US OPEN

September 2, 2022

Liudmila Samsonova

Press Conference

L. SAMSONOVA/A. Krunic

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Straight sets. Your thoughts on your performance and the victory and moving on.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: You know, I was so, so nervous today. We were waiting a lot of time before the match. I had lot of time to think, so it was not easy to manage this situation.

I'm happy how I play today. It was good, so...

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How soon before the match were you offered the court change? What was your reaction?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: It was half an hour before. They gave us 30 minutes. It was okay. That's okay. We will not play in the stadium. The 17 was a little bigger. It was okay.

I mean, I was a little bit sad maybe (smiling). But faster.

Q. You've won I think 18 straight sets now, 13 straight matches. You could face Serena in the next round. Have you allowed yourself to think a little bit about facing Serena?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Yes.

Q. What do you think about that potential matchup?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I'm very happy to play against her if she won. For me it's unbelievable experience.

Maybe I dreamed to play against her one day. I think I can do my best.

Q. Why are you excited to face Serena and maybe what you remember of the first time you saw her play on TV, what she kind of means to you?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: For me, she's amazing for what she did. I mean, she did so many things for the sport, for the woman sports. It's amazing she won 23 Grand Slams. That's amazing.

I was looking at her when I was young like a superstar, you know? So, yeah, it's strange to think that I will play against her maybe.

Q. Talking about the discussions you've had with the mental coach, to the extent you can share, what sort of things do you talk about? What have you worked out best with her?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No, you know, we are talking every time about the work, about the tennis. So we just talk about the situation in the meantime, about the performance, just that, yeah.

Q. Fears or doubts you no longer have on the tennis court as a result?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Sorry?

Q. Are there certain fears or doubts that you used to have that you no longer have?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I think every match we have some thoughts, some doubts. We have every time like that.

How I said, it's difficult to manage before the match, all the energy, all the maybe negative thoughts also. So that's the most important thing.

Q. Have you changed your routine at all as opposed to how you maybe would have approached a slam in the past?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No, you know, I didn't change my routine. I'm doing the same thing, but maybe with a different state of mind, yeah.

Q. On facing Serena, you hit a very big ball, have a good serve. How do you think your game matches up against the Serena that either you have seen at the US Open, I don't know if you watched her matches here...

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Yes, a little bit.

Q. ...or the Serena in your head, what you're aware what she does?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: It's not because she's very strong, no, her ball is so strong, but I think I can do more physically. I think I'm feeling ready physically, you know, to stay there and to play her balls also.

Of course, she will do like pushing, pushing. This is for sure. But it's going to be interesting how I can play with her ball.

I don't know. I don't know.

Q. This is probably going to be the biggest stage you've ever played on. Do you think that will impact you?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Yes, for sure. But may be positive. Maybe it could be a great thing for me also. Let's see, yeah.

Q. What's the most pressure, the highest-pressure match you've ever played?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I think my first final, yes. I think that was with the most pressure I felt, yeah.

Q. What have you learned in terms of how to deal with pressure when playing big matches?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: To enjoy it. I try to enjoy it as much as I can. That's the goal.

Q. This is going to be the first time a lot of people will watch you play.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Against me, for sure.

Q. But in terms of getting to know you, for the fans, things like that, what do you hope tennis fans or nontennis fans, Serena fans, they know about you?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I would like, I mean, my goal it's that they like my style of game, my game. I just want to show my game, how I can play. That's the most important thing for me.

Doesn't matter if I win or I lose. Doesn't matter. But that I can play on a high level, yeah.

Q. What are you doing in your off days? Are you enjoying the city?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: We are training. We are practicing. Then we take, like, a break mentally. We go out. We stay together with my team. We go out for dinner, yeah. These things, these kind of things.

Q. Are you superstitious, eat at the same restaurant?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No, not anymore. My team is. Me not.