TENNIS US OPEN 2014 – 26th of August 2014. P. Kvitova d. K. Mladenovic 6-1, 6-0. An interview with Petra Kvitova
Q. It’s always good to get a first round of a Grand Slam under your belt. 6-1, 6-0 is pretty commanding.
PETRA KVITOVA: I’m very happy. First round is always nerves. It was the same today with morning. When I wake up, I start to feel nervous. I was just glad how I played today. It was windy outside, it was tough condition. But it was the same for both of us. I didn’t expect it was going to be wind. In that time, just try to help maybe with the wind. Yeah, I’m just glad how I played. I mean, it’s great I have a couple of matches from New Haven that I felt more confident on the court than maybe I will feel if I’m not playing New Haven. So, yeah, I’m glad.
Q. How does it help coming into a US Open having just had a victory like in New Haven? Does that boost your confidence?
PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah. I think, you know, always struggling after Wimbledon when I playing the few hard court tournaments before the US Open. I’m just glad I can play New Haven and have a little bit more matches in my bag. For me it’s a good idea actually. I didn’t feel very tired today. So I think only one thing would help me there.
Q. Coming off of a second Wimbledon championship, there were some stumbles. Does that give you confidence knowing you’ve been able to do it twice, maybe it will help you in the other Grand Slams?
PETRA KVITOVA: Yeah, of course the other Grand Slams are a big challenge for me right now to do a good result. Especially here, where I don’t really have a good result. So I’m really motivating to do well here. You know, I remember 2011 when I lost my first round after winning Wimbledon, so I’m just glad that I’m better already (smiling).
Q. You’ve been close to No. 1 before. If you were to go the distance here, you could become the No. 1 player in the world. Is that an ambition of yours, a goal?
PETRA KVITOVA: No, it’s not. I mean, I was pretty close to No. 1. But I wasn’t really that big disappointed that I didn’t make it. Of course it’s more important for me to do well in the Grand Slam and winning Grand Slam obviously. That’s what matters. I mean, the number before name is only say how good you are playing on the tournaments, on the Grand Slam. So, I mean, if you are doing well and you have a good success on the big tournaments, it is showing on the ranking. So just focusing on the next match right now. Of course, it’s a Grand Slam, so that’s it.
