points which decide the match. She took it in her hands.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. At 18 years old, what do you see for her future? Does it look like she may have a very special future?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, of course if she play like this and have consistently to play the whole year, and also, yeah, the next tournaments like this, the next rounds, I think she has a great future.

I mean, she has a lot of power in her forehand and, you know, she's going for her winners. You know, I think she's always also enjoying her tennis out there.

You know, it was a tough match. Yeah, I think she can go really far in the next few years.

Q. What does an 18-year-old woman starting out on the tour need to know? You have had an incredible career, ups and downs. Is there anything you wish somebody had told you when you were 18 and people were talking about you as the next-great thing?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think there is so much to know. I think there is not only one thing that I can just tell, because, you know, I have been through a long career with a lot of up-and-downs.

You know, it's just experience you have to go through. Of course when you reach your first quarterfinals in a Grand Slam, it's always a lot of emotions. She had nothing to lose today, and I think she, like I said, she's enjoying her tennis. I think, yeah, that it's just a start of a great career.

Q. Was there anything in her game that reminded you of yourself?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I think the serve and then the next ball after the serve. I think we played a little bit similar.

I mean, it's for me also not easy to play against a lefty. It's always tricky. There are not so many lefties on tour, but I played also great matches against lefties, but, yeah, I think with this kind of game how she's playing, yeah, she's a good player like that, with the lefty hand.

Q. Can you share with us what the handshake was like? Saw you crossing the net and exchanging some words with her. What motivated you to do that and what did you say?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, I think she played amazing match. I just congrats her and wish her all the best for the next round, because, you know, I think for her it's also such a big achievement right now to being now in the next round.

Yeah, and that's it, actually. This is what I told her.

Q. Did you remember what it was like to feel like this kid felt like without the pressure, with that kind of freedom to play the ball like that?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I mean, I remember the feeling really well. I mean it's, yeah, few years ago. But of course, I mean, she has no pressure. She's going out there, she has loose hand, she's hitting the ball, and she was going forward, and she did a good job. I mean, she was not shaking. She served very well, especially in the last few games.

You know, I think for her it's of course it's great to being in the next round. Hopefully she can take also all the experience through the next tournaments and next weeks.

Q. As you age, can you get to feel that way, or is that just something young people get to feel?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think it's just the young people (smiling). I wish, but I think it's playing without completely pressure, it's, in this position, impossible, but I wish (smiling).

Q. The last few months of the level of tennis that you have been able to play since the grass court season, do you feel that it has invigorated or reinspired or just kind of tapped into a different energy for you at this point?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I think I played so many matches in the last few weeks, and I won so many close matches. That gives me for sure confidence.

Of course I wish to be in the next round here, but I will take a lot of positive things to the next tournaments and to getting ready for the next ones. But, yeah, it's great to see that I'm back, that I have the joy on court, that I can play good tennis again, you know, that I can still win against the best players, so of course it's a better feeling than at the beginning of the year.