ROLAND GARROS

May 25, 2022

Angelique Kerber

Press Conference

A. KERBER/E. Jacquemot

6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: How does it feel to be in the third round?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: Yeah, it feels good. It was not an easy match, especially in the second set, but I'm very happy to be through. Yeah, it's a good feeling to be in the third round again.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. I just wanted to ask you, obviously your game has a lot to do with tenacity and it's been the characteristic of your career through all your matches. Do you feel it's easier to fight as you have grown older, or was it the same all the time? Do you feel you fight harder now than when you were younger? If so, why?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, I think you have to fight in tennis, you know. I think it's the part of the game, as well. Everyone can play tennis. At the end, it's just one, two points which decide matches.

You know, I have it inside of me. If it's coming out of me, I playing always my best tennis, because I really want it.

Yeah, last week gives me again a lot of confidence, so I just try to take it with me. But of course, I mean, you're getting older, you have to fight so much more against the young players. There are so many good players right now on tour, and it's a new generation.

So I just try to be there and try to still improve my game and enjoying as well still my tennis.

Q. It seems to me that Roland Garros is a strange tournament for you. You either lose in the first round or get to the quarterfinals. What's going on? How can you explain that?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, I mean, everyone knows that clay is not my favorite surface. For me, it's just this year I just try to play every single match and, you know, not looking too much ahead and just, you know, trying to keep it up.

Of course it's not an easy tournament for me when you look back. But I'm not looking back right now, just trying to be in the moment and enjoying my win today, having a rest day tomorrow, and then playing the third round on Friday.

Q. We know that mental health is a big issue in tennis now. Do you think that social media, with all the hate on social media, is something very difficult to handle for players? How do you deal with that?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: It's definitely not getting easier with the social media. It's a part of the life right now, and, you know, I think it's not easy to deal with, especially when you are young, when you are new, and when you have to get used to everything around. It's not only tennis, it's also part of the game, of the job.

You know, I'm also getting through all these things. But for me I'm just trying to staying, you know, in my bubble, doing my things, not looking around, because there are so many voices, they know everything better.

For me, it's just more, you know, being with me and with my team and focusing on what I'm doing, trying to do the best I can do every single day. Just following this what I'm doing all the years.

Q. Every year you are competing, you are winning matches, you are winning tournaments. A young player comes along and wins a Grand Slam. You have won a few as well. How does it feel to be still competing, knowing that every year there is a new young player capable of winning a Grand Slam?

ANGELIQUE KERBER: You know, first of all, I'm thankful that I can still play, that I'm healthy, that I can still beating the young players, that I can be on the big stages. That's why I still doing this. You know, I'm trying to working hard and then you play for these matches when you are out there, having the crowd, feeling the energy out there.

You know, I love this sport. I play for the sport. You know, this is why I'm still here. I hope that I can still be a little bit there and, you know, playing the best tennis, enjoying the moments on and off court. Yeah.