PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 17, 2024

Laura Siegemund

Press Conference

M. KOSTYUK/L. Siegemund

6-3, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Laura, a very tough battle out there today. Just talk us through your thoughts on the match.

LAURA SIEGEMUND: Yeah, that's a heartbreaker, of course (smiling). But although obviously I'm really disappointed now, with this kind of performance to go out first round, it's just tough.

But after the first disappointment, I have to say I'm really proud of myself. I mean, I played a great match, not at all times, but I found solutions in the second set, and in the third it was really a top match.

After what I have been through with the travel and how much I have played and all that, I have to be really proud of myself. I had a great performance.

Then for a few points it wasn't enough, but yeah, I think I showed some great tennis.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. How did you get back into that? In the second set obviously it was looking very difficult for you, but you kept coming back in and then kept falling down and coming back up again. How did you manage to do that?

LAURA SIEGEMUND: Yeah, the first set didn't start well, but I had also a little bit of a struggle with the equipment. I didn't have much time to practice here in singles, so, you know, stringing tension and all that wasn't at its best, let's say. I kind of needed to find my right equipment, if you want. And that's always tough if you don't have a good preparation.

Then I found what I needed and played much better in the second set, not that I didn't want to play aggressive and all that in the first already, but just my balls were short and it wasn't as aggressive as I wanted to be.

Yeah, you know, I always kept fighting. Obviously I had some ups and downs in the match, which is also normal on clay. There is a lot of waves, let's say. One finds solutions and then the other one finds solutions, and hopefully you're the last one to solve the riddle.

Yeah, but overall I think I played some good clay court tennis, yeah.

Q. That's really fascinating what you said about the riddle in clay court tennis and how it ebbs and flows like that. Unfortunately today you weren't able to find the ultimate solution, if you like. It sounds like a bit of experience talking to me when you say this.

LAURA SIEGEMUND: Yeah, I think, you know, other than on hard court or on grass where, you know, you can play one kind of game and get straight through with it, on clay court usually, with the good players, you have to keep adapting. Usually you can't play the same thing from start to end. That happens very rarely.

It's more like a dynamic where you need to feel kind of the flow, the atmosphere that's happening on the court, and sometimes maybe, you know, switch from super-aggressive to a bit more patient and these kind of things.

That's just clay court tennis, and I think I feel that well. Obviously I have a lot of experience, but she did as well and she did a great job with that. I have to give credit to her, as well.