TENNIS 2014 ROLAND GARROS – 5th of June. S. Halep d. A. Petkovic 6-2, 7-6. An interview with Simona Halep
Q. What was your first feeling after the match point?
SIMONA HALEP: My first feeling was amazing. I didn’t know how to feel. I cannot say what I feel now. I’m a little bit blocked.
It’s amazing to play the final here in Paris. It was very tough match. Emotional, also. I was very nervous.
But, yeah, I was a little bit stronger I think in the end, in the tiebreak, and I could win the match in two sets. I feel amazing, and it’s incredible feeling to can play a final at Grand Slam.
Q. You seem to be a very smart player. Everybody says that. Andrea said that she needed to take the time away from you. When someone manages that, what is your plan B? Do you have a plan B?
SIMONA HALEP: Yes. I have a few plans during the match, but I just want to play my style: to be aggressive and to stay very close to the baseline.
But today I stayed a little bit far from the baseline. But she played really well. I mean, she’s a very strong player. She hit very strong. So I had just to stay focused, to fight for every ball, every point.
I think I did well, because in the tiebreak I changed a little bit and I hit a dropshot. She didn’t know how to play that point, so I won that one.
I think that was the very important moment of the second set.
Q. It’s obviously been an amazing 12 months for you. Was there a moment when everything suddenly clicked, or has it been a gradual process?
SIMONA HALEP: I think the click was in Rome when I beat Radwanska. I thought after that match that I can play at higher level to beat the top players. I started to be more aggressive. At that moment I had more confidence in myself.
I had impressive 12 months, but today at this tournament it’s more I mean, it’s fantastic. Now I have emotions also to speak and to say how I feel.
It’s incredible, and I want just for the final to play a good match.
Q. You will be No. 3 in the world on Monday. Everything is going to be fast for you. How do you react about that?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I said many times that the ranking is not really important for me. More important is to play, to win many more matches, and to play finals and to win titles.
But of course it’s amazing to be top world 3. Yeah, it’s very fast. I didn’t expect this last year, but if I’m here, I have to enjoy the moment and to take more confidence in myself.
I’m there, and I can do everything on court.
Q. And how to beat Maria and what do you have to do different from your last match against her?
SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I don’t know how I have to play to beat Maria (Laughter.)
But if I can beat Maria, better to say. But I have to take that revenge. I will fight for this one. I played a really good match in Madrid first set. I started really well. I was very fast on court, and I opened the angles very well.
But she came back very, very well and she hit strong, stronger than me at that moment.
Now, I have to be aggressive again, to play fast, like my style, and to stay there with the nerves. It will be a tough moment for me. I know. I’m sure that will be.
But I have to be happy and just to enjoy. I cannot say how I will feel Saturday. I cannot now. I don’t know how is it to play a final of a Grand Slams.
