THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2022

Jule Niemeier

Press Conference

J. NIEMEIER/H. Watson

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Give us your thoughts on your match today.

JULE NIEMEIER: Yeah, I think I played a great match today. Yeah, the atmosphere was amazing and I'm really happy I could get the win today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. At this time last year you lost in Wimbledon qualifying. If someone could have told you that day you would be a quarterfinalist this year, what would you have said?

JULE NIEMEIER: Well, I would have taken it.

Yeah, I came here, I just wanted to win my first round after losing in Paris. Now, being in the quarterfinal in Wimbledon, I don't know, I'm speechless. It just feels not real.

Yeah, I'm just so happy.

Q. What have you learnt most about yourself and your game in the first year?

JULE NIEMEIER: In the first couple of matches against top players, I was hesitating a bit. I thought I have to play something special. If you play those players, you just have to stay there. You have to play every point. You have to stay consistent, just focus on every point.

That's what I'm trying to do now, to just really use the experience and, yeah, just go there. Of course, I'm showing respect, but, yeah, I'm just trying to win every match.

Q. How would you describe the opportunity you've had so far and that you have now?

JULE NIEMEIER: Winning the tournament or...

Well, I'm just playing match by match. I don't think about anything else. I'm not thinking about winning the tournament 'cause that's too far away.

Yeah, I just want to focus on my next match and then I will see how far I'll come here in the tournament. Of course, it has been a great journey so far. I'm looking forward to the next match.

Q. For those who are not yet familiar with your game, how would you describe yourself as a player?

JULE NIEMEIER: I'm trying to be creative on court. Of course, I can play fast, I can play slower, use the slice, dropshots. That's what I'm trying to do, just mix it up a bit on court so the opponent doesn't know what is coming.

Yeah, it's working. Of course, especially on grass, using the slice and the dropshot, is pretty effective.

Q. When you were growing up, was there anybody that you looked up to? Did you have a tennis hero?

JULE NIEMEIER: Well, for me Rafa is the best player. Of course, Roger and Djokovic have done a lot for tennis. But for me personally, Rafa is, yeah, like on top of everyone. Yeah, I just love how he's playing, how he is as a person. He's so humble. Yeah, he's just enjoying his tennis right now.

Yeah, so...

Q. There are a lot of German female players when you were growing up. Did any of those inspire you?

JULE NIEMEIER: You know, I'm pretty young. I haven't seen them playing, so... It's pretty tough for me to take them as an idol, let's say.

Q. How would you describe Tatjana's story, knowing how long she's been on the tour, her family life, for her to get to the quarterfinals now?

JULE NIEMEIER: It's amazing, I have to say. Having two kids, traveling with two kids the whole year, it must be so tough, especially because the younger kid is not even one year. It's pretty stressful, I would say.

But, yeah, it's just incredible how they're handling all the situations. They're coming here, just the husband, the two kids and her.

Yeah, I mean, I don't know. It must be so stressful, but it's incredible how they are handling the situation.

Q. Your thoughts about facing her?

JULE NIEMEIER: I didn't think about the match yet, but I'm expecting a really good match from both of us. She's a tricky player. She's using the slice on the forehand, on the backhand. She's playing dropshots. She's, let's say, not a usual woman tennis player.

But, yeah, I'm looking forward to the match and let's see how it goes.

Q. What is your coaching setup at the moment? Last year you were working with Michael Geserer.

JULE NIEMEIER: Well, I didn't work with Michael Geserer. He's still like the mentor. He will be the manager. But I have my own coach. Michael is just the CEO of the base where I'm practicing in Regensburg. Yeah, I'm working with Christopher Kas now. We started in April.

Yeah, it's going pretty well. He's a really nice guy. He's always in a good mood. He's really trying to push, just try to enjoy the life on tour, which is really important 'cause the life is pretty stressful. You just have to try to focus on something else. That's what he's trying to do.

He's a former player. He knows what I'm going through on court. He has a lot of experience and that's what he's trying, yeah, to give me.