US OPEN

August 30, 2021

Angelique Kerber

Press Conference

A. KERBER/D. Yastremska

3-6, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Could you describe how you felt about today's match and how you feel about winning now going into the second round.

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, it was tough match. Obviously I'm happy that I won the big fight today. I mean, yeah, I think the first set she played really well. Second set I played a little bit better than in the first set. The third set was a little bit a roller coaster. I was trying to fighting and coming back, especially after being down 3-5.

Yeah, I'm very happy that I won a really tight match 7-6 in the third. It's a good feeling to, yeah, still surviving and being in the second round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk through the match a little bit. Obviously a tough one. How did you turn that one around?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I think, yeah, it was the key in the third set. I mean, when I was down, I was trying to playing point by point and fighting until the last one. It was a little bit a roller coaster.

In the third set, when we played the tiebreak, everything can happen. I was just trying to staying focused, playing every single ball as good as I can. I think that it was more for me that I won it mentally today.

Yeah, I'm happy about that, how I come back in the third set.

Q. I would presume a match like today experience came through. Earlier in your career, do you think you would have gotten more frustrated with that power game, going for everything all the time, maybe mentally check out a little bit?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, I was really trying to staying in the match, you know, just trying to stay calm, in my zone, and not thinking about something else. I think that was also really important, that I was at the end of the match just playing point by point.

But she played such aggressive tennis, and the balls are so fast. Yeah, in the first set she was just pushing me to just bringing the balls back. She played the winners.

I was just trying to, you know, moving good, bringing a lot of balls back, yeah, also playing a little bit with my experience.

Q. First round, to be tested like that, what do you take out of this win?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: I take a lot of confidence with me, that I can win like really close matches again against good opponents. Also turning around matches again like today. So this is actually which gives me a lot of confidence also for the next matches here.

Q. Aga is here. Have you seen her?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yes, I saw her already.

Q. How was it catching up with her?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: It was nice to see her after, I don't know, like two years now. Seeing her doing well with her baby. It's nice that she is around (smiling).