THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2022

Jule Niemeier

Press Conference

J. NIEMEIER/A. Kontaveit

6-4, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Great result today. Could you just give us some initial thoughts on the match.

JULE NIEMEIER: I think all in all, it was a pretty good match today. I could handle the situation pretty well, and I'm happy with the win and with the performance.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. On paper, obviously it was your biggest win, but does it feel like your biggest win, as well?

JULE NIEMEIER: It does, yes. I mean, I played two former top-10 players before, and I knew that I had the level. It was pretty close. I lost twice in three sets.

I knew I had the level to beat those players, and I'm really happy I could do it today.

Q. What was the key of today's win?

JULE NIEMEIER: I was just staying pretty calm the whole match, I would say. I was not too emotional. I was just focusing on my game, what I have to do. And, yeah, it worked pretty good. Yeah.

Q. What was your game plan against Anett, who is obviously one of the best returners?

JULE NIEMEIER: I knew I have to serve well, and I did, because she's putting a lot of pressure with the return. And also with the strokes on baseline she's playing pretty fast and pretty flat. Yeah, I had to hit big and fast.

And, yeah, I'm happy I could move well today and I could play offensive.

Q. Big serves, razor-sharp slices, fast forehands. The BBC commentators said this girl is learning fast how to play on grass. Is it so? How do you feel?

JULE NIEMEIER: Well, yeah, probably yes. I love to play on grass. It fits to my game. I love to play slice, dropshots, going to the net.

If I'm serving well, it's tough to break it. So, yeah, and as I said before, I was serving well today, so I think it was pretty tough for her to return it, because sometimes I think you cannot see where I'm serving, which is good, which is positive. Yeah.

Q. Aside from your two match wins, what have you most enjoyed about your experience in Wimbledon?

JULE NIEMEIER: I love to play on Court 1 today. It's a great experience, and I knew even if I lose today, yeah, it's a good experience. I knew, okay, I lost two matches before against really good players, and, yeah, I took the advantage from it, and I learnt my lessons.

So I'm pretty happy I could do better today.

Q. As a young player, would you watch Wimbledon when you were growing up?

JULE NIEMEIER: Yeah, I did. Yeah (smiling).

Q. Any favorite players?

JULE NIEMEIER: Well, my favorite player is Rafa, so of course I'm trying to watch every match. Also here two days ago I think I watched his practice. So, yes, it's just nice to watch him play.

Q. That 2-Love game, it was the only service game that you had deuces on. It was a long game. After you held it, you sort of accelerated to the finish line.

JULE NIEMEIER: I think it was actually almost one of the most important games in the whole match, because I felt like we were both missing couple of balls, and, yeah, I started thinking too much in that game.

I was pretty happy I could get it, because it's important, you know, if you break someone to just hold the serve afterwards. Yeah.