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Serena Williams will take on Victoria Azarenka in the semifinals of Rogers Cup presented by National Bank after she defeated Lucie Safarova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Friday night.
For the second evening in a row, Williams lost the first set but managed to climb back to claim victory in impressive fashion.
Her final four foe will be Victoria Azarenka, who advanced to the semifinals with a routine 6-1, 6-2 victory over Galina Voskoboeva.
The No. 4 seed put a stop to the qualifier's incredible run in Toronto, whose fallen opponents include No. 9 Marion Bartoli, Flavia Pennetta, and No. 5 Maria Sharapova.
It will be a tough match between the two, as Azarenka has been lights-out all tournament with only six dropped games through three matches, but Williams is definitely a challenge for any player.
The second semifinal will be between Samantha Stosur and Agnieszka Radwanska after both won in straight sets.
It was a battle between the two similarly-skilled competitors, with Radwanska just eking out the win, a few points here and there making the difference. The Poland native has now eliminated Petkovic from contention twice in one week, after she also defeated the world No. 10 last Saturday in the Carlsbad semifinals.
Stosur meanwhile was the first player through to the semifinals with an early afternoon 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Roberta Vinci.
The Australian has continually improved throughout the week, and she was solid in the one hour, three minute defeat of her Italian opponent.
In doubles, defending champions Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta are through to the semifinals once again, while Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond also made it through via walkover after Vera Dushevina and Lucie Hradecka pulled out due to Dushevina's right forearm injury. They will play each other for a spot in the final.
Azarenka will play two matches tomorrow, as she and partner Maria Kirilenko take on Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja in the other doubles semi.
August 12, 2011
V. AZARENKA/G. Voskoboeva
6 1, 6 2
An interview with:
VICTORIA AZARENKA
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. How do you feel about being the highest ranked player left standing?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Um, not really focused on that, honestly, no? I'm just here to play the tournament, not looking at the rankings or anything else, just trying to stay focused on every game. You know, every opponent is tough, as you can see throughout the tournament. So I'm just really trying to be focused on myself.
Q. How concerned were you playing here today, considering that she beat Maria and then she beat Bartoli and she was playing very well? Were you worried going into the match, or did you know much about her beforehand as well?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, I know her for a long time, but worried, no. I mean, of course I had to take in consideration she's been playing really well, you know.
But as I said, I was more focused on my game and trying to execute my shots and moving myself than really more less on the opponent's game. So it worked out for me well that I was really focused on me than on her.
Q. Are you surprised, I mean, she hasn't had that much of a record in singles, that she did so well this week?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, you know, it's one week. If she can do that on consistent basis, she will be, you know, up top 10.
Q. That's something that you've really sort of been managing to do ever since March is really bring good tennis every week. Can you talk a little bit about sort of that discipline and just what it takes to keep that focus?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, it takes a lot of hard work. You know, every day you have to find something to, you know, motivate you, to go on court and try to give your best.
So for me it's important to, you know, stay on the court when I'm on the court, to give my best every time on every point and every match I play. So that's how I am. That's my mentality going into every match.
Q. Do you have any sort of specific tricks that you use? I mean, I know you started listening to music walking on the court, things like that. Can you talk about that?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, I do listen to the music all the time when I go. I like to dance a little bit before the match.
So, you know, everybody has their own way to get ready for the match and get focused, so that's one of mine.
Q. I saw you in May. I believe it was your last hard court appearance where you won in Key Biscayne over Maria. Do you see some similarities between playing here in Toronto and at the Sony Ericsson Open?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Absolutely zero except that the name, the hard court. But the surface and the whole atmosphere is completely different. You can't compare these both events. It's totally different.
Q. You're sort of from the same generation as Kvitova. When you see her win Wimbledon, does that sort of make you think, that could have been me, or are you a little frustrated that she got there first for a Grand Slam?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Frustrated? No, she really deserved that win. She played really well. I had my chances, also.
But for me, I don't want to look back, you know. There is no point. You cannot bring back what happened already.
But I think she played really well. She deserved that win. And for me, I'm just gonna focus on the next one and try to get it.
Q. Do you have a quick word about each of the two possible opponents that you could face tomorrow?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Two good words, two great girls, two great players, you know, been showing some excellent tennis this week. So both dangerous.
And, you know, honestly I look forward to see how that match goes, and I'll be happy to play any of the opponents.
Q. You have matched up well against Serena in the past. Can you talk a little bit about, if it is her, what you need to do and what is it that you do that's given her trouble in the past?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Well, she's a great player. I mean, you can see she has so many weapons, you know, especially her big serve.
