ROLAND GARROS

May 22, 2022

Leylah Fernandez

Press Conference

L. FERNANDEZ/K. Mladenovic

6-0, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Tough match against a home favorite on a big court. How do you feel you did out there today?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Yes, it was definitely a tough match, but I'm very glad that I was able to fight for every point and just stay focused on myself. Kiki, she's a very, very good player who has a lot of experience on that court.

Like I said, I'm very happy that I was able to fight through the tough moments and just stay focused on myself.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. What has changed between the first set where you dominated and the beginning of the second when your game was dominated by her game?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I started making a bit more errors on my forehand, but she also raised her level. She put more balls in the court. She was more aggressive.

I think it was a good second set we played, so we really fought very hard. We just tried to give a good show to the audience.

Q. Can you talk about the audience, the chants in favor of Kristina. How did you live this atmosphere?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Honestly it was very difficult, but I'm very happy that I was able to play against such a crowd, because I always had the dream of having a crowd against myself. Having that experience of the French crowd that was chanting, shouting, it was a great experience, like a football match.

So it was quite amusing. I just tried to think about my game and to have fun on the court, because it's not every day you have such an atmosphere. I'm very happy to have lived such a match.

Q. When you were in difficulty in the second set, what did you say to yourself? How come you won in two straight sets? You were not forced to battle one hour more and play a third set.

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I just tried to be more positive with myself, to take one point at a time and to have fun on the court, of course.

Of course the second set was a bit tougher. Kristina had two set points, so I just wanted to put the ball in the court and to find back my aggressiveness on the court.

Q. What are you expecting from this fortnight? You are so young, and after what you have lived with the US Open. What are you expecting?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I just want to have fun on the court. I want to play my best tennis in front of the audience, and of course I want to win the tournament. We'll take one match at a time.

I just want to have fun and to take a round at a time and continue improving.

Q. Regarding your second round, what do you know about Katerina Siniakova?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I know she's a great player. She likes clay so it's not going to be an easy match. I think tomorrow I will talk about that with my team a bit more about tactics, but today I will just go to the hotel, celebrate, and then get some sleep.

Q. Do you like clay, or is it a great challenge for you who are more playing well on hard courts?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: I love clay. It's a difficult surface, but I like the complexity of the surface and I try to find solutions and have fun.

Q. Sliding on the clay, is that something you love or not so much?

LEYLAH FERNANDEZ: Well, I have never learned how to slide, but each match, each tournament I sort of find my bearings and my feelings. Each match I improve, so that's what's the most important thing.