ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2024

Chloe Paquet

Press Conference

C. PAQUET/K. Siniakova

3-6, 7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Chloe, just some thoughts on your victory. It's your best result here at Roland Garros and the first time you got to the second round since 2017. It's been a long time. SO thoughts on that and also on facing Vondrousova in the next round.

CHLOE PAQUET: Yeah, it was amazing. It's amazing to reach for the first time this year the third round. Of course, if I have to choose one moment -- one tournament, I want it to be this one. I'm living here. All my family is here. All the French people are crazy just on the court, so amazing atmosphere.

The next match will be very tough against Vondrousova. She's an amazing player and Grand Slam winner, so I will prepare tonight. I think it's going to be tomorrow. So, yeah, let's see. I will give 100% and enjoy the moment.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, please.

Q. How did you manage these two interruptions for rain?

CHLOE PAQUET: Quite well because considering the weather we've been having over the past week, I knew that it might be complicated. The first interruption did me good because I wasn't really in the match. Her game was really bothering me. She's a great player, and I was not finding the right solutions or the right pace. So the first interruption helped me a lot. I spoke a lot with my coach to really come back to basics.

The second a little bit less. When you stop, I'm 2-Love, 40-All on my serve, and she played very well. She came back very well with a lot of intensity. So I had to really put a lot of energy back into it. So I was really encouraged by the audience. It really helped me for sure to finish this match at the end.

Q. Can you tell us how you're feeling...

CHLOE PAQUET: So the first time I've played a super tiebreak. Oh, it's so long. I really wanted to play a real tiebreak. Seven points would have been quite good starting out from 5-Love. It was super.

Of course, she plays very well, and I make mistakes due to not paying attention. I knew I wasn't going to do 10-Love, so I thought the key was really to try to stay calm between the points.

Yes, there was some real suspense around the super tiebreak. I think I played a really important point with a backhand along the line at 7-6, which did me a whole load of good, and I ended well. For sure on the match point I was really happy that it was coming to an end.

Q. On the tactical side you really played well. What was your plan to bother her, especially in the super tiebreak?

CHLOE PAQUET: In the super tiebreak I think I really accentuated my game on her forehand. I knew that in certain points it was maybe on that side that it could make a change. Maybe she wasn't feeling as good. She's very at ease on her backhand. I tried to play calmly on the super tiebreak and not take a big risk, so really make sure the ball stayed on the court.

My coach told me to play in the middle for the super tiebreak in a sure zone. For the super tiebreak in the third I had to be really calm, as calm as possible, and keep things simple, very simple zones. Maybe a little bit more forehands on her side.

Q. Can you describe what you've been feeling from the match point to now. It must be a whole volcano of emotions. What's happening in your head? It's the third tournament at home in Roland Garros. You're at home here.

CHLOE PAQUET: Yes, incredible. Since the match point, I really enjoy being on the court with the supporters, my family. I signed a whole load of autographs. I saw that people were really happy for me, so that made me very happy.

You have to immediately switch because I didn't think so, but actually I think I'm playing tomorrow. So I had to go for massages, and I'm going to get back into it watching video with my coach for my next match. I played her ten years ago, but I don't think she's the same player. She has a really good track record. She's won a lot of matches.

I won't be able to enjoy it really. I did so on the court, but now I have to really concentrate to play the third round.

Q. You train here practically. You live practically five minutes away. There's a Parc des Princes just next door. What's it like concretely to be almost at home?

CHLOE PAQUET: Honestly, I play tennis. I give everything on a daily basis for these moments. If there was one place to choose, I wanted it to be Roland Garros for the first time that I reached this third round.

I live here. I train here all year-round and playing in front of a Parisian audience is incredible. It's the first time I think that I've felt so much emotion, and I'm super happy.

Q. You didn't see it, of course, but on the Philippe Chatrier there were no more matches, so they all came to the balcony to see your match.

CHLOE PAQUET: Yes, I did see. Of course, I could see the people up there.

Q. So there are a lot of French flags flying around because last year the French didn't reach the third round.

CHLOE PAQUET: Yes, I know.

Q. Is it a relief?

CHLOE PAQUET: A relief? Yes and no. It was really an objective at Roland Garros. I started very early on the clay in March to prepare for this tournament as best I could and to spend a lot of time on the surface.

Q. (Question off microphone.)

CHLOE PAQUET: Not really a relief. It was the "objective of a lifetime," and I hope that the adventure will continue.

Already third round. I'm really happy if it can continue. It would be perfect.

Q. It's your first third round in a Grand Slam. Is it just chance, or did you really do something to achieve this objective?

CHLOE PAQUET: No, I don't think it's chance. As I said, I started working very early on on clay to get used to the surface, play on it, spend time on it.

And I forgot your question. I'm sorry.

Q. Did you do something in particular? Anything you changed recently?

CHLOE PAQUET: No, I didn't change anything. I trained a lot on clay. No, I don't think I changed.

No, for sure since the beginning of the year, I feel good mentally, even though the beginning of the year was quite complicated, but I won a lot of matches that really made me confident. I beat Sofia Kenin, and I was waiting to experience this type of moment given my results. But, of course, we have a lot of expectations, but we're never sure of exactly what will happen.

So I trust in my game. I trust in myself, and I think that you can feel it on the court.

Q. I'm going to extend that previous question. Does it add a bit more pressure to be part of the last French players?

CHLOE PAQUET: No, no, it's the first time that it's happened to me. I'm not the last one yet. There are still some French players who are going to play, so no, no pressure.

I'm concentrating on myself, of course. We want all the French players to get good results. We know what expectations there are on this tournament, but no, no pressure. I want to continue for as long as possible on this tournament.

Q. A far lighter question. In 2017 you said you're a big fan of Pastore. Who's your favorite player at PSG now?

CHLOE PAQUET: Well, my racquets are in the name of the players. I don't have racquet No. 1, No. 2. They're the names of the players. There's one racquet at the moment which I feel good with, it's with Asensio. So it's my lucky racquet. I had Kylian, but I withdrew it, unfortunately.

So, no "a" player; the entire PSG football team.

Q. (Question off microphone.)

CHLOE PAQUET: I start with Asensio, and I continued with Hernandez, and I finished with Ramos. I didn't take Kylian today.

Q. Tell us about your leisure outside of tennis. Do you play football? Is there anything else that you like?

CHLOE PAQUET: I love sport. I watch all sports. I love playing football, although we're not really allowed to. I play golf. I like spending time with my family too. We've traveled a lot last year. I think I made a record. I played 39 tournaments. So when I'm in Paris, there are quiet activities with my family.