WTA FINALS

November 14, 2021

Anett Kontaveit

Press Conference

G. MUGURUZA/A. Kontaveit

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Anett, can you give us your thoughts on the match this evening.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I think Garbine played a great match. She was very aggressive, just very on it from the first point. I think I made way too many unforced errors. I mean, I don't think I played a very good match. I just wish I could have done a better job today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You played both of your earlier matches outdoors, obviously, but under the sun. This was your first night match. Do you think that had any impact in terms of the conditions out there? Seemed like you were hitting the ball long quite a bit early.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I mean, I think it was definitely a new experience. I'm very glad I got to do that. It was a great time to have this experience I think. I mean, yeah, it was something to get used to.

If I happen to play at night again, I'll definitely have to go out there and just practice and work on that length issue that I had today, just try and fix whatever I was doing for the next match.

Q. Before the tournament you mentioned you had gone up in tension because of the conditions. Changing tensions, do you think that would solve any of the length issues, as it were?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I think it could maybe help a little bit. I don't want to go up, like, too much. I think my arm would just fall off (smiling).

Yeah, that's something I'll have to try, just talk to Dmitry about it. Maybe watch the match, see what I could have done differently on those shots, really I think analyze it a little bit more.

Q. What is your opinion about the participation of many players that this is the first time, their first time in this tournament like you, Iga, Sakkari? What is your opinion about the level you are showing in this tournament?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I mean, it's our first time, but I think we've had a very good year all of us. I mean, for me it's very exciting. I think we're all really motivated to be here. It's great that there's these new faces. Maybe makes watching tennis a little bit more interesting.

Q. What is your opinion about the Mexican fans? You're from Estonia, a country so far away from Mexico. Today many people supported you. What is your opinion about Mexican fans?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, the support actually has been really amazing. I've felt really welcome here. Yeah, today of course I think it was a full house or a full house. It was really exciting to play in front of so many people.

Also I think we're all very grateful after such a long time with playing with no fans to have this atmosphere, to have people calling our name in the crowd, just being excited to watch tennis. I think it's incredible. It just gives so much to the sport.

Q. Do you think Mexico has a good environment as many other countries that has Grand Slams or other important tournaments?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I think the environment is great. I think people love to come watch and just cheer for us. There's so many people asking for autographs. I think it's great.

They've done this event really well. Glad to see there's so many people coming to support, really enjoying watching tennis.

Q. Looking ahead, what do you take out of the group stages and the three matches that you played here into the knockout round?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I think I played a very good two matches. Have a lot to learn from today's match. I mean, I'm very happy that I managed to get to the semifinals. Haven't played many round-robin tournaments before other than Zhuhai. Zhuhai didn't go so well for me, so I'm definitely very excited to be through, get two matches in two sets against the top players in the world. I think have to be very happy about that.

Q. You will play either Maria or Aryna, two different types of opponents. Talk through what you will expect from each.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I mean, both of them are playing great tennis. Aryna is very aggressive. She hits the ball very hard. I mean, I think it would be a very tough match. Maria's had such a fantastic year. I'm always cheering for her if I'm not playing against her. I think it would be very tough either way.

Also I've had an incredible end of the year. I've been feeling very good on the court most days. I'm excited for another challenge, excited to get back on the court tomorrow and think about the things that went wrong today, just play a better match in the semifinals.

Q. With how you're playing, how you played the last two and a half months, are you looking forward to the season being over or do you wish you could just keep playing?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I think it's serious time for the season to be over. I mean, it almost feels like I've been playing for three years non-stop. I mean, after this, of course, very focused on the next match hopefully, too. But definitely after this, I'm two hands ready for a holiday.

Q. What do you consider that have been your keys during this year to achieve the WTA Finals and this great season?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I think I've been very consistent in my matches. I've been consistently playing very good tennis. Just really I think the main thing is I've managed to somehow enjoy being on the court, playing matches, being competitive. I think towards the end of the year that's what really brought me the main success.

Q. Having this year, how do you see the future?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I mean, I think I achieved one of my big goals, to get to the top 10. I have to definitely set new goals, dream bigger, just work on my game and keep improving. I think good things can come of that.