CHINA OPEN

October 8, 2023

Liudmila Samsonova

Press Conference

I. SWIATEK/L. Samsonova

6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Obviously a tough result today, but what a fantastic week for you here in Beijing. Can you give us your thoughts on the match and the week as a whole.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Yes, as you said, it was an amazing week for me. Just the second one in such a great tournament. Today I think she played better than me, so... I think I can learn a lot today from this match.

Yeah, I'm so happy about all the week, so I will keep the positive.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You had a bunch of really great victories during this tournament, against higher-ranked opponents a lot of the time. What are you going to take away from this experience in Beijing?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I think I made a lot of good things this week. I have to realize a little bit right now, but...

I don't know, today I think doesn't work so much what I wanted to do. I need to see the match, to see the match again, to see what I can do better.

But for the week, it's something unbelievable. I didn't expect it, so great.

Q. Last night in the post-match press conference you said you had low energy, but every day is a different day. How did you feel overall? How much did your physical condition affect your performance?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: So honestly today I was better than yesterday. Physically and mentally I was feeling better. I need to give her all the credits today because I think she shows all the experience that she has.

Really I think she just played better than me today. Was her day.

Q. With Iga and what she was able to do today, when you say she played better and was better than you, what you wanted to do you could not do today, what do you mean by that?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I can say maybe she was playing more points at the same level, and me, I was playing some points very well and other disaster. This was the difference, I think.

She has so much experience to play finals, to play such important matches, and me not. I think I need more time to just be able to play my level maybe every day, you know? That's it.

Q. You hit a lot of double-faults today. Does it mean that you were stressed, to be too stressful in a final against Iga, maybe that's why you couldn't perform the best you expected?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: It could be. It could be. But I don't think the double-faults were the reason of it. I think everything, all my game, was not going so well. Because other days also I made a lot of double-faults in this tournament. Today was just like the other days about double-faults.

Yes, I was a little bit stressful. I really need to play more finals like this. I hope I will have the opportunity to do it.

Q. The statistics said that she didn't hit one unforced error, zero unforced errors in the match. Did you feel that way playing against her? Did it seem like she was not giving free points?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Absolutely. Absolutely. I think this is what she's doing the best because this is the stress that she made to other players, that she doesn't make unforced errors. Every time you need to do something more.

This is like - how can I say - it's not real what you feel, but she makes you feel like this. This is what I learned today.

Q. People thought it's very cute when you asked for people to please come to support you for the next match. Did you feel like more and more people are supporting you? Share with us your good memories in Beijing.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: You know, in China a lot. I was feeling it so, so much, honestly. It's amazing. It's the first time for a long time where so many people was cheering for me. It's incredible. I feel all the support here. It was really unbelievable. So happy about that, yeah.

Q. I want to know how will you set up the following schedule? Are you still going to Zhengzhou? I think you have a good chance to make it Zhuhai Elite Trophy.

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: Yes, I'm going tomorrow to Zhengzhou. Then we'll see about Nanchang. I don't know in what position I am, where I am. I don't know about the Elite Trophy. I will see later, I think. Of course, we would like to play the Elite Trophy, yeah.

Q. A very nice week in Beijing. Can you talk about your memories in Beijing. Would you look forward to coming back to Beijing next year? Any comments on the tournament overall?

LIUDMILA SAMSONOVA: I love to be here. I love Beijing. It was the first time for me in China. I'm surprised honestly. I'm so happy. Everything was super nice here, the people, the organization, unbelievable.

Of course, I will come back next year. This is for sure (smiling).