CITI OPEN

August 5, 2022

Kaia Kanepi

Press Conference

K. KANEPI/A. Kalinskaya

6-7, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on making it to the semifinals here at Citi Open. This is your debut at the tournament. Can you talk about your quarterfinal match.

KAIA KANEPI: It was very tough match. It was so hot on the court. I think she played really well.

I don't know actually how I managed to win. Just tried to play my game, but she also played her game really well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. These conditions are pretty tough out here, so to be the first semifinalist of either tournament is pretty impressive. A couple observations, couple questions. First of all, you scored 9 out of your 12 aces in the first set alone. Then of course lost that set. What were you thinking as you head into the second set?

KAIA KANEPI: Well, not much. It was close set. I couldn't do anything anymore. I lost the set, and I tried to continue playing well.

Q. I have been following your career, and you seem to peak at the US Open every year. Are these kind of matches, these kind of conditions on these hot hard courts, is that what it takes for you to succeed at the US Open?

KAIA KANEPI: Yeah, I like actually the climate in US Open. I like the humidity. It's not that humid as here (smiling).

I like to play in the hot and humid, yeah, quite tough conditions.

Q. What are you liking in general about your tennis right now? You have been really strong throughout the week.

KAIA KANEPI: I like my serve when it goes well (smiling). Overall, I just enjoy playing. I think I feel quite good on the court and that it's fun to play like this.

Q. I know it was a long time ago now, but I'm wondering when you took your time off, I think it was before 2017-- is that right?

KAIA KANEPI: Yeah.

Q. What did you gain from that? I know it's been a while, but do you approach the game differently now after that versus before that?

KAIA KANEPI: 2017 I had an injury break, I think. I wasn't sure I'm gonna play tennis again, because I didn't treat my injury. I was so tired of this sport and traveling, and my health wasn't really well.

But I slowly started practicing, and I changed my fitness coach. The way he approached, I liked it. I liked to train, and I still like to train.

Q. What was he doing that you liked specifically?

KAIA KANEPI: We did more weights than I used to do.