CHINA OPEN

October 7, 2023

Liudmila Samsonova

Press Conference

L. SAMSONOVA/E. Rybakina

7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Into your second 1000-level final this year, and your first final at the China Open. Talk about your performance in the match today.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Yeah, like you said, it's my second time in a few months, so it's amazing. It's crazy to be here today and to play tomorrow in such a big final.

I didn't have so many energies today during the match. I'm so happy how I am, at the end how I fight and everything.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You said you didn't have very much energy in today's match. You struck 33 winners. Elena only hit six or seven. Talk through how you were able to get the win, to manage the match, given that maybe you didn't feel you were at your best.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I think the experience that I've done also during US Open, the match that I lost during US Open, gave me a lot of experience, a lot of things to learn.

Today the conditions were, like, similar. As I said, I learn a lot from US Open and other matches. I think I was able to manage today for this reason.

Q. I think the first set was very close, a few points difference. The second set was probably the same case. As far as you are concerned, what made the difference today? Elena played not too bad, right?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think this match was better than the one of Montreal from both sides. She was playing good I think. I had many chances also to close the set for 6-4, the first one. I think I didn't play so good that game. At the end I was able to finish. I don't know how seriously (smiling). Maybe just to stay there and try every point to be there during the match.

Q. You said there's only a couple of points that makes the final decision of this game. What do you think was the key point? How do you make it to get that point? Is that a mental thing or a physical thing, or is that because of your winning record against Elena?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No, I think it's about the tactic and to be focused on what I have to do in that moment. I tried to stay really, really focused even if I didn't have so many energies. I tried to push as I could, to play my game, to be very, very aggressive even if I didn't have so many energies, as I said.

Q. Do you have any misery because you have a 4-0 game lead?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: No, I don't. Okay, yes, I like to play against her, but it's always tough to play. I have also 0-5 to another player, so I know what it means.

It doesn't matter because you grow up and then you change, improve your game. Like, it doesn't matter the 4-0 for me.

Q. Facing Iga next. Your two matches were two very different types of matches in Stuttgart and Dubai. What do you remember of that Stuttgart match and does it give you any information in terms of how you need to play to get the win?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I liked a lot the way that I step on the court in Stuttgart against her because I step, like, I'm playing against the No. 1, so let's see and let's try to do my best. No pressure, nothing. That was the key. At the end I was trying to do my best, that's all.

When I'm mentally like that, I can play my best tennis. So I think I learn after my last match against her (smiling).

Q. Talking about tomorrow's finals, you said you had really low energy, so what's the plan in the next 24 hours? If you win tomorrow night, what is your celebration plan?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: So, every day's different. It doesn't mean if I didn't have so many energies today it's going to be the same tomorrow. It's not like that.

I think I have so many hours to reset and to have a good rest. Tomorrow it's another day. It depends how I will be tomorrow.

If I win, maybe, hmm, some drinks for sure (smiling).

Q. Speaking on facing Iga, do you watch her play a lot? What do you make of her game? For you and the weapons that you have, what do you think is the key shot that you need tomorrow?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I think my serve and return will be the key tomorrow because she plays very aggressive on the first shot. The key, like, it can be do it better than her, so...

I will try to push as I did all these matches here, to be really, really aggressive, yes.

Q. Something lighter. It's at the end of the season. In terms of ranking, very likely to go into Zhuhai. Do you have any plan for the upcoming season? Would you look forward to the tournaments at the end of the season in Zhuhai?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: So I'm try to don't speak about the ranking and the results and everything. I still don't know what will be my ranking. I don't know where I am. I don't know if I'm qualified for Zhuhai or not. I don't know anything. I don't want to think about it till I'm going to finish the Asia tour.

Of course, maybe next week I'm going to try to know more about the situation, but I'm trying to don't think about it.

And, yes, if it's happening, like it's a little dream.