BNP PARIBAS OPEN

October 12, 2021

Jelena Ostapenko

Press Conference

J. OSTAPENKO/I. Swiatek

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Go ahead and give us your quick thoughts on how that match went.

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yeah, I'm happy in general with the way I played. I knew I have to play aggressive and to fight for every point, and I think I did it pretty well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I didn't get to see as much of your match as I wanted because the matches are going quickly, so I'm just curious, with Iga having such a complete game and such a wide variety of shot selection, what did you plan to do going in there today? How well do you think you executed?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I think I played very well. I didn't give her any chances to play, because I think I was playing very aggressive and took the time away from her so she couldn't do much against me.

Yeah, that was just the plan for the game, just to play my game and be aggressive, and I think I did it pretty well today.

Q. We talk about it as the battle between two young Roland Garros champions. Was that an additional motivating factor today?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, I just tried to not think about it. I knew she's a good player and I have to play well against her. I just tried to enjoy the moment here.

It's last couple of tournaments this year, and I didn't try to think too much. Just play my game and enjoy the moment.

Q. You played really well I thought against Putintseva. It just happened to go three sets. You're striking the ball really well and seem to have good control over your power. Is it easier to control the balls this year around with the fall, now that we are playing Indian Wells at this time of the year as opposed to the spring? Normally in the spring everybody is complaining about the balls flying around quite a bit. Seems like a lot of the power players are managing the balls a little bit better this time around.

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, against Putintseva, I think the ball was flying a little bit from my side and I was missing like by little bit. I was doing everything right, but the ball was flying.

I think today was completely different. The ball was not flying at all, I think. It was a bit hard to get used to it, because I think there was maybe like 10, 15 degrees Celsius difference with the weather, so I needed a little bit of time to get used to it. Because against Putintseva, it was flying so much and today was not flying that much.

But I think I adjusted well. Just in the beginning it was a little bit hard.

Q. Look ahead, you'll play either Leylah Fernandez or Shelby Rogers. They are into a third set. Can you talk a bit about what the challenges would be? A little bit different styles of opponents probably there, but how do you see that matchup?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, again, as I said, just to play my game. Against Leylah, I played at Wimbledon so I kind of know the way she plays. Of course she played really well last couple tournaments, but, yeah, I just try to focus more on myself.

Against Shelby also the same. She's a great player but try to focus more on myself and play my game. I think if I play well my game, then I'm a dangerous player.

Q. A couple of things. Today you had to defend like four out of seven breakpoints going into a quarterfinals with, as you mentioned, players that are really upping their game. How much does that give you confidence? Also, you mentioned the word "joy" a couple of times, that you're really enjoying. Are you at a level where your time on court is just feeling good and you're just getting more enjoyment out of being on court than you perhaps did a little while ago?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I think I was thinking too much before, and now I'm just trying to enjoy the moment and just try not to think about anything. Just play the game, enjoy it, and if I play well, I'm a dangerous player and I can, I think, beat anyone.