TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 2nd of June. S. Halep d. S. Stephens 6-4, 6-3. An interview with Simona Halep
Q. There are a few players left in this tournament who are the only players from their own country in the tournament. How do you feel about representing Romania in this tournament?
SIMONA HALEP: I feel good that I can represent Romania in quarterfinals in this tournament, so it’s amazing feeling.
I hope that next round I will try my best again, I will do my best again, to win the match to be in the semifinals.
But I have to be very focused to fight for the match and to be happy, because it’s first time quarterfinals in Paris.
Q. She’s a tough opponent. You lost to her a couple of times. Tell me about the match today and what you felt like you did better than in the past.
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, she beat me in Australia on hard, but I remember that I beat her in Barcelona on clay court a long time ago. But was good for me because I knew how to play on clay. She’s better I think on hard court. I’m better on clay. So I had advantage.
I think I managed very well the match. I opened the angles. I wanted to do her to run a lot on court. I think I played aggressive. I dominated the match, I think.
I didn’t serve very well, but I tried to return better, and I did.
So it was a very tough match. She’s a great player. We both, I think we played good tennis today.
Q. You say you love clay. Why is it? Is it because it’s more tactical than the other surfaces?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, you have more time to think about the point, to run. You have to run a lot.
But I love to play on clay, but I don’t think that it’s my best surface because also on the hard court I played really well, and I like to finish the point very fast.
So hard court is also good for me. I played really well everywhere. So I have to try on grass court more, because I didn’t play very well last year.
Yeah, I feel good on clay, and I think that my game, it’s also good for clay court.
Q. What advice would you give to Sloane for her career?
SIMONA HALEP: She’s very tough player. She’s a great player. I believe that she will be in top very soon.
She’s very strong. Her game, her ball, it’s very heavy when you play.
So I had to fight today and to run a lot during the points. So she’s very great player, and I wish her good luck and keep going like this, because she’s very tough player.
Q. Do you feel ready to win this tournament?
SIMONA HALEP: I’m still so far because I have to play quarterfinals only, so will be very tough match next round.
I believe in my chance, but I don’t think too far. So I stay focused for my quarterfinals first.