Just, you know, have to fight against her. I haven't played her in a while. Since she has been back, she has been showing some excellent tennis.
So I really have to, you know, step up the level a little bit, and, as I said, try to be focused on me, not on who I'm gonna play.
Q. Is that the important thing? Just the fight?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, of course. It's always it's the most important thing. I mean, everybody knows how to play forehand, how to play backhand, and to run. Most important is to fight and to bring out your best mentality.
Q. What does it feel like to see your ranking where it is and see Serena's ranking at 70 or whatever it is? Does that seem strange?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: It's how things are. I mean, she didn't play for a year. What do you expect, her to be No. 1 after one tournament? Is impossible.
So, I mean, I'm sure she's gonna work her way through, and she knows where she deserves to be. We'll see how it goes.
Q. Did you see any of the matches she played in Stanford and when she won that tournament?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, I saw a little bit. As I said, she played great. I mean, Serena, doesn't matter if she didn't play for eight months. She's done it before. She knows how to play tennis.
Q. When you're watching, are you watching out of curiosity or are you watching as a professional sort of scouting to see exactly how she's playing?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Both. I mean, just curious sometimes. You know, sometimes it's interesting to just watch tennis and see what players are working, what players are doing. It's not particular one player. I love to watch men's tennis, as well.
So I don't know. I enjoy watching.
Q. What were you doing last week? Was it just a practice week? Did you come here early?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Yeah, I was practicing in New York.
Q. Did you get a chance to do anything else?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Quite a few things. I mean, but mainly practice. It takes so much time out of you. Sometimes you just don't have any energy to go anywhere.
But I did my haircut. I colored my hair. A little bit curly now.
Q. Speaking of being busy, obviously you're still rolling in doubles play, as well. What does that take out of you this week?
VICTORIA AZARENKA: It's a lot of fun. I enjoy playing doubles. I have a great partner, and we have been playing so well this whole year, so it's a little bit of extra practice and extra prize money, as well. (Smiling.)
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
August 12, 2011
S. STOSUR/R. Vinci
6 4, 6 1
An interview with:
SAMANTHA STOSUR
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Congratulations, first of all. For you guys, this is a grind, obviously, but for fans in Toronto they only get to see you guys once every two years. So when you make the semis like this, it's an introduction to the city when they really catch on on the weekend. How aware are you guys of that idea of becoming a big deal in a new city, and what have your impressions of Toronto been?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I guess because we go to a new city kind of every year, it's always the same kind of thing.
I guess certain tournaments, especially like this, you realize how much the fans appreciate the tournament being back here. Everyone involved with the event does such a good job, and I think, you know, it shows how popular it is with how many volunteers they have and how many people come to watch during quallies and just practice days.
So obviously I think any time a big sporting event and something like our tournaments come to a town, it's great for the, you know, the economy. We all go out to eat and all stay in the hotels. I think it's a really good thing for each city we go to.
Q. For Toronto, in general, your impressions?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I have really enjoyed my time, staying downtown, found some nice restaurants that I like going to. Yeah, it's been a really good week.
Q. It looked like you were serving really well out there. Is that something you have been working on, or it just came together?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I think as the match went on, I obviously probably grew in confidence, and then you get that bit of a lead with a buffer of a couple breaks and felt like I could maybe start going for a bit more; whereas at the start I was just trying to kick it in, get it hard to her backhand, really make a high percentage, and then you start feeling it. I went for some big ones, and it pay paid off.
Q. At what point do you think, I can win this thing?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, I think, you know, semifinals you've got to believe that anything is possible. You know, from even having said that from semifinals to winning the tournament, there's still a long way to go, but I think in this position you've got to. If you don't, then it's probably a little bit silly.
Q. Did you have any problem with Roberta, different style of play?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I knew going into the match that she obviously has a different style, and, you know, I kind of thought I knew the way she was gonna try and play against me, and I was prepared for that. It is definitely tricky.
She obviously hits a lot more slice backhands than most players and kind of moves the ball around a bit differently and doesn't have the big power game.
But playing someone like her, I quite enjoy I guess that challenge of having to work things out, and maybe you don't win the point on the first or second shot, maybe take three or four balls and then you can set up and then you get your opportunity.
Q. At the end of the first set, along the same lines, you seemed to be running around the forehand a lot. Was that a conscious decision or did that just sort of happen naturally?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: No, I always try and do that, anyway. That's my kind of style or trying, I guess, get as many forehands as I can and play from, you know, that side a little bit more.
I think playing someone like her, I wanted to try and keep aggressive and it was hard to do that off a backhand when she's keeping the ball very low and whatever.
So it was kind of what I had intentionally set out to try and do.
