TENNIS US OPEN – 29th of August 2014. M. Lucic-Baroni d. S. Halep 7-6, 6-2. An interview with Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
Q. It’s nice to have you back in this room.
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Thank you so much. It’s been a little while.
Q. Just talk about knocking off the No. 2 seed. It’s a great accomplishment. Talk about your form of late.
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: I mean, it’s amazing. I finally been able to play the tennis that I love the way I love to play. You know, being really aggressive and consistent at the same time. Yeah, I mean, I keep playing better and better each round. Today was against one of the best players in the world. She’s amazing. I expected a really tough match. I didn’t think about anything except following the tactics and playing the way I was supposed to play. I was able to do that; it’s incredible.
Q. Just looking at how you were playing going up to qualifying, there was no way to think you’d be able to come here and do this. What have you found since you obviously started hitting your stride in the qualifying phase and getting better and better every round here?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Well, I mean, until you make consistent results nobody know how hard you working, nobody knows what you’re doing. I have been putting in the hours all these years, but, you know, I always end up battling few injuries. Started playing better in Doha. I got injury and another injury and all these things. Until you make results, it looks like you’re kind of half there. I have been working really hard. And now finally being able to do it consistently, it’s starting to show in results. Yeah, so it feels great finally.
Q. What were those injuries?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Earlier in Doha, my back just blocked, gave in. I was in excruciating pain. I couldn’t finish my match. Then in Indian Wells I got a herniated dick in my neck. That made huge problems for my shoulder. Before Wimbledon I couldn’t play for a week. It’s been one thing after another, and then again after Wimbledon I didn’t play for three weeks. So, yeah, this summer my preparation was just playing matches and, you know, playing in tournaments and kind of getting through all these little things. Finally, you know, getting some confidence here winning some matches.
Q. Is that what you meant by every painful movement is so worth it, or did you mean something else?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: I mean, everything. Every thankful moment on the court, you know, that you run your butt off until you can’t breathe. Then you do some more. You do that day in and day out. Today, you know, after five matches, however many matches I played so far, you know, I was still able to — six? I’m still able to move great and feel great physically and strong. So, yeah, I’m so happy.
Q. I know this is difficult, but if you had to sum up your personal journey at this point, how would you recap it for us?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Well, that’s not an easy questions.
Q. I know it’s not.
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Well, I mean, I’m a little bit emotional now. Sorry. (Crying.) It’s been really hard. Sorry. After so many years to be here again, it’s incredible. I wanted this so bad. So many times I would get to, you know, a place where I could do it. Then I wanted it so bad that I’m kind of burned out. And I apologize again. Yeah, I’m so happy.
Q. How difficult was it to control those emotions when it came time to serve out the match?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: It was really easy. Right now it’s hard (laughter). I was really good. I was so good on the court. You know, I knew what I had to do and I was able to do it. And then just after it’s been — whew, it’s been really tough. Talking about it is really tough. You know, it’s surprising to be here in a way because it’s been so long. But I worked so hard for this. I knew what I had to do, and I was able to do that on the tennis court, which is, yeah, amazing.
Q. It’s only been 15 years since you got to the second week of a slam. It’s not that long.
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: I know, right? I feel good about the fact I’m 32 and I’m still here. After so many matches I feel fit. I feel strong. I still have a few years to catch up to Kimiko, so I’m good.
Q. What are you going to remember about your last fourth-round Grand Slam run 15 years ago?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: It was a long time ago. I mean, I remember it was really exciting, but back then it was so normal. I was so young and I was so good and I was winning so much that it wasn’t — even though it’s exciting, it wasn’t really a big deal. It was just a natural progression. And now it’s just amazing. Every round is amazing. Every round I look forward to. I mean, in a way I know I sound like and I feel like a little kid, like this is the first time ever happening. I don’t know, I love the feeling. I’m really happy.
Q. Do you see it as sort of two different careers?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Yeah. I mean, in a way, yeah. Obviously you could say that after a long break this definitely looks like a second career. But, yeah. I missed it when I didn’t play and I still enjoy it now.
Q. What were you doing when you didn’t play? And how serious was the financial situation?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Well, I mean, it’s really uncomfortable for me to talk about it. Obviously that was the main reason why I didn’t play. It wasn’t any lack of desire or anything. It’s just circumstances were such. Yeah, I still played with my brothers a lot. I was still in tennis a lot. I was still, you know, waiting for my opportunities and things like that.
Q. Any of those sort of old memories come back when you were watching Catherine Bellis this week, the fact she was doing so well so young?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Yeah. I was watching her last night. It was kind of cute. I was remembering — it was a little bit different. Still you’re watching a little kid, and for me it was just so normal when I was 15 playing here. I actually needed a wildcard. I was 15 in the world and I needed a wildcard because of the rules, which was crazy. I already belonged. I was already here. Yeah, you’re just such a little kid. You don’t know what’s happening. Yeah, it’s a lot of fun, too. I was having so much fun watching. I was remembering, you know, I was feeling like an adult at 15 when I played here, but, yeah, it’s just — she’s just a little girl. It’s amazing. Amazing thing to do.
Q. Did you have any close calls qualifying here?
MIRJANA LUCIC-BARONI: Oh, yes, I did. In the very first round I was down 4-2 in the third against a very good American player. She’s actually of Croatian descent. Yeah, very good lefty. Yeah, she just was bombing everything. I was kind of running around thinking, What’s happening here? I’m going to go first round home. And then in the third round again I battled 5-2 in the third set. Kind of the same thing. So, yeah, I earned my way again into the main draw.