ROLAND GARROS

June 5, 2023

Lesia Tsurenko

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/L. Tsurenko [Ret.]

5-1

THE MODERATOR: Lesia, obviously unfortunately you couldn't complete the match today. Can you explain a little bit about the reasons behind the retirement and how you're feeling as well?

LESIA TSURENKO: Hello. I should probably just that say I have something like Rybakina had, a virus or whatever it is.

My body could not handle it. I did everything possible to manage it, but unfortunately, it's a different thing just to do normal things and play tennis.

So it was tough for me. I could not practice yesterday, and today I had a tough -- it was tough for me to warm up, but I was hoping for, you know, just starting match and maybe I would feel a little bit better.

But, unfortunately, it was getting worse, so I had to stop because it was not the way I wanted to be on court and to play tennis for sure.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Lesia, tough luck, but a great tournament.

LESIA TSURENKO: Thank you.

Q. Can you tell us when you started to feel unwell? I saw when you opened your bag, there were all those tissues in there, and you blew your nose during the medical time-out. Is it congestion? Is it energy? Trouble breathing?

LESIA TSURENKO: I start to feel very little bit before previous match, but physically I was fine. I just start to feel sore throat, but physically was okay. Energy was good, so I played a good match.

It all started after. The night was not good, and I practiced yesterday for like, I don't know, ten minutes. I thought something is wrong with me. My heart beat was too high. You know, all these classic things. Yeah, a lot of congestion in these two days.

As I said, I was trying to do my best. I had liters of water, water with lemon, with all these healthy things. I got a lot of fruits and vitamin C, all these things, but it didn't work.

I need I think another two, three days to recover.

Q. Maybe I would just ask in a simple way, what kind of virus is it? Just flu, COVID, something?

LESIA TSURENKO: I have no idea. I think it's just -- I don't know what Rybakina said that there is something in Paris. Maybe something like that. I don't know.

I cannot tell you because it's just -- we're all humans still. We all get sick sometimes.

If I say that I'm extremely sorry, it does not describe how I really feel. For me to play a match against Iga is a priority. I really want to play against the players, and I feel like extremely, extremely sorry not to be able to compete.

Q. Lesia, just on your tournament, beating Krejcikova first round, beating Andreescu in the third round to make the round of 16, I know you are feeling sad about today, but can you talk about what this two weeks has meant to you?

LESIA TSURENKO: You know this is probably the best season on clay for me ever, including tournaments in Madrid and Rome. So I'm really happy that this time my relationship with clay was better. I'm really happy that I'm able to play a lot of matches.

I said already that I still have, but it's getting better, my issue with elbow. So I'm very happy to be on court. I feel that every match is like big happiness for me. I'm really disappointed to have days like this.

This is life. We're all humans, and sometimes we also get sick. I just am hoping for -- that the rest of the season would be the same successful for me as these five months. I would be happy to continue to play the same level on the grass.

And, of course, I was not happy to see Krejcikova in the first round and potentially Grand Slam champion in the third round. For sure many good matches for me on this tournament and on clay, in general. So I can just say that I'm super happy, and I'm really excited about the rest of the season.

Q. Just wondering, I know it was brief. It was just five games, but in general, thoughts on Iga? Do you think she's ready to defend this title?

LESIA TSURENKO: I think, yes. She's hitting the ball very hard. The serve is good. The return is good, but everything is good.

You know, Iga is -- come on, Iga is playing amazing tennis. It's always a big challenge to play against her, and I wish her all the best because I like her as a tennis player and as a personality.

Yeah, I think she's ready. She is one of the -- I don't know. Yeah, for sure she's one of the best players right now and actually for the last few years already.

Yes, she's a clay court specialist, which is making her chance even more.