Q. In honor of your victory I'm wearing sunglasses in the press room. I wanted to ask you, I did a little survey from a lot of eye surgeons, and a lot of them are wondering, why aren't there more tennis players wearing sunglasses? Because you obviously care about your eyes. They claim that the longer players go without wearing sunglasses is going to result in a lot of eye damage later on. I just want to know if you are wearing the sunglasses not only for your health it seems to be almost as much of a trademark for you. I just wanted to know if that's a conscious effort that you made early in your life.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: It wasn't a conscious effort for any of those reasons other than when I was about 14, I thought it might be kind of cool and I'd look different to everyone else, so I just wanted to wear them.
Mom and dad went out and bought me some, and ever since I've always played in them. I think now it's just like I take my racquets, I take my sunglasses, and it's part of, you know, everything that I take to the court to play.
Yeah, I don't know how a lot of players can see not just the sun but the glare out there. So that's the main reason why I really wear them, and, yeah, always have.
Q. You were pretty dominant in that second set. What was your mindset going into that last set?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I think once I won that first set, obviously you can kind of not relax but you feel like you've definitely got a bit of a lead going. And for her to lose serve in that last game when she had a couple of opportunities on my serve and then I was able to get ahead, and once I broke early in that second set, really felt like I was in control of the match.
So, you know, it's always important to try and start sets off well, whether you've just won the first set or lost it. I think I was really I was able to do that well today and never let her get back into it.
Q. Can you just comment a little bit on the two potential opponents you've got in the semifinal? Their style is different, approach it differently?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, yeah, they're definitely different style players. Petkovic has more of the power game and goes for it more whereas Agi kind of plays a different style, likes to absorb the pace and move ball around and really can, you know, work out what's going on quite well.
So I think it's two different styles. I think one, you've got to be aware of your unforced errors and try and keep those to a minimum and still play aggressive, and the other one, you've got to go for it but still know she's gonna come up with some very good winners and maybe throw in some errors as well.
I guess I'll wait and see who it is and then really think about it then.
Q. Do you like to watch the games of your competitors coming up? Like will you watch this afternoon's match live?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I will probably watch a little bit from upstairs a little bit. I don't always watch.
If it's on and I'm not doing anything else, then I'll watch it. That's why I have a coach and he does all that hard stuff. (Smiling.) Then we talk about it later.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
August 12, 2011
A. RADWANSKA/A. Petkovic
6 4, 6 3
An interview with:
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Does it feel a little bit like deja vu this week again?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Um, yes, a little bit. But anyway, you know, a little bit, yes, because I'm playing against the same players. But, you know, every match is different. You always have to play the best tennis, you know, winning against those players.
Q. Can you just talk a little bit about how your shoulder is doing?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Um, it's still okay. I mean, for sure playing every day is not very help with my shoulder. Still I can handle it, and for sure I will do my best tomorrow. And, yeah, we'll see.
I mean, for sure I need some couple days off before the Open, but now I'll do my 100%, you know, to win tomorrow.
Q. After the win last week, I'm just wondering how you're feeling about your game, because obviously you're rolling through this tournament, as well.
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: I mean, I'm very happy with my game, with my performance. I had a lot of good matches against top players. I think, you know, the best that I have the confidence and a lot of experience against top players.
So I think, you know, I already have a lot of good matches like a good warmup before the Open.
Q. Very dangerous opponent today. How is it you've matched up so well against her thus far in your career? I think it's four straight wins against her.
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Yes. Well, she's very tough player. I mean, you know, not missing much. You know, moving very well. Playing deep balls.
You know, she's very consistent. So is very tough to play against her. I just have to be focused since beginning to the last point. She's, you know, huge fighter, so I really have to close this match, and, you know, just fight till the end.
Q. You were 3 Love up and then it was 3 All and then it was Love 30. Did you feel then it was slipping away a little bit?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: You know, a little bit, yes. But I had something of this before actually against Vera, as well. It was like, you know, first set was 3 2 or 2 3 and then Love 40, and then in the second set I was 4 Love down.
So it's always up and down, you know, in the matches. So like I said, just point by point, and, you know, just fight until the end, because this is, like I said, anything can happen. Yeah, like I said, doesn't matter if 4 All or 4 Love. You just have to play your best all the time.
Q. Does it make it harder with the shoulder to really believe you can come back?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Of course, because, you know, I'm trying to not, especially not serve that strong like I always do.
So it's always a little bit harder, but anyway, I can still do it, you know, without the serve, so it's okay.
Q. Do you know exactly what it is with the shoulder?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: You know, I think the most important answer is just too much tennis, so...
