TENNIS US OPEN – 2nd of September 2014. P. Shuai d. B. Bencic 6-2, 6-1. An interview with Peng Shuai
Q. How are you feeling in this moment? Have the emotions hit you yet?
PENG SHUAI: Well, was really happy, exciting that, and then also my body feel like it’s tired because it’s like one half awake, and even mentally, because before I play singles and doubles. But still really happy, I think. Excited. Yeah.
Q. To be in your first Grand Slam semifinal and you haven’t dropped a set in this tournament. No one has taken more than four games from you. How does it feel to be going to your first semifinal in a Grand Slam and playing as well as you are playing?
PENG SHUAI: Well, it’s really happy what I did it now. And then thinking from the beginning year I was doing lot of fitness and also like I keep practice, try to improve my game. Maybe this time I find a way or I catch like right time. I don’t know. And then just try to like do what I can do on the court, and then — maybe before in the match I was like tight or nervous, afraid to play, but this time, for this moment, I feel myself was quite okay.
Q. How confident are you feeling now with the results that you’ve had?
PENG SHUAI: Well, I think from like last couple of matches, I think — end of the match I think is really like tough decision even I play with Aggie. Yes, two set, but also have a big chance maybe she come back in second set. Even Vinci were like really like close to the point and a lot of rallies. I didn’t realize thinking just like two set or how many they win the game. I feel in the match it’s really like tough. And then after court is different then, so I think for now is I just try to rest and then be focused more when they coming. Yeah.
Q. Zheng Jie made the semifinals of Wimbledon and Li Na obviously took majors. Why do you think it took you a little bit longer to reach this career result?
PENG SHUAI: They are both really good tennis player, and even Zheng Jie which is really good also in doubles. Everybody have different situation with their different career, because, you know, because it’s not a short time. More than 10, 20 years. When from like when turn pro I have really good first two years, but after years I get really, really tough situation with my tennis. I almost stopped playing like three or four years is really tough with the mentally. A lot of tennis, but in the moment, you know, I want to like enjoy that. And then slowly, slowly, slowly like my team tell me to keep going, like to make like a first way I play tennis I dream about it. Then after, 2011 I have really good year. Reached, yeah, best in my singles ranking. And then after I have like many injury. Then still like, you know, I don’t know, it’s just like really tough the situation. And then just try like what I can do and keep working. Was really happy this time.
Q. When was the lowest moment for you when you thought that you might actually stop playing?
PENG SHUAI: One time was my 12 years old and then one time is in the 2006. Yeah. These two times actually is kind of like I almost stop played. Because my 12 years almost was doesn’t have that much choice, because the doctor was telling me maybe I have to stop it. But is really lucky, you know, like I can come back and play. And 2006 was also big another challenger, and then finally I maked it.
Q. What do you remember of your match played versus Errani?
PENG SHUAI: You mean doubles?
Q. No, in singles.
PENG SHUAI: Singles, okay. I play her in Charleston. It was like really also close, the match. I don’t remember two set or three sets. Actually I think it was like — and the clay court is her best court. And then she’s big fight and then she move so well. Yeah.
Q. You said when you were 12 the doctor told you that you might not be able to keep playing tennis. What was wrong with you? What was that moment like for you?
PENG SHUAI: Is heart surgery when 12 years when I make it. It’s a little bit tough to explain in English. I’m sorry for that. After I stop, because one year with surgery and then after I was okay to check me for play with sport.
Q. What was wrong with your heart?
PENG SHUAI: It’s a born from the natural, my mom, and then and it’s, how do you say? You know, was like, you know, the blood one way with the air way is not, and then is something mixed it. Yeah, so they have to make the separate.
Q. Did you also, maybe not, couldn’t continue when you had a bit of a dispute with your government about funding? Was that a point in your life where maybe you wouldn’t have continued playing?
PENG SHUAI: Another tough question (smiling). Yes, tennis in my country start slow. Is not like Europe or U.S. like the long history. So maybe I catch in the moment. It’s like they also want to like what is professional tennis, and they also like how to building good player and then maybe we like catch like — I feel the time should be like go to my way; they feel like is go to maybe their way. And then — but I think from government, they like want to be play good tennis, have good result. So maybe from different angle and everybody is thinking or feeling different it. So after they have a fight. But the good news we maked it or find a way, and now is going really good.
Q. You beat Kim Clijsters in 2005. Kim said she believed you could be a top 5 player. Did that put pressure on you? How good do you feel your best is?
PENG SHUAI: I still really remember the match. Is also one of the amazing time for me. It’s almost like 10 years. It’s long time. I didn’t feel not as old as it, so I still try and I still looking forward, try my best, keep going working hard, and then do what I can do.
Q. When you look at what you’ve achieved in doubles with Grand Slam titles and now a singles semifinal, would you trade one for the other? At the moment, which is bigger for you, what you’ve achieved here or what you’ve achieved in doubles? And also, have you heard from anybody back home? Has Li Na sent you any messages or anything?
PENG SHUAI: Actually is, you know, like a little bit funny, because before, when 2011 I make the my best ranking with my singles and then you know, like I have good feeling. So after I go with my partner like start from last year with the Wimbledon, and then this year French Open. They ask me, Are you singles player or doubles player? I feel I’m tennis player (smiling). And then so now is good. I show them I play both, singles and then doubles. And then singles is myself always like a big challenger, you know, with all the tennis, you know, tennis player. But doubles is the two person. The thing is not like one way. So all the time I play with her I will try my best, because sometime they ask, Oh, if you play singles, doubles, how you going to do with your body, with your energy? Are you going to give up the doubles or fight with the singles? No, I just — when they coming, I try like what I can do with her. Because if I don’t play with her, I will say to her, same like in Montreal. I’m like from quallies Montreal and the Cincinnati, but when I in the doubles I will still play with her. I gave up the Cincinnati, because we are lose the Cincinnati doubles and I go play the New Haven. Like, how do you say, I have nothing to, how do you say, because I was in singles I give up. Same like yesterday. I’m try, but, you know, like it’s really tough. We are lost 6-7 and the 4-6. My body actually is I feel is dead, so dizzy in the court. So for sure I would like focus more with my singles. But if I enter to my partner, okay, I try my best. And then so in the future I still love to play doubles, so basically I need to work more with my fitness and be more stronger. Yeah.
