SYDNEY TENNIS CLASSIC

January 14, 2022

Anett Kontaveit

Press Conference

B. KREJCIKOVA/A. Kontaveit

0-6, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Amazing match for those of us watching. Can you talk through your thoughts and reactions to it, first.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I thought it was a very good-level match. You know, the first set I was playing very well, but I think she definitely leveled it up in the second set and started serving much better, playing more aggressive.

Yeah, then it was an extremely close match until the end. I mean, I had my chances, but she played great on the match points. I don't think there was much in it. It was an extremely close match and it was good level, and I was pretty happy with it.

Q. Speaking of the level of the match, setting aside the result, how much confidence do you take out of this first tournament, the matches that you were able to get under your belt ahead of Melbourne Park, and just today, how you were able to play down the stretch under pressure, as well, handling that? Must give you a pretty good feeling about where your game is at?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, definitely. I think everyone, you know, before their first match or before the first tournament, you don't really know how it's gonna be, how the new year is gonna start.

Definitely very happy. I mean, I played some good matches, some good tennis. I mean, the result was what it was today, but I was happy with the level and definitely a lot of positives to take from this match and this week.

Q. Everybody goes into the start of the season with doubts just because it's obvious. After this tournament, what doubts that you might have carried into Sydney do you leave behind in Sydney? In other words, which ones have quieted down in your head, do you think?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, of course, I mean, I think the main doubt was can I keep producing this level that I was producing last year? I mean, that was my main concern. I was very happy to see that I did manage to bring the level again and started the year off well with a positive mindset and was really enjoying myself out there on the court.

I mean, the match was tough. It was a battle, but I was really trying to figure out, you know, these situations and I thought it was a great match and I felt really good out there. I mean, the tough matches and the battles and the close scores, I mean, that's what makes this sport so great and so interesting to watch, for sure.

Yeah, I mean, I'm really glad that I'm enjoying myself out there and playing freely and just like left it all out there today.

Q. It looked like moments in that tiebreak you were just straight-up laughing after points, whether it was saving match points or seeing a match point come and go. I'm curious what was going on in your head in those moments?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I mean, I don't really know. I was thinking like I'll just do the best that I can and I thought we were playing like really good, serving really well, playing close points and hitting a lot of winners.

I mean, it was just -- I didn't even mind if I'd like won or lost. It was a good match. Of course, I mean, I always want to win every time I step on the court, but yeah, it was just one of those times where there was nothing in it. It was just so close.