Q. You have a new coach. Do you think that played a role in your recent wins?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Well, you know, of course, you know, I have a coach coaching me here, but also my dad in Poland before I came to U.S. , so you know, couple of guys, hitting partners hitting balls. So there's been a couple of people that you have to thank, you know, for being here in the semifinal and winning last week.
Q. Do you feel that your ranking is a bit misleading right now just with the way you have been playing?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: My ranking?
Q. Do you feel like you're a better player than what your ranking is showing?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: You know, it's hard to say that way. I think, you know, all the top 15 players are pretty on the same level, you know.
It's not like in the men's tour that, you know, there are like two or three, three players now that are on the top all the time. In the women's ranking, everything is changing all the time.
I just hope that I can be back on the top 10 after U.S. tournaments, that's for sure, and still fighting for the chance.
Q. Is your goal to win a Grand Slam or to be No. 1? Is that what you're always thinking about?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Of course. I think this is the dream for every player. So, yes, for sure.
Q. Which of the Grand Slams do you think you might have the best chance at?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Well, it's hard to say, but, you know, for me, doesn't matter which Grand Slam I win first, but I like grass. I got to quarters there. It's very hard to say, but, I think, yeah, grass or Australian Open, I think.
Q. Can you just talk about playing Stosur tomorrow and how that matchup looks to you?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: Um, well, we played couple times before, but I don't know the statistics, to be honest. I can't remember. But for sure, you know, she's very great player, great champion.
You know, playing her is always tough. So, you know, I just have to play again my best tennis to beat her tomorrow, so for sure it's going to be completely different match than today. But, you know, I'll try.
Q. What's special about your game?
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: I think you have to, you know, ask my opponents than me.
Q. You must know what you do well, what you think you do well.
AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA: You know, I think what I do well is I'm mixing up everything. You know, my tennis is not doesn't look the same. You know, depends who is on the other side of the court. Pretty much doing everything.
August 11, 2011
S. WILLIAMS/J. Zheng
4 6, 6 3, 6 3
An interview with:
SERENA WILLIAMS
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What was the reality on the court in the match with Zheng? Can you talk about the reality on the court in the match with Zheng?
SERENA WILLIAMS: What?
Q. Your reality.
SERENA WILLIAMS: My reality?
Q. What was going on?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Um, you know, it was a tough match going on out there, so it was as real as it gets, and it was fun. You know, I'm glad I was able to win.
Q. In the second set you managed to break the rhythm. How did you do that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I decided that I had to like really relax and really calm down and just, you know, try to start playing better. She was really just playing well from the whole match. I just tried to do better.
Q. When you look at the rest of the draw, you see a lot of the seeded players are now out. I mean, you are unseeded, only a few tournaments back from your injury. But when you look at the rest of the draw and the way you're playing, do you feel pretty good about your chances?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I just am happy to be in the quarterfinals. You know, I had a really tough match, so I'll see how I recover tonight. I've been playing a lot, and I haven't been playing as much, but also, I've been working out a lot, so I should be okay.
But seeded or not, you know, I'm in. I'm ready to go.
Q. Serena, is it a confidence booster to come through a match like that so shortly into your comeback?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it's cool, you know. I'm happy and it's good. I was happy to get through it. You know, I never give up. That's one of my things is to keep going.
Q. Did you ever think you'd lose that match? The last three games, you seemed to notch it up a gear.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Did I?
Q. Well, I thought so.
SERENA WILLIAMS: I hope so. You know, that's what you have to do in order to get to the next level. The thought 'I'm gonna lose' never ever crosses my mind even if I'm down match point.
Q. Some pretty impressive splits out there tonight.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Did you like those? (Laughter.)
I have been working on them. Whenever I can, I try to get to do it. I love doing the splits on and off the court. I absolutely was excited. I was really, really excited to do it.
Q. What was going through your mind after losing the first set and also at 5 3 of the second set?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I just thought, after I lost the first set, I thought, okay, third set. I always think that. Whenever I lose the first set, I'm automatically thinking about the third set. That's what was going through my mind.
And the second set when I was up 5 3, I don't know, I just thought I wanted to close it out.
Q. You said Zheng played a really good match today. Did you ever expect that she was going to play so aggressively from the baseline and also the return of serve before the match?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, yeah, she always plays me like this, so I wasn't surprised at all.
Really, the way she plays me is she always goes, for whatever reason, she goes so hard. So I was ready.
Q. She's now in the same situation like yours, came back from injuries. Do you think her game right now, what kind of level that she's right now, like top 15, top 30, that she could come back to the top 10 as well?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, you know, I don't really know what level, because, you know, I'm 89 in the world, wherever the heck I'm ranked. I don't really know, so I can't even tell you my level, so...
