ROLAND GARROS

May 23, 2022

Elsa Jacquemot

Press Conference

E. JACQUEMOT/H. Watson

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: First reaction after this first victory in a Grand Slam here? After a day that has been positive for French players, you're in the list of French qualified for the second round.

ELSA JACQUEMOT: I'm very happy. It's my first victory in a Grand Slam. I had a lot of pressure and a lot of crowd for this first match.

Having Nelson Monfort coming after my match, and two years before he was here after my final in junior, it brings back happy memories.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. What has changed since this year and the previous years where you didn't go through the first round?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: I gained experience. It's not my first Roland Garros, and I have the chance of having wildcard to the main draw. So I knew what to expect in terms of pressure.

I worked a lot physically and tennistically, so I think that my game has improved. I think it's a whole.

Q. In the second set, there was this very important break after a very long game of 12 minutes. How did you feel this game? How did you leave this game? It's a particular moment.

ELSA JACQUEMOT: It was the first game of the second set, so being broken right from the start, it was not simple after such a long game.

So I said to myself, Stay focused. The most difficult for me was the weather, because it was raining, the balls were heavy. I like to put speed and power in the balls, and I think it helped her because I had difficulty putting power because the balls were heavy. But in the end it ended up well.

Q. I was talking about when you broke her to lead 5-3 in the second set, and that game was very long. I think it was a very tough game that lasted 12 minutes. So I was referring more to that game.

ELSA JACQUEMOT: The game where I broke her was very positive for me because it was a long game. I played well and I was very happy to win this game.

Q. You talked about the rain. The fact that the rain could return, did it put you under pressure? Did you say, I have to conclude and stay on this momentum?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: I tried to stay as focused as possible, because when you see rain coming and you're leading, you're always afraid that the match will be stopped, we have to go inside and then come back, so it's not easy for focus. So I was happy to stay focused on my match.

Q. You had a strap on the left thigh. Was it successful? Is there nothing serious?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: No, nothing serious. I injured at the Lagardère tournament in my quarterfinals. I was not able to play in Strasbourg. I had a wildcard of the main draw in Strasbourg, and I couldn't play Strasbourg. I didn't play Strasbourg because I wanted to have five days off to be in full shape. Everything happened well. No pain.

Q. You said there was a bit of pressure with the audience, but how did you feel when you were serving for the match for your first victory at Roland Garros? What happened? What went through your mind? Did you focus on your game? Did you have special thoughts?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: It's true that finishing a match is not obvious, especially since it was my first victory in a Grand Slam.

So I was tensed, I was under pressure, but I was pushed forward by the audience. For me, it's a great support. I loved the atmosphere, and so things happened positively for me and I managed this very well.