THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2022

Tatjana Maria

Press Conference

T. MARIA/J. Ostapenko

5-7, 7-5, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Just give us your thoughts on a great match today.

TATJANA MARIA: Yeah, it was amazing. I feel great. I mean, for the moment there are no words for the feeling what I have. So, yeah, it's really special.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. As a parent myself, I can't imagine being a professional tennis player, but I could imagine being in early, mid 30s, two children, not having made the fourth round of a slam before, thinking, Okay, maybe time to do something else. I'm curious, what kept you coming back and what convinced you?

TATJANA MARIA: There's always the belief that I can do it. I mean, that's why I came back after the first one. It's why I came back after the second one. If not, if I don't believe I can do these things, then I would not be here. So there's always this believing and keep going and improving and trying my best at the end.

Yeah, I mean, I'm now in the quarterfinal of Wimbledon, so it's really amazing for me. This means also that you always have to keep going. Doesn't matter how old you are, doesn't matter how many kids you have, you just have to keep going and to believe in yourself (smiling).

Q. Did you say you practiced this morning with your daughter?

TATJANA MARIA: Yes.

Q. Is she aware of the significance of what you're doing? What does she make of what you're doing here?

TATJANA MARIA: No, I think she knows that we are playing a Grand Slam, and she knows how important this tournament is.

But for sure, I mean, to be quarterfinals is something amazing, but I will stay the same person than before. So nothing changed for my family or nothing changed for our daily program, let's say. We are still at 8:30 in the morning in the indoor courts and she's practicing. I'm still over there, yeah, doing the same things what I do always. It will not change my personality.

Q. I want to ask you about switching to the single-handed backhand. Why did you do that? Was grass ever in your mind when you changed that shot?

TATJANA MARIA: Yeah, my husband changed my backhand because when I was younger, I really played only slice on my backhand side. I really never used my two-hand backhand.

He said to me when I was pregnant, I would like to change your backhand to a one-hand backhand.

I said, Okay, at least I have my slice in case it doesn't work (smiling).

No, I trust him to 100%. He did a great job because I feel I never played anything else. So for me the one-hand backhand, I played my one-hand backhand for my life. It's a good shot for me and it's super important.

Q. Big day for German tennis. You're going to be playing Jule Niemeier in the next round. Your thoughts on your next opponent. How does it feel in terms of German tennis?

TATJANA MARIA: I guess it's nice for German tennis that we are playing in the quarterfinals against each other because one of us will be in the semifinal. So one player from Germany will be in the semifinal.

I don't know Jule really well. It's funny actually because we played Bundesliga together in one team. I never really saw her playing, I mean, closely. For her it's also something amazing. To be in the quarterfinal in Wimbledon, it's the same like for me: it's amazing.

I guess, yeah, we try to enjoy today, this day, and then we going to have a nice match hopefully in two days.

Q. What are your thoughts on the opportunity you have and maybe your ability to appreciate it more now than 10 years ago?

TATJANA MARIA: I mean, yeah, maybe I can appreciate it more because I know that there are more important things in life than playing a tennis match. For me, like I said, it's super great. I do everything out there to live my dreams at the end.

But I know also there are more important things outside. I know my family is the most important for me and my two kids. Later when I go over there, I take care of my two kids and everything will be normal and that's it. For me, it doesn't change anything on my outside.

I'm a mom. I love to be a mom. I love my two kids.

Q. How do you see yourself, if at all, differently as a player today on the court than you did years ago?

TATJANA MARIA: You know, I mean, I keep improving all the time. I mean, it's improvement also like a tennis player, also mentally.

I think my husband, he's doing a great job giving me a lot of confidence because he is the one who really believes in me from the beginning till the end. I mean, he's the one who, yeah... Even when I started to play tennis, there were a lot of people who didn't believe in me because when you get kids, automatically people think, Okay, she got a child, so that's it.

He is the one actually who was always on my side and he's the one who believes in me every single second. Yeah, he's a big supporter for me.

Q. You mentioned the importance of believing in yourself, where did you derive the confidence to believe in such a unique path?

TATJANA MARIA: I mean, it's also really hard work. Yeah, working really hard. It's not coming from nowhere, let's say. We are outside on the court every day. We are working. Yeah, like I said, we are trying to improve.

But maybe in myself there's this feeling now, Okay, I can do it, I can go for it. I mean, yeah, sometimes little things can change a whole match. It's, like, really little parts.

Yeah, I always believed that at one point I can show what I can do. I'm happy that today, I mean, I came back when I was down, so I'm proud of myself.

Q. You said nothing will change off the court. What is the routine for your family off the court in preparation for matches? What have you been doing every day?

TATJANA MARIA: That's a secret (smiling).

No, my daughter, she's practicing every morning here in the indoor courts. It depends when I warm up. Today I warmed up at 10:30, so at 8:30 we arrived at the indoor courts, we practiced with her little friend. Then we go on the other side, I practice. Then I went to prepare my match.

They are still over there. I will have my massage after and I will pick them up, then we are driving back to the hotel and we spend time together.

I mean, the days are flying here, I have the feeling. Yeah, but that's it. Simple (smiling).