Q. It seemed like any time you showed emotion the crowd really got behind you in this match. When that happens, do you kind of try to feed off of it or block it out?
SERENA WILLIAMS: You know, when I'm showing emotion, I must really be into it and really be trying to get through it.
So I definitely don't want to block the crowd out, because it's so awesome to have their support. It's so cool when I'm out here and I hear them cheering for me. It totally helps, so I like it.
Q. Changing topics slightly, it's going to be the 10th anniversary of September 11 during the US Open this year. Can you just look back on that day and your memories of that?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah. You know, time flies so fast. You know, 10 years since September 11th is time where I think all Americans really kind of reminisce. It's a moment I don't think any American can forget.
You know, I was in New York at the time, and also in DC, so it was just a really horrible, really scary, scary moment for me and my whole family.
So, yeah, it was a disaster.
Q. Do you remember anything that really stands out?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I was in DC, and there were just Army trucks everywhere. And I was really scared, and it was just you know, it was almost like, I guess, a war scene, because the whole streets were filled with these huge tanks.
I remember thinking, oh, my gosh, this is crazy.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
August 11, 2011
G. VOSKOBOEVA/M. Sharapova
6 3, 7 5
An interview with:
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Just wanted to get your reaction to making the quarterfinals, beating Sharapova today.
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA: Well, of course I'm very happy with that, and it just I mean, I'm happy, but it's not like, you know, something that's a miracle because I was working really hard, so that's I think the result.
Q. I guess this is proof that anything can happen. That's why you play the games. As a qualifier, you're not really, on paper, supposed to be able to beat the No. 5 seed.
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA: Yes, of course, especially in tennis, you never know how Russians usually used to say, you know, the ball is round, so everything can happen.
But, yes, my ranking is low, but it's because of some reason. Especially in this match against Maria, I remember our last match which was also, you know, tough. It was three sets. So I knew what I have to do exactly, you know. So just helped me that I played against her before.
Q. From that last match, what did you gain that you really thought you would be able to take advantage of from her game heading into this one?
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA: You mean from last time when we played?
Q. Yeah, the previous match.
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA: Um, probably this time I was feeling myself more confident, because I played good matches. I had good wins before, days before.
Of course I had nothing to lose. Maria is a great player, a great fighter. So what changed, maybe just my confidence was higher this time.
Q. Late in that second set, how were you able to, when you were frustrated, how were you able to maintain your composure and finish off the match?
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA: You know, actually in the middle of the second set I was sitting like on changeover thinking, my God, in every game I had the break point I think. So I was thinking, okay, it could be 5 Love or 4 Love already, and every game it was so tight, you know. It's like it was deuce, advantage, deuce, advantage.
So I just knew that I have to be focused and to continue playing. Everything could happen.
Q. Did you have a sense, coming into this week, that you were going to play like this?
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA: I don't think when I'm coming to the tournament, I don't think what's gonna happen. I think that nobody think, will she play good or no? Especially me. I just go and play. It's difficult to say, for example, I will pass quallies and I will win so many matches.
No, you don't think so. You just you just go and you play. You fight, because every match was close. Everything could change in every minute. So, no, you never know what's gonna happen.
Q. Can you talk about working with Alina this week, what you guys have been doing and what's been helping?
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA: Yes, it's very good. That's why I working with Alina, because it's helping me a lot, especially that she played recently and she can feel the match, the pressure. She can give good advices.
It's always great that after the match we can go and work on the court and to do things which were probably not that good.
So I'm pretty happy that we are working together, and I'm also happy that we are doing good together, because it doesn't happen very often, like that you can find the person with who you feel confident, comfortable, and you can understand each other.
Q. During your run, has there been any part of your game that you've surprised yourself in how good you've been?
GALINA VOSKOBOEVA: I knew that I can have really good shots, but of course some of them were better than always, for example, some lobs. When you make a lob and you put it right on the line, probably yes. It's not like a big surprise like that you never did, but it's probably some luck which you have this day. And it's great, because some days you have it; some days you don't have it.
Today, yes, I was lucky on some points, but she also was on other. I think we had many good rallies, but it was not like I never had them before.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports
August 11, 2011
G. VOSKOBOEVA/M. Sharapova
6 3, 7 5
An interview with:
MARIA SHARAPOVA
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. When the week began, everyone was talking about the parity on this tour. Was today an example of that?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: About what?
Q. Was today an example of the parity on this tour about how many dangerous players there are?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, obviously she played really well this tournament. You could tell today that she came to the match with a lot of confidence, swinging away, you know, going for the first serve and her shots.
