ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2024

Kristina Mladenovic

Press Conference

P. MARTIC/K. Mladenovic

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Kristina, anything you would say you regret? I think you played her many times in the past.

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: Well, I played against Petra many times. I played her once in 2019 at the French Open. I think she went up to the quarterfinals. She's really good on clay. I was expecting this type of game, a big kick, and a lot of spin in her shots. It made the difference during the first and second sets.

I think I have some regrets. There were some opportunities which I didn't manage well. Like the middle of the set and the end of the set I didn't manage as well as her.

It's a bit too early to know what makes the difference. I think she dominated on her forehand, and I was not precise enough. I wanted her to be playing her backhand because if she hits forehand, it's heavy strokes. She served well as well during crucial moments.

Q. What about waiting? It was long before you started the match.

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: It wasn't simple, but it's the same for all players today. It's the same for her and all the other players. It's not simple, that's for sure. We've been here since the morning.

We were supposed to play at 11:00, and then there was always this 30 minutes that we had to wait and then an extra 30 minutes and then 30 minutes again. We tried to warm up, and then we were eating from time to time.

So it had been a long time this had not happened, but it's tennis. It's our sport, and we are used to it. It's the way it is. Of course, this is not ideal, but it's the same for all players.

Q. Kristina, now, there are a number of things you regret after the match, as you said, but anyway, would you say that you are trying to find extra guarantees in what you did?

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: What?

Q. Guarantees. I mean building trust, building your trust for what comes next.

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: Oh, yeah. It's the end of the match, and I'm sad. I have regrets. It's 6-4, 6-4 against a good player, and she's gone to quarterfinals. She's been better ranked than today as well, so she has experience. She knew how to manage these points.

The atmosphere was really good on this court, Court No. 14. The conditions were not simple, but it was the same for her as well. She had to manage the conditions. So both of us tried to play as best as we could given the circumstances and the conditions today for us.

Yeah, there were moments that are positive. But, by and large, it's negative because I couldn't win, even though, if you look at the statistics, today my rankings are a lot better than hers.

But we played many times. I know she has things she does well as a player, as I said before. But the match is just over, so it's difficult for me to be positive. Of course, I would have loved to win the match.

Q. Now, how did you feel physically? What about your game, your tennis? Was there something you were happy with or things that you were less happy with? How did you feel? What about your feelings?

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: Well, it's okay. It's not that good, but not bad either. I said there are so many things to take into account. I remember we played, it was raining. It was cold the days before. The conditions were different during practice. So we had to adjust many things.

My feelings over the past days are different from today's, and yet, what you try and use is what you're good at. What's positive is that physically it was okay. No injuries, no problems. I remember in the past or several weeks ago it wasn't the case for me, so that's the very positive side of things. I felt good on the court.

Well, of course, in terms of my tennis style, I could always improve, but there were positive moments. For instance, well, the match is over. I have regrets, so it means I'm not that far from making it, but too far anyway.

So I would have loved to tell you that I feel a lot better, but it's not the case. I'm disappointed as we speak.

Q. What about your motivation? Given all that you have experienced in your career, why is it that you continue this singles career? Where do you find the energy for that?

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: Well, look at the moment I played. It was on Court 14. The audience was with me supporting. I have a passion for the sport. I know the ups and downs I've had to go through, and the downs mainly, but now things are back to normal. So this gives me strength and courage to move forward and to try and reach the level I want to reach so that I could relive these types of emotions.

On a daily basis I put in a lot of work with Luka, and I see that it pays off. We decided to take a number of decisions given the obstacles and difficulties that I had to face in the most recent seasons. So this is what I hang on to.

It's very positive because I started from really a position that was a lot lower, so there's this flame that I believe in.

Q. You will have to overcome the fact that you're disappointed because with Caro you are going to play doubles. What are your objectives with Caro in this tournament, and what about the Olympic Games? Is it an objective for you to play for the Olympics?

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: That's true. With Caroline this season we wanted to play doubles, and we wanted to play doubles here during the French Open. We're very happy. We hope that the start is going to be a good start for us and then we'll take the matches as they come. We'll try and play well and win them and play better and improve all the time.

To write the history that we wrote here, the two of us, this would be splendid, but it's difficult to win matches during a Grand Slam. Yeah, I'd say yes, this is our program. And yes, the Olympics with Caroline, this is what we intend to do.

Q. You were talking about the audience and the crowd. There's the blue stands, and you sent your towel to them. Do you think it's good to have the crowd with you just like during a football match?

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: Yeah, they're really great. They're really great. It's something that's dear to you, and I was waiting for the first match -- well, to be playing at 11:00, and then when we started playing, it was 4:00 p.m. It gives you goose bumps, and that's why we play tennis. That's the definition of sport, to live these emotions in such moments. It's thanks to the crowd, the audience, people with a passion.

Also, we remember COVID, don't we, when nobody was there, so that's the definition of sport. I'm sorry because I couldn't continue to have a three-setter would have been good. Even winning a three-setter, because the crowd was with me, the audience, the blue stands, but also the rest of the people out there that were supporting me. They were sending lots of love. I would like to thank them.

Q. By the way, as you said, crammed with emotions, and emotions with Alize as well this morning. Well, what would you say about this when you think about her career and what she's done and the path she's been treading?

KRISTINA MLADENOVIC: Yeah, many emotions. I've seen her several times over the past days. We had a surprise for her. That is, a dinner that we organized for her.

A splendid career. I suppose loads of emotions on her side, but unfortunately, I couldn't watch her match because I had to focus on my warmup. I thought I would play. But I suppose she was very much moved. She's an incredible fighter, an incredible career, a good tennis player, but the time comes for all of us.

So what I wish her is all the best for this new page for her that she's going to write in her life.