ROLAND GARROS

May 25, 2022

Elsa Jacquemot

Press Conference

A. KERBER/E. Jacquemot

6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: So a couple of words, Elsa, after this match that we might have thought would be quite fast, but you resisted well in this second set with maybe you're somewhat regretful for not carrying off this set.

ELSA JACQUEMOT: Yes. Well, it was a great match on Philippe Chatrier. It's an amazing court. It wasn't easy to go onto the court. It was magical. The beginning of the match, even the first set up to 2-0, was really difficult for me because I had quite a few opportunities to mark some points on each game and I didn't mark any points.

The feeling that when you're on the court and the court is super big and there are loads of people and you can't mark any points, it's really tough.

I didn't let things go. I said I'm going to fight until the end. I didn't get far in the tiebreak. But, yeah, I was beaten and congratulations to her.

Q. What's it like to play a player like Kerber who has won three times in the Grand Slam? How did you prepare the match on Chatrier?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: Well, I used to watch Kerber on the TV when I was little, and to say that I was playing against Kerber, yesterday I said to myself, tomorrow I'm going to play against Kerber.

Well, it's really something because when you were a kid you used to watch her on the TV and she was No. 1 and you say to yourself, you're going to play against her.

Well, it's quite something. But I think that I managed this quite well because I only had one desire. It was to win. And she plays very well.

Q. She had some kind words for you on the court, saying that maybe you're one of the future stars of women's tennis. I don't know if you heard. But what's it like to receive such a compliment from such a player?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: No, I didn't hear that because when I left I went to the physio and I didn't hear her speak. But I was told that, yes, she said that I had everything needed to make a big champion and it's a really kind. It's very touching. And, yes, it feels good.

So even playing that sort of match, not with regard to what she said, even though it's really kind, but when you play matches like that and I see that I do have the right level, then it makes me want to push myself even harder to be able to feel those sorts of feelings and emotions again.

Q. The fact that you were handicapped, what happened in the second set? Why did you ask the doctor to step in?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: Well, I asked for the physio to come onto the court because I have a blister beneath my foot because there was a lot of running and therefore my left foot was hurting, but it didn't stop me from playing.

Q. It has nothing to do with your thigh?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: No, nothing at all.

Q. Does this launch the season differently?

ELSA JACQUEMOT: Yes, before coming here I had a kid who showed me a photo of her and myself just one year ago, so one year ago at Roland Garros. And it really moved me because I could see the progression in one year.

And I must say that I didn't think that I was going to play on Phillip Chatrier, I didn't think I would have this experience in one year's time. I'm going to be training even harder, even though I'm already training hard, so that I can have that wonderful experience again, because I adored the audience, they were there for me, they supported me a lot, it really helped me, and I love this kind of emotion, I'm very lucky.