Sunday 25 January 2009
Q. How confident were you going into the match, given
that you were head-to-head with her 3-All?
MARION BARTOLI: You know, I was really confident because
I played really well my last match against Safarova. I
knew I could beat Jelena on a good day, it was just a
matter of executing it, you know, play the right shot
at the right time and doesn't make too much mistake.
But I was not overwhelmed by the situation, and I just
went for my shot and everything went in today. It was
just a great match.
Q. Any particular part of your game that pleased you?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, most everything, you know, except
maybe two service game. But, you know, I was on the wrong
side. I was having right the sun in the middle of the
face when I was tossing the ball. It was really hard in
the second set to serve on one side of the court.
But after that I think I played just a great match. I
hang in there when it was the time to hang in there. I
went for my shot when I needed. I return really well. I
serve well the last game. So I'm just pleased about
everything.
Q. When did you realize she really wasn't going to come
back into the game?
MARION BARTOLI: When the last point was over (laughter).
Because, you know, against her it's never over until you
won the match. You know, obviously she's No. 1 in the world.
She's a great player. She's fighting until the end.
This game at 4-All was so important for me to win and to
break her to go ahead 5-4 in the second set, and then just
try to hang in there toughly and just focus on ball after
ball, point after point, doesn't think about the victory.
But when I was up 5-4 and serving for the match, just
stayed focused and be ready for everything.
Q. After your great run at Wimbledon two years ago, were
you satisfied with how you went in the Grand Slams last
year?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, not really in here, and the French
Open obviously, because I lost twice in the first round.
But, as I say many times before, I was struggling with my
health for the first six months of the year. I was just not
able to practice as I should, you know, to be ready to play
some tennis at the pro level, that was it.
Some days I was staying three days in a row inside my room
at home or even in the hotel room when I was on the tour.
I couldn't practice at all for three days in a row.
There is no way, even if I'm tough mentally, to win some
matches like that. So I just try to stay positive. My dad
help me a lot, obviously. I start to feel better after
Wimbledon when I was still able to win two matches.
After that I think I had a great run to finish inside the
top 20, which half of the season was already quite an
achievement obviously. Just try to practice hard this
winter to be ready for here, even if I never had a good
Australian Open. And this year it just went my way.
Q. How determined were you in the off-season to come back
and be a top-10 player again?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, I was really determined, you know,
this year to do everything I could to be ready. Honestly,
I felt really at the end of last year I was playing well.
But just having this little problem to win some tough
matches in a row, be able to go day in and day out and
be strong physically. I was fit, but not strong enough.
I really put in hard work during the off-season, and
today it shows up.
I just play a tough match two days ago. I'm coming in today
on court just feeling good again, be able to move really
well and to defend when I need it, of course, to go for
my shot when I need as well.
I was just really determined to come back in the top 10.
I think I'm just in the right direction.
Q. Was Monica Seles somebody you admired a lot? You seem
to have a very similar style.
MARION BARTOLI: Yeah, I can hear you fine (laughter).
Well, you know, she has been really my hero when I was
young, the same as Pete Sampras. Even when I was playing
with one-handed, she was already playing with two-handed.
She was already my hero because she was just so fighting
on the court. I really loved her spirit on the court. She
was putting everything into it. I just love Monica.
Of course, now I play double and she play double-handed.
She's a huge inspiration for me.
Q. Australian season hasn't been a happy hunting ground
for you. Now you made the final in Brisbane and now in
quarterfinals. Do you sort of pinch yourself a little bit?
MARION BARTOLI: Yeah, well, you know, I've been in the
final of a Grand Slam, so it's not a big deal to be in
a quarterfinal. I'm just taking step after step. I'm
playing good. I'm feeling good.
Of course I beat Jelena the same Round of 16, I think,
in Wimbledon 2007, so there is quite some memories coming
back.
But I just want to take it match after match. If I can
have a great run. I'm not the only French here. There is
still Alizé Cornet, and I hope she's going to win today.
I hope there's going to be one French in the final of the
Australian Open.
Q. Do you feel in order to win matches against great
players you have to be playing great on offense, or do
you think defense now is a very important part of your
game?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, both. I mean, obviously if you
want to win against those top players you have to be
great in both situations, either defense or offense.
There is no way you can play only offense the whole
match. You need some defense sometimes.
If they put you on the run and you cannot put two balls
on the court, they gonna beat you. I think it's important
to be able to play both defense and offense and obviously
be able to be great in both.
I think today, that's why I won, because in defense I
was putting always some pressure to her, was always
scrambling some balls, making her play this extra shot.
And when I was in the offense, I was able to hit a lot
of winners, so...
Q. Winning against the world No. 1, does this mean for
you you can go all the way up? Is this something that
pops up in your mind after a match like this?
MARION BARTOLI: Well, yes, of course. But when I'm
stepping on the court, no matter who is my opponent
on the other side of the net, I really feel I have
some chances to win.
Even if I play against Jelena today, against the No. 1
in the world, even if I beat her today, doesn't mean I'm
going to win the tournament. It's not working like that.
There are some really tough players left into the draw,
and I just hope to be able to achieve the same kind of
matches in the quarterfinal, and maybe I will go all
the way.
Q. Do you feel like if you play your best the next
three matches that you really do have a chance to win
the tournament?
MARION BARTOLI: Of course, yes. You know, I mean, as
I say, I've been in the final of a Grand Slam before,
and there is not a lot of players have been able to
achieve that. So I think if I'm playing the same way
I have a real chance, of course.
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