THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2022

Harmony Tan

Press Conference

H. TAN/K. Boulter

6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on today's match.

HARMONY TAN: I think I'm just happy to be on the second week (smiling). That's it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. What were your expectations before the tournament? If I had told you that you would beat Serena Williams in round 1 and win two more matches, what would you have said?

HARMONY TAN: For me it was impossible, you know, to beat Serena for the first round. I don't believe it.

Today it was a great match for me, because Katie, normally she plays really good on grass. I was, like, It will be a tough match today, and every match is really hard for me.

Q. You played in Gaiba in your last tournament, and the ball didn't really bounce. What was that experience like? What was it like coming to Wimbledon and playing on these courts?

HARMONY TAN: It was not a grass court. I think it was soccer court (smiling). In Gaiba, I just play like serve and volley, return and volley. When the balls didn't bounce, you cannot play really good. Didn't feel the ball when I play on this week.

Q. So it must have felt good to then come to Wimbledon, this tournament?

HARMONY TAN: When I came to Wimbledon, I say that, Oh, that's a really good grass court. There is bounce. Everything normal. So I was really happy.

Q. When you saw that the match was going to be played on No. 2 court at 11:00 a.m., did you think that was better for you than playing a Brit on Centre Court a bit later in the day?

HARMONY TAN: Yes, of course, because when you play a Brit on Centre Court, I think there is a lot of people for her. I like to play on a small court (smiling).

I like to play first match also, you know, because I don't wait all the day.

Q. The conditions, it's quite windy and quite gusty. Obviously it's the same for both players when you're serving, but it felt to me that it also was good for your game, as well, because the lobs and the slice were even more effective than they were against Serena.

HARMONY TAN: Yeah, I think it was good for me, because, you know, against Serena, at the second set there is the roof. It was really hard to play against her, because it was faster. I really like when it's slower.

Q. When you were younger, you obviously have a different game style to a lot of players. Did you ever have coaches or the Federation who doubted that your game style would work and tried to change it?

HARMONY TAN: Yeah, when I was young, they told me that I cannot be really good player with this game, so it was really tough for me. I didn't have some help, and financially it was really hard.

But there is one person who believe in me. It was Nathalie Tauziat when I was 18, and we work on that game. I think it works today (smiling).

Q. We don't know yet who your next opponent will be, but I'd like to ask you about each one separately. First, Coco Gauff. If you do play Gauff, what do you think the keys to the match would be against her?

HARMONY TAN: I don't know yet, because I didn't know her much really. I will ask maybe my coach to have a tactic against her.

But she's a really, really good player. I saw her in Roland Garros. She do final, I think, yeah. If I play Coco, yeah, it will be a really good match for me, for my experience.

Q. And Amanda? If you play her after the experience you already had on a different surface, what do you think the story would be for that match?

HARMONY TAN: I play Amanda in Roland Garros three years ago when she make semifinal in Roland Garros, and I was really surprised with her game, because every ball was super strong and everything was really hard for me when I played her.

So we will see how can I play if I play against Amanda.

Q. Were you surprised at how Katie played today? Were you expecting it to be more difficult? Did you see any reason why she sort of...

HARMONY TAN: Yes, I was really surprised, because I think I play a good tactic against her, because I don't play too strong against Katie, because she played really hard and every ball was really hard. She serves really good.

So I just, you know, return her serve like I can, and play some slice, some just dropshot, volleys, and everything works today.

I think she don't like my game. (Laughter.)

Q. Did you feel less pressure because it's her home Grand Slam and not yours, do you think?

HARMONY TAN: I think it was really hard for her because she play at home. It was our first third round I think for both. I was really cool today.

Q. If there were points at this tournament you would be around 75th in the world. What are your thoughts that despite your great Wimbledon you may still have to qualify for the US Open?

HARMONY TAN: I know for US Open the cut will be really hard, because I only have one tournament before the cut, so I will play an ITF and 60K after Wimbledon.

But, I mean, it's a Grand Slam. I really enjoy. There is no points, but, you know, when you play a Grand Slam, I don't care. It's a Grand Slam.