TENNIS US OPEN 2014 – 27th of August 2014. P. Shuai d. A. Radwanska 6-3, 6-4. An interview with Peng Shuai
Q. How satisfying is this win? I mean, she’s been playing great tennis, fourth seed. How good do you feel to knock her out of the third round?
PENG SHUAI: Really happy and really exciting. Before the match actually a lot of fans was like ask me in the e-mail, you know. China, the web always say I play her four times and then I win her only one time and that was in the US Open four years ago. So maybe I saw from like long time the lucky may be coming back today. In Australian Open I remember I have two match points. Didn’t make it. Like three years ago or something, so today when I play I know she was really like tough one of top players, because she never miss and she’s running so fast. She make like you saw a lot like angle, you know, really smart player. And then for the match I was really happy today. I have to running a lot.
Q. You had several match points, and she was obviously fighting very, very hard. Very dramatic points. Your feeling at the end? Were you feeling a bit nervous that maybe you let another match point get away? Just talk about sort of the end of the match.
PENG SHUAI: Really no risk because I really, really want to win. And then beginning of match actually I also really nervous, because when the first set start is not like — first game is not really good. But actually it’s good. I come back into match after two games really good. And then the end I think I just really want to win. My mind, you know, like when I get to match point is really, tight, I just thinking like, you know — I go through again for the Australia Open, to happen again, so like tell myself, you know, like I have to hit the ball. You know, even maybe I missed it I still have to go for my shot because this is my weapon. And then finally the serve I maked it.
Q. You have a tough opponent coming up in your next match with Roberta.
PENG SHUAI: Vinci, right?
Q. Talk about that match.
PENG SHUAI: We play many times doubles together.
Q. So you know her game?
PENG SHUAI: Well, it’s different than the doubles than play the singles. We also play each other before. Okay. I have some break to think about next round, mentally you think about. You know, when you think about it’s like so nervous and so tight. And then probably tomorrow I will have like first-round doubles. So maybe now I give myself like a cooldown a little bit, mentally the break, rest. And then I was thinking tomorrow night, and then after fight again. Yeah.
Q. You played a lot of matches in your career against top 10 players. Haven’t won a lot of them. But what do you learn from all those experiences, even when you lose, that you can use playing a player like her?
PENG SHUAI: Actually for my tennis career is a little bit up and down. And also a little bit like tough situation because I have about like two times almost stop playing. So it’s really lucky I’m still here. And then with top player I play, I learn. Their tennis maybe is different. Some like to really power. And like today, Radwanska, she’s really smart. You know, play the angles all different that. I want to learn like how I can be there. Yeah, I think is not only like work hard, because I think on the tour everybody like try like their best. And I think that also in the match, when the chance coming, like how to make it, to take it. And also maybe in like nervous or different situation, how can you choose to right a shot, right moment. That also is like one of the key. Yeah.
Q. How nice is it to also give China a big win here, especially with Li Na not here? Fans at home still got a big win here.
PENG SHUAI: Yeah, because when she say she’s not gonna play Montreal, Cincinnati, and also US Open, was like big news. And then everybody was start talking, you know, like, also have someone others, like new in the air. But this year I think also is one of the maybe the best to have like six Chinese like on the girl main draw. Three from quallies and also like they’re like two, right, plus me in the second round? Also not bad because they are young. And then I prefer have the Na Li. They didn’t watch me too much because there is more pressure. Not easy to handle that. I still want to like working hard and just focus and enjoy my tennis.
