QATAR TOTAL ENERGIES OPEN

February 24, 2022

Anett Kontaveit

Press Conference

A. KONTAVEIT/O. Jabeur

6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: You have been having very good results recently. Tell us more about your match today and about your success lately.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: (Microphone muted.)

...just kept my level and tried to fight for every point and just kept on the game the whole match, my focus and everything.

Was very happy with the performance today. I think overall with the results, I just feel like I have a bit more self-confidence since, I don't know, half a year or so. Been very happy that I have managed to produce a consistent level of tennis and, you know, playing with the best players in the world and putting myself in these situations that, you know, going deep in tournaments consistently.

Yeah, just very happy with that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Another semifinal, a great win. On today's match, it looked like there were moments there where you really did look like you were having a blast on court, kind of laughing with the partisan crowd and everything. Talk a little bit about what made today fun for you.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I think Ons is just such a great player, and she makes these incredible shots sometimes. You know, sometimes it's just too good.

I was also playing really well, I felt like, so I thought the level was very good. I felt like, you know, she was hitting an ace, I was hitting a winner, she was hitting a good serve, I was hitting a winner. At times it was just kind of fun because I felt like the level was really good and I was playing really well.

Yeah, and of course there were people, a lot of people supporting her, but it was sort of -- because I think we have played without the crowd, I think I talked about it a little bit, we have played without the crowd so much, and I know how nice it is to have people like backing you. So I was actually, like, it was so nice that they were backing Ons and, like, I actually like sort of enjoyed it.

I was trying to take the energy from the crowd, although, you know, they were not, most of them were not cheering for me, but it was just sort of like this nice energy on the court.

You know, I have said this so much: I think Ons is a great person and really good tennis player. So I was just ready for a tough match. Was very happy with the way I was playing. I think I was just having a good time out there.

Q. Speaking on the level, especially in that first set, you guys were neck and neck there until you were able to get that late break. Can you just talk about, do you think you made any key adjustments in order to kind of get things on your terms from there? Or was it a bad game from her? What do you think was the difference?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I felt like I had a couple breakpoints earlier on the set on her serve and she just came up with really good points, really good serves.

I didn't feel like I was doing too much wrong. Then I just tried to focus on holding serve and just do the best that I can on her serve. Then eventually I played a few good points or she made an error somewhere, so I sort of got my nails into the game and then managed to break.

So I think I was just trying to consistently put pressure and just play the points as well as I could. You know, if I didn't win it, okay, I'll try and hold my serve. So I was just trying different things or like trying to play as consistently as possible.

I think that was what got me through the first set.

Q. Do you feel as though -- I mean, just the way you're playing, the level that you're playing, I guess obviously you had success at the Finals last year, but outside of that, this is your first semifinal at a 1000 since Miami a few years ago, so does that make this feel any different, any more special? I mean, you have been winning tournaments, but to get a big result at a big event like this.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I think I just maybe have this confidence that I can go deep every week that I'm playing, and I have this sort of -- I'm not setting these sort of mental barriers to myself that I used to do.

Yeah, I'm very happy with being in the semifinals, but I also feel like I can still go deeper, I can still do more. So I'm not too satisfied yet with this result, and I feel like if I play well or if I'm consistent, I have a chance with anyone.

I'm really happy that I'm playing, bringing a good level of tennis consistently every tournament. I think that's something that I'm just most pleased with.

Q. Looking ahead, you're on an eight-match win streak. Ostapenko now is on a nine-match win streak. You're the last one that beat her in St. Petersburg semis. How much have you been paying attention to how she's playing right now? What is the challenge of unwinding a player playing as well as she is right now, hitting the ball as well as she is right now?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I think it's going to be very tough. I mean, it was a tough match in St. Pete, as well. She definitely has a lot of confidence. So I'm just going to have to, like, try and be as tough as possible and just fight for everything, be as consistent as possible.

Yeah, it's going to be a difficult match, for sure. She's playing super aggressive. So I'm just going to have to try and do my best and whatever happens, happens. I'm just going to fight for every point, and I'm not too worried or focused on the result or who wins or who loses. Just going to have to fight very hard for every point and play like a consistent match.

Q. Another great victory. We will have St. Petersburg semifinals rematch in Doha. Ostapenko just finished her match in two sets against Muguruza. Can you tell us how outdoor conditions can change your game play against Jelena tomorrow, and what kind of differences should we expect from the rematch?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: You know, I'm not sure how much that's going to change. It's still on a hard court. I think she's still playing extremely aggressive.

I'm going to try and take my chances when I can and also be aggressive when I can but just try and be as consistent as possible and make her hit a lot of shots and just run for everything, be physically very active and present. I think that's going to be the key for me tomorrow.

Q. You're already in top 5 in live WTA rankings. You can enter the top 3 if you win the whole tournament, the whole thing. What are the feelings after realizing step by step that you're becoming one of the biggest forces in WTA Tour?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: I don't know. I don't really think like that, but I think I just have the confidence that I was lacking like half a year ago. I feel like every week that I'm playing tournaments I feel like I have a good chance to go deep and deep in the tournament and just, yeah, just feel very confident on the court. I think I have this bigger self-belief that I had before.

Yeah, I think I'm just very proud that I have been playing on this consistent level, on this high level consistently, and beating good players and putting myself in these situations where, you know, there is so much to play for. I think it's just really exciting.