You know, I think if she consistently could play like that, obviously, you know, she wouldn't be ranked where she is today. She showed that she can play really great tennis.
Q. Was there anything that you felt you were missing today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, I felt in the first set, you know, I didn't break her once, and I don't think I even saw break point, which is, you know, not really great, because then obviously she has a tremendous amount of confidence when she's returning. You know, she doesn't feel anything when she's stepping on the line on the service game. I don't think I really did enough on those.
Q. Even before this tournament there was talk about the women's side of tennis and how maybe the top 10 is not always as consistent as the top 4 like on the men's side of tennis. Here we are less than three days into the tournament, and I think it's 10 of the top 16 seeds being out, you being the 10th, and I think another one was about to fall as I walked in the room. Wondering what your thoughts are on the current state of tennis. Does this hurt or help the game that anyone can win on any given day, or is it hurting that you don't have that consistent core at the top like the men's side does?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I think it makes for an exciting story, because, you know, at the end of the day, no matter what you're ranked or seeded, you know, the reason we go out and play the match is, you know, to know who's gonna be the winner on that day.
Whether you're No. 1 in the world or you're facing someone that's 100 or so, you still have to go out and win. That's what the sport is all about.
Obviously you want to put yourself in the best position, and, you know, be as high as you can in the rankings, but you still have to go out and win those matches where, you know, you're not necessarily playing a top player but playing someone that's come in and is playing extremely well.
Q. Can you explain how the lack of preparation and playing tournaments, like you've only this is only your second tournament since Wimbledon, the final. How does that affect your game? We have seen that like across the board today, like favorites losing today.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, it's obviously you know, we have a pretty long summer, and it starts in the clay season, and, you know, you gear up for that. And it's a pretty short turnaround from the French to Wimbledon.
You know, then I think all of us give ourselves a bit of a vacation after that, because, you know, we're on the road and traveling with back to back Grand Slams.
So I think after that it takes everyone a little bit of time to get the rust off again and to get going, because to always obviously we want to win every tournament, but we also have to be realistic in terms of, you know, sometimes it's not gonna go our way or we're not gonna feel great.
Q. When you were facing the three match points, she double faulted twice and then sent it back into the net. She seemed very frustrated at that point. At that point did you think that the match could turn? Did you think you were back in control or had a chance to get control?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah, I did, but, you know, it was still 5 All in the second, and she played a really great game there. She didn't give me any easy points, and, you know, I thought I served well in that game and, you know, she just I think she was just really going for it.
Q. Did you feel rusty at all today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Oh, I mean, I guess you could say that because I haven't played too many matches since Wimbledon, but at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter.
Q. You don't think it matters, then, to be rusty, to not have so many games under your belt or to have such a long layoff?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: I can't really think that way. Obviously if you're thinking that way it's obviously the reality and that's the way it is, but you're you know, if you come in thinking that, you know, even in a situation where you don't feel you're playing great or something's not working, I can't go into a match having that attitude. You always have to be positive.
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August 11, 2011
S. STOSUR/N. Li
6 2, 6 4
An interview with:
NA LI
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What has Stosur done that you found particularly challenging in the times that you've played her?
NA LI: I mean, if you watch the match, everyone can see she has a huge, big serve, not normal like girl serve. Bounce even higher.
I mean, it's tough for me to return. And also, today was so, so windy. I mean, I couldn't use my serve a lot in the first serves.
Yeah, but yeah, she's play well.
Q. Did the fact that this was your first match of the week play a factor, do you think?
NA LI: I mean, yeah, always tough after break and come back for the first match, because I have six or seven weeks didn't play tournament.
So, yeah, beginning of the match I was like I even didn't know what I should do on the court, not like during the clay court season. I know exactly if I hit the ball next here, I come back, what I should do. But I was feeling I'm like juniors on the court. (Smiling.)
Hopefully getting better, and I will, yeah, start training harder tomorrow to try to be ready in Cincinnati.
Q. Curious how you're dealing with the amount of attention you've been getting since the French Open, how you've been handling it and if you've noticed it much on just playing smaller tournaments on the tour.
NA LI: French Open is over. Yeah, now is getting US Open already. So, I mean, yeah, of course it was good experience, exciting moment for me, but right now I should focus on the hard court season.
Yeah, I couldn't think about clay court anymore, so, you know yeah, always tough, I mean, back to first match.
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August 10, 2011
M. SHARAPOVA/B. Jovanovski
6 1, 7 5
An interview with:
MARIA SHARAPOVA
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What was more difficult, the wind or your opponent?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, I expected my opponent to play well today, because she's someone that's dangerous. Although she's a qualifier, she's someone, you know, that's moving up and young and eager and has beaten, you know, good players before.
