DUBAI DUTY FREE TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

February 19, 2022

Jelena Ostapenko

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium

Press Conference

J. OSTAPENKO/V. Kudermetova

6-0, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on the win. Talk about your two finals today.

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yeah, I mean, I'm really happy with the title. I think in general the whole week I was playing really well, had some great wins.

Yeah, I think especially today I was very focused and really into the match. Yeah, I played well. I was dictating from the beginning so it was hard for her.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you plan on celebrating?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, it's really great to win the singles title, of course, being in finals of doubles. I was not expecting because I had tough matches in singles. I was playing doubles for fun, but making finals was great.

Not much time to celebrate. Monday I have to play in Doha. Probably have to do it after.

Q. When you went back to the dressing room with your partner, what was the chat you had?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: You mean before doubles?

Q. Yes.

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Just enjoy it because my partner said that I was like - how you say - she didn't expect I'm going to try too hard to play doubles because I had such a tough matches in singles. She respects me a lot for doing this. Not many players are going to do that.

She was just really happy that we were in the finals. We're really good friends so we enjoy time on the court.

Q. The progress you made over the week, is it going to drive you to push harder, or to you take it game by game?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Just take game by game. Of course, my goals are big: to win in another Grand Slam and to be back in top 10. Of course, I didn't expect that I will have such a great beginning of the year. Not like I didn't expect, but I never thought about it.

I did a good pre-season. I was working hard. I think, yeah, I'm playing well and getting some confidence, which is great.

Q. Congratulations on getting your voice back.

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Not so much (laughter).

Q. The whole emphasis of getting to the final, the goals, how emotionally does it feel to get over that line? You talked about taking it a game at a time. Now that you have the title, do you have time to go, I've done it?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: When I'm in the final, I always want to win because, as many people say, people remember only winners. It's always, like, annoying to lose in the final. I really was focusing, really ready for a battle today. Very focused the whole match I think, especially in the beginning. I mean, I played really well.

Yeah, it's just great to finish the week with a title, especially in singles.

Q. We couldn't recall another time when you were facing the same opponent in the doubles finals straightaway. To face the same opponent, come out on the losing side, what is that like?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Not very often you have to play singles and doubles against the same person. Yeah, I mean, I think I was really happy after my singles. I was on a very positive note, how you say it. But I think Veronika, she wanted to win at least doubles because obviously it's not the best thing to lose in the final, to go to the final and lose it. At least she has a doubles title.

Yeah, of course for me was very important to win in singles, which I did, so I'm happy.

Q. How can you keep up the momentum? 12 games in five days.

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, I had so many games and I didn't have any days off after St. Petersburg because I made semis there.

Yeah, I'm just going to play Doha before Indian Wells, take some days off, recharge. But now I feel good, honestly. Like today I felt great on the court, especially in my singles.

Q. How does an athlete, having played so many games, reset yourself, recharge your body?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I don't know. You wake up in the morning and you don't have to go for the practice, you just chill all day. Sometimes it helps. Sometimes you go somewhere to do some fun things, go to the cinema, go for friends, go for a walk, go for a walk with a dog, something funny, something nice.

In general the thing when your brain rests is when you wake up you don't have to go for practice, you are not stressed anymore.