ROLAND GARROS

June 9, 2023

Lucciana Perez Alarcon

Press Conference

L. PEREZ ALARCON/A. Gureva

7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Lucciana. We're going to start with English questions.

Q. What does it mean to you to be the finalist?

LUCCIANA PEREZ ALARCON: Very happy. Really tough match today, but I'm really, really happy with my performance through all the week. It have been really tough matches since the first one, but I'm really, really happy.

Q. As you said, you had tough matches. Today, again, you were down 5-2 I think in the first set. In those moments, how do you each time find a way to come back? What's the internal dialogue you have with yourself in those moments that explains that you come back every time?

LUCCIANA PEREZ ALARCON: I just tell myself to keep fighting, to keep focus in every point, and just stay in the moment because if I continue fighting, like, I can continue stay in the match. So that was the clue today.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about the journey you have to get to starting tennis to here? What's the inspirations maybe you had on the way, the people who helped you, and what it means when you look back and when you started?

LUCCIANA PEREZ ALARCON: Well, it have been a lot of years. I played tennis since I was four with my grandfather. Now I train in the Regatas Club, the club that gave me a lot of opportunities to train.

My coach, Sergio [ph.], and my fitness coach, Diego [ph.], my psychologist, Silvana [ph.]; we have a really good team that is helping me to improve a lot.

Q. You always knew you were going to make it?

LUCCIANA PEREZ ALARCON: Yes. It was a tough way, but just need to keep working hard, and all the things will come.

Q. Can I just ask about Korneeva? I don't think you've faced her before.

LUCCIANA PEREZ ALARCON: No, no. It's going to be first time.

Q. Have you had a chance to look a bit how she plays? What do you think you need to do tomorrow?

LUCCIANA PEREZ ALARCON: Well, I just need to keep focus in every point and just keeping in every moment in the match, stay intense, because I don't know how she plays.

I know she's a really good player, so I just need to be fighting every point until the end.