PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 21, 2023

Anastasia Potapova

Press Conference

A. POTAPOVA/C. Garcia

4-6, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Anastasia, you're into the semifinals here in Stuttgart. Talk us through how happy you are and how pleased you are with your performance today.

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Yes. Thank you, first of all. Yeah, I'm very happy with the tennis, because I think it's the first time when I'm in semifinals at the 500 event.

It feels nice, especially to do it in Stuttgart. Nice atmosphere, courts, arena is very beautiful. Yeah, I really like it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Just talk us through the match a little bit in terms of your ability to turn that match around. What was the key there late in that second set?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: I think the key was just to fight till the end, because even the first set, even if I lost it, it was very like tight. It was just a matter of one break.

So I knew that I'm gonna get my chances. As soon as I got it, I said, okay, just go for it and don't be afraid. Yeah, I think that's what I did.

Q. What confidence in your game do you see as your strength? What would you like to improve?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Okay. I think mental side that I have, it's very good, because for me, it doesn't matter what score it is and how bad I play, like mentally I'm gonna fight and try to do something to change the score to my side, you know.

Improvement, maybe I would improve a lot of things, but, you know, now it's the small things. I don't know. Maybe I would better run or better like serve or be a bit more powerful, but I'm working on it and I'm on my way.

Q. This was your fifth career win against top-10 players. When will your name be in the top 10? Your goals for the season maybe?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Well, I'm happy to get these wins, because it's showing me that I can actually compete with top 10. So maybe it means that I can be one of them.

Hopefully soon, maybe at the end of the season or maybe in the next one, I will be there. I'm working for it so hard (smiling).

Q. Looking ahead then to facing Aryna, obviously one of the best players of the year so far, what's the challenge that you see in playing against her? How different will it be kind of facing her on clay?

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA: Well, yes, obviously we know she's very powerful and she's amazing player. Is gonna be tough for me, for sure.

I mean, it's a good chance to try my game at the best level, you know, because she won the Grand Slam this year. Just to see where I can improve or maybe I'm already at that level. I'm really looking forward to this match.