You know, she's on her way up, so I knew that that was gonna be a dangerous round, knowing she played a few matches already and this was my first match.
So I was happy with the way I played in the first set, and then I was up and down a little bit in the second. But overall I thought, for a good match, it was good.
Q. Can you talk about the wind? You were having trouble obviously with the serve and all the service breaks in the second set.
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Yeah. You know, the conditions I think were tough for everyone today. It's not always the best tennis when, you know, when you're facing those conditions.
But I think it's it goes both ways; not just for yourself but also for the opponent. So I think it's just a matter of who handles it better, who adjusts and makes adjustments at the right time. The sooner, the better.
Q. Where's your game at? Where are you at compared to where you want to be?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Well, my goal is always to improve no matter where you are in your career, whether you feel like, you know, you're playing really well or, you know, you feel like you can, you know, you've had better days.
So I always, you know, no matter how good or bad I feel, I always look to improve. That's really my philosophy. I never consider anything to be perfect. You know, I always have certain goals. That keeps you going, you know, keeps you motivated.
Q. Is there anything you would have done differently today?
MARIA SHARAPOVA: Um, I think, you know, obviously, you know, I had some chances earlier in the second set, and not taking those, I think that really gave her a little bit of confidence. And against an opponent, you know, like her, you know, that didn't have the best first set, I think, you know, she kind of gains a little bit more confidence and starts swinging a little bit more. That can be dangerous, which it kind of became.
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August 10, 2011
S. DUBOIS/V. Azarenka
6 0, 6 0
An interview with:
STEPHANIE DUBOIS
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. I'm sure you don't want to think about that match, but just talk about it and what happened and how tough, when you fight as hard as you did, how disappointing it is.
STEPHANIE DUBOIS: Yeah. Well, what can I say? For sure it's disappointing, but I have been playing so well in the past few months, so I don't think I'm gonna take that match. I'm going to probably forget it.
She did really play well, I think. She didn't give me any chance. I made few unforced errors that I usually don't do. Maybe I forced a little bit, but I needed to do that.
What can I say? I tried my best, and it didn't really work out the way I wanted. Just need to go on and forget that match.
Q. You're the last Canadian playing today, and now you guys have had a frustrating streak of getting through at this tournament in Toronto. Does that make this more disappointing, this loss?
STEPHANIE DUBOIS: I didn't get the question.
Q. Just the fact that the Canadians always seem to struggle at this tournament in Toronto. Does that make it even more difficult?
STEPHANIE DUBOIS: Well, I don't think so, you know. Depends tournament. Sometimes you play well; sometimes you don't play well.
I did great in Washington. Aleks did well in she won Stanford two years ago. We had we're playing against the top players in the world. Obviously it shows. Azarenka, she top 5 in the world. That's for a reason.
But, you know, what can I it's frustrating, but, you know, we do our best and we have done really well in the past, so I'm not concerned at all.
Q. I meant like specifically this tournament in Toronto. Because I think it's since 1991 that a Canadian has made it through to the third round.
STEPHANIE DUBOIS: Maybe it's just our circumstance, but we have great tennis players in Canada, and we are gonna see more good results in the next year, for sure.
Q. How much does it mean to you to have the crowd stick around and be so boisterous for the entire match?
STEPHANIE DUBOIS: Usually you win one game and people start to cheer up. I actually was close to win two today.
I was focused, so, you know, I didn't I didn't found that funny because I was struggling to get one game, but obviously they were nice. It helped to keep me not frustrating and keep on fighting even if it was not the way I wanted it.
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August 10, 2011
R. VINCI/C. Wozniacki
6 4, 7 5
An interview with:
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. You have actually never won here in Toronto. Is there something special about this tournament, the scheduling, something that's just not working for you?
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: I don't know. You know, today was definitely not the best match, and I didn't get a chance to really get any rhythm. It was very difficult first with the wind but also the way that Vinci was playing.
First match back, of course I'd have loved to have won that one, and especially after leading 5 1 in the second, it's not fun to lose this one. But, you know, there's nothing really you can do about it now, and just about to practice and head over to Cincinnati and try to do better there.
Q. What was the difference after you went up 5 1? What changed at that point?
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, I probably should have taken my serve straightaway, but then I came against the wind for the next two games and it was pretty difficult on the other side.
Then, yeah, she served well, and then that pretty much just summed everything up.
Q. It seemed like the wind was causing you havoc, especially on the lobs. Can you speak a little bit more about what it was like playing out there one side versus the other?
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, definitely on one side the wind was blowing in the back. You had to watch out you didn't play it long. The other side you really had to hit through the ball to make it even go.
