News & Photos / Interviews / Interview with Aleksandra Wozniak

S. WILLIAMS/A. Wozniak

6‑1, 6‑2

An interview with:

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What happened today for you? Howdid you feel about this match?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: I played on Philippe Chatrierand I played Serena, and I think my answer to what happened today was I wasreally tight. I was really, I was like arock. I couldn't let go, you know, on myshots and play my game.

She didn'tgive it to me. She didn't make anymistakes. She was playing clean tennistoday. Yes, I couldn't really do muchwith, you know. All I can do is learnfrom this experience and get stronger for next time.

Q. Why do you think you went in so tight?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: Well, you know, when you reallywant to win badly and there's so much things going on, and, you know, it's myfirst time on Philippe Chatrier. Youknow, emotions get involved and you just get tight and you can't play reallyyour game, so it's tough.

Q. You know this court? You havememories of this court, that's why you were a little bit...

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: Well, I have memories when Iwas little girl, and I was watching Monica Seles playing on TV. I said, I always ‑‑ I would love to playon that court one day. Definitely, youknow, today was my first time on Philippe Chatrier.

Definitely,you know, I was tight and couldn't play my game. But I was playing a really, you know, a bigchampion today. She played some reallysolid tennis, and it wasn't easy. Butnext time I think I'll be much more relaxed. You know, I'll be ready for next time.

Q. Was that sort of the real Serena today? I mean, I couldn't think of a thing you could do against her the way shewas playing.

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: Well, she played reallyclean. She didn't make much unforcederrors, and I was really tight. Icouldn't play my game at all. You know,deep, heavy ball, I couldn't let go. Soit showed.

You know,obviously, like, she was the better player on the court today because of that.

Q. Do you think Serena is the favorite, or Safina?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: Well, I would say both, becausepeople ‑‑ they have favorites. Soone, they love Safina and they love Serena, so definitely, you know, the bestplayer is going to win Roland Garros this year.

Q. Was there a time when you started to relax a little bit and play betteror felt a little more relaxed?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: Yeah, there were some points Irelaxed and played okay, but I would get, you know, like a rock and wouldn't beable to let go. Sometimes it's likestronger than you. You know, you can'thelp it.

But it'sdefinitely ‑‑ you know, I'm going to learn from this and become much morestronger for next time and prepare.

Q. What was your first feeling when you got on the court for the warmup andjust, you know, the first few games? Just the feeling of how big it is?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: Yeah, it was tough. Definitely playing first time on the bigstadium that I've dreamed of when I was a little girl, so it was definitelysomething.

Q. But was it bigger than you thought? Was it hard to play because...

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: This court is amazing,yeah. The crowd and the way you heareverything, yeah. It's just ‑‑ it'sa dream come true where I am right now, and I've just got to enjoy it and keepplaying, you know.

Serena, youknow, she wished me to keep it up and keep working hard. She's a ‑‑ you know, champions know what to say.

Q. How are you going to play on the grass? What's your program?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: Um, I'll take few days off andbe a tourist. I'll visit the beautifulcity here in Paris, and then I'll go to Birmingham, Eastbourne, and I have Wimbledon.

So twotournaments before Wimbledon so I can prepareon grass.

Q. This is the first time you feel something like today?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: It's ‑‑ yeah, because itwas first time on Philippe Chatrier. Soit felt different, and definitely was tough. But it was, you know, it was a special moment though in my life.

Q. What had you done for preparation trying to get ready to play on thatcourt?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: Yeah, I didn't get a feel ofthat court before the match. But, youknow, I tried to have a good warmup and do, you know, a good ‑‑ on thecourt I warmed up, and then off courtand just tried to mentally focus and see myself on that court and playing well.

Sometimesit doesn't always go your way, and not everything is your favor. But, um, definitely I wish her luck, youknow. She's playing really good.

Q. And compared to playing her last summer in Stanford, was there adifference?

ALEKSANDRAWOZNIAK: It was different, totally. You know, it's Roland Garros here. I've played her in a big tier event, WTA, andit was my first title and it was on hardcourts, and here it was clay.

Now, today,you know, she just was at her best and I wasn't. It was great just to play on PhilippeChatrier, even though it's something that I couldn't handle it better.