BNP PARIBAS OPEN

October 10, 2021

Aliaksandra Sasnovich

Press Conference

A. SASNOVICH/S. Halep

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you talk about the match.

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: The match was very tough. Simona is a big fighter, yeah. She has I think one of the strongest character on tour. She's a champion of a few Grand Slams, yeah.

Yeah, was a very good, intense match. I play really well. Like I'm really happy with the way I play with my mental part of my game. So it was, yeah, strong. Level of the match was high, in my opinion, yeah. Serve, from the baseline, long rallies. Simona, she has a very good fitness. So, yeah, I should run like 20, 25 shots, balls, left-right, left-right.

Was not easy, but I'm happy. I check my fitness that I have a not bad.

Q. A-plus for fitness?

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: Yeah. I will put plus to my coach.

Q. Do you feel with each of your rounds you have played better?

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: I think today I played better. I really played better. Even compared to the first round, but I play against Serrano. I lost against her on the clay courts. She's also for me not easy opponent. All the balls back. You have to run, you have to fight, be ready for this tennis.

Yeah, from match to match I play better and better. I hope for the next match I'll play the same or even better.

Q. Are you surprised of this consistent high level you've played in the three matches so far? Did you feel something special might happen this week?

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: I'm more calm. I'm just came to this tournament. I love the atmosphere here. I love the hotel. I love all things. I love the staff. This is the best tournament to play in front of the big crowd. That's what I love, too.

I just enjoy. Just, yeah, where I am now in this moment.

Q. Are you treating yourself to chocolate every night, Godiva cake?

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: I don't have time today, yeah, for chocolate Godiva cake. During the day, don't worry, I eat chocolate much. Not drink, no, no. Yeah, after.

Q. You're going to play Vika for the first time. You never met each other.

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: No, we never play against each other. But when I check the draw, for example, if I lost yesterday against Raducanu, four Grand Slam champion: Kvitova, Azarenka, Raducanu and Halep. Unbelievable draw.

What did you ask?

Q. A tough draw, now you're going to play another Grand Slam champion. What is your relationship like with her?

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: As well, she has like Simona one of the strongest character on tour. She's a big fighter. I love the style she plays tennis. She has a nice plan with each player she plays.

For example, if I need to do plan, like I play tomorrow against, like, okay Cirstea. I'm going to watch how Azarenka play against her because, in my opinion, she has the best plan how she need to play against the players. It will be very interesting, interesting match.

I have day off tomorrow. I will prepare and have my own plan how to play Vika. Yeah, it will be very interesting. It's nice. For the long time we are on tour and I never play against her so it's interesting. Two Belorussian player in the fourth round, it's nice.

Q. What does it feel like to be a part of this golden generation of Belorussian talent?

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: Yeah, it's very nice. I think probably soon Shymanovic, she stop for some time, now she's come back. We have from the boys Ivashka, Gerasimov, they are very strong, like top hundred, Ivashka top 50. We have a strong school. A lot of coaches from Belarus. Some of them went to America. They work there. Some of them stays. We have a strong school.

I think each of these player are not the same, same like the French players. They all are different. All are unique. Same I think, yeah.

When we practice we see in each other like how they practice so hard, and you need to practice as well hard as they. If you're not, you're not going to be where are them. Like she's here, I'm want to be there.

And we help each other to improve, I think.

Q. Do you think Vika was very influential in terms of being the first Belorussian No. 1, making history for the country? Did her success help this generation with belief?

ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH: Yeah, of course. I watch a lot of her matches when I was young. I was always supporting her when I was young, yeah. Was nice to watch nice character, nice game, yeah.

I think a lot of young kids start to play tennis because of Vika or Aryna or me. It's nice. It's very nice. Tennis comes more and more. I'm happy, yeah. I want more people from Belarus be on tour. We have strong school, strong players, yeah. It's nice.