ROLAND GARROS

June 9, 2023

Alina Korneeva

Press Conference

A. KORNEEVA/A. Oktiabreva

6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Alina. We're going to start with English questions.

Q. Congratulations. Second Grand Slam final in a row. Does that feel it's normal? Does it feel it's amazing? What do you feel?

ALINA KORNEEVA: It's not normal because I think it's not normal (laughing). It's not like it was in Australia, but I feel it's, like, normal final, like I played 60K.

Every tournament is the same, so I don't feel like it's final of Grand Slam. It's just final, so we will see.

Q. If you compare the experience in Paris and in Melbourne, do you see a bit of differences maybe in the level of confidence you have on the court or...

ALINA KORNEEVA: It's so different because in Australia it was very tough time for me because I was, like, I had problem with my body.

And I didn't feel -- I didn't think about the final or about the match. I feel about myself. Now I feel about, of course, about the match.

Q. Watching as you speak, you have a very complete game. You spend a lot of time taking your chances at the net, which is not that usual at your age, and you are playing already in double, too. Just wondering, is it something that has always been the case, or is it something you've been taught to?

ALINA KORNEEVA: Now I try. I practiced a lot with my coach to go to the net, to go to the ball because it's, like, it's my game.

I love to play drive volley, to play volley. Now we practice it a lot. We work with it a lot. I think it's better than it was, but I can do more. So, yeah.

Q. You talk a bit about clay again. I know you prefer the hard court, but you've been doing really well. Is it a surprise for you? Is it something like, okay, my game is suited for clay and I didn't know that?

ALINA KORNEEVA: No, I didn't think about this. I every time said that hard is more better for me, but I have a lot of title on clay.

So it's very interesting to play on clay because it's longer points. It's a lot of dropshots, slices. Not like on hard court.

Q. Looking back at the final in Melbourne, what do you remember from that most? I guess, are you hoping for a bit of a shorter final this time?

ALINA KORNEEVA: (Laughing) I don't think about the final that was in Melbourne. I have now that tournament, so I think about tomorrow final, not about the final that was in Melbourne.

Q. Since Melbourne you've been mainly focusing on your pro career. What's the difference? What are the main differences, do you think, playing at junior level and playing at professional level?

ALINA KORNEEVA: It's so different. It's different in tennis. It's different in mental game.

Maybe now I play a lot of -- my tennis now is so different. Like, I can play dropshot, slice. I think because I played a lot of -- not a lot of. I played pro tournament already, so the players in pro, they are already I think more clever on tennis, more mentally stronger.

Yep, I think it's so good to play pro tournament and then play Grand Slam. I think it's there.

Q. Last question: I don't know if you have seen the results of the other semifinal, but you'll play against Lucciana from Peru. Do you know much about her? All new experience for you?

ALINA KORNEEVA: Not yet. I didn't talk with my coach yet, but I think she's the same like it was today and yesterday.

I think I have to go to the ball the same, everything, and go to play volleys a lot, drive volleys. We will talk with my coach.

Q. Just last one. Yesterday you said you got a bit angry on the court because you wanted to win so much. Sometimes it gets to you, but it doesn't show. I watched you this weekend. You are really calm on the court, and there's not a lot of -- we don't see when you are frustrated or anything. Is it something you are working on, or have you always been the calm one on the tennis court?

ALINA KORNEEVA: I don't think that I'm calm on tennis court (laughing). After today's match I think that I'm really angry because I'm really emotional player. I'm not, like, working on this.

But maybe, yes, sometimes some games I'm calmer, but I don't know.