CITI OPEN

August 7, 2022

Kaia Kanepi

Press Conference

L. SAMSONOVA/K. Kanepi

4-6, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: A great week here in Citi Open. I know it wasn't the result you wanted, but can you talk to us about the finals match.

KAIA KANEPI: Yeah, it was amazing week. I enjoyed being in Washington and playing here. Today's match was tough. I think she served better than me today, and maybe that was the key.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Well done on a good week. You mentioned the serving. You entered today, I think you had 30 aces coming into this game. Is it just that she can serve 117 miles an hour, or what is it about her serve that makes it so tough?

KAIA KANEPI: The speed makes it tough. Second serve also, kick.

Q. What was your medical timeout for?

KAIA KANEPI: My abs.

Q. Was that something that had been bothering you, or it was new today? How did that affect you most out there?

KAIA KANEPI: Lucky that it happened in the third set. It was new. I guess a lot of matches and a lot of serving this week. I haven't had such a tough week for a long time. It affected a bit at the end.

Q. What, for you, does it mean to get back to a final, to come as close as you did to getting another WTA title? Or does reaching a final not make you happy because you wanted that title?

KAIA KANEPI: No, it makes me really happy. I think it's better to lose in the final than in first round (smiling).

So, yeah, overall I think the week was very good. It's also good to get matches here in U.S. before US Open.

Q. Congratulations on a great week. Just curious, when you prepare and you play the U.S. hard court season, tournaments leading up to the US Open, is it a different preparation because you're in the U.S., different cities, compared to like preparing for the French Open, preparing for Wimbledon in it terms of like the buildup to the US Open?

KAIA KANEPI: Well, I don't know how to answer this question, because the surfaces are different. When I go to Europe, I'm going few days before the tournament starts, but coming here I'm coming at least 10 days before. So that's the difference. It takes more time to adjust when I travel away from Europe.

Q. Similar to what was asked, he asked about reaching the final, but I will ask about the year as a whole from the Aussie Open and the other benchmarks you have hit this year. I think you are now in the top 40 for the first time since 2014. How satisfying is it you are doing this now after having come back from injuries over the years, et cetera?

KAIA KANEPI: I don't know. I don't really think about the ranking that much. I just want to stay healthy and play well. Ranking really doesn't matter at this stage anymore (smiling).

Q. The way you have played this year, is that significant to you and the runs that you have had, Indian Wells, Miami, here a final?

KAIA KANEPI: Yes, I have enjoyed playing all year this year. When I play well and get good matches, then tennis is still enjoyable for me.