But again, the wind was changing quite a bit, and it was blowing in different directions. Again, it's the same for both players, so I just need to try and adapt.
Q. What are some of the positives you might be able to take out of your match today, if any?
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Well, you know, right now it's pretty disappointing, and you just want to try to get over this match and just try to analyze what happened. Then I'm gonna take the positives and the negatives and try to improve for the next one.
Q. I wondered if the wind was particularly troubling on the toss. A couple of times you retossed a couple of times. Was it wind related?
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, it was. It was very windy, and especially when you threw it up it was going everywhere. So definitely that didn't make it easy.
Q. Can you speak a little bit about your opponent's game today? She seemed really tenacious in terms of defending the ball and just keeping it in play.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI: Yeah, I mean, that's the kind of game she she likes to break the opponent's rhythm. She's slicing the ball. It's tough to you need to really get under it, and then she tries to go in with the forehand.
Yeah, she was getting a lot of balls back, as well, and just did better today than I did.
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August 10, 2011
R. VINCI/C. Wozniacki
6 4, 7 5
An interview with:
ROBERTA VINCI
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Did you feel that the wind was a factor in the match today for you? How did you feel or deal with it?
ROBERTA VINCI: Well, I wasn't confident. Today was so hard to play, and I saw that Caroline, she makes a lot of mistake, especially in the first set.
So yes, yes, I think that I can win today, yeah. Was not easy, but I can. I can do it.
Q. I was wondering where that win ranks in your career in terms of all your victories. Did you do anything different last night to prepare against someone who was ranked No. 1? Did you eat anything differently or do anything differently?
ROBERTA VINCI: No. No, nothing special, nothing no change. I have the same coach, same trainer, same friends. No. (Laughter.)
Q. What was, I guess, going through mind as you started rallying back? You're down 5 1, picking up a game at a time. At what point did you say, I'm gonna take this match?
ROBERTA VINCI: Yes, I was 5 1 down, but I knew that that I can win the set, because as I told you, it was a lot of wind, so some mistakes, some balls I was focus every point.
I tried to stay, yeah, focused and play aggressive, some slice on her forehand when was possible. And that's it. I think this is the key that I won the set.
Q. Where does this rank on your wins in your career? Is this the greatest win?
ROBERTA VINCI: This is the best win, victory in my life. Yes.
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August 10, 2011
S. WILLIAMS/J. Goerges
6 1, 7 6
An interview with:
SERENA WILLIAMS
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Welcome back to Toronto. I think this is your fourth match since your injuries. Is it getting a little easier each week?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Definitely way easier than my trip to London. So I feel such a big difference, and it's so much better.
Q. Is the new nutrition plan also helping? I understand you have a new nutrition plan.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Oh, I'm not on a nutrition plan. I should be, but I'm not.
Q. What's the biggest difference for you are you noticing?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I'm definitely calmer and making less mistakes. For me I'm just, I think, overall really not that I didn't enjoy it before, but, I mean, I really don't have anything to lose at all literally.
So it puts me in a wonderful position and such an easy position to be in.
Q. Can you just go through your match today and tell us, first of all, what you thought about your opponent?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I thought she played really well and really smart. The conditions were extremely tough. I thought that she'd had to change up her game, and then I had to adjust to that.
It was just, you know, so much wind out there. So that was a little difficult, but, you know, we both were in the same circumstances, so that's why I tried to think of it. But she played really well.
Q. What was going your mind during the tiebreaker?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I thought, get up 6 0, and then if I screw it up, then I still have some chances to win.
Q. How big of an advantage is it where you hit the ball so hard to play in the wind like this?
SERENA WILLIAMS: How about of an advantage is it...
Q. Where you hit the ball so hard you can cut through the wind where other players maybe can't?
SERENA WILLIAMS: No, I think I had to hit softer today because it was so windy. I had to take pace off my ball, and, you know, because if you hit too hard, then you're not a tennis player? Yeah, I can tell.
The ball is going to totally fly the harder you hit. If you ever play in the wind, take some pace off it. You have to hit more spin.
Q. Do you have any thoughts on the format, the Toronto/Montreal format, men and women in the same week, any thoughts on it?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I have no thoughts on it, like I'm on the women's tour and I'm in Toronto, and I really like Toronto. I have fun in Montreal, too. I'm glad I'm here.
Q. Obviously there was some adversity in the second set today. What does that do for you going forward in this tournament?
SERENA WILLIAMS: I mean, it's good for me. I definitely want to get out there and close it out in two sets. She played better in the second, and I think I made way more errors in the second set, but she also played a lot better.
So it was good for me to win that, and, you know, just get through it, because knowing that I didn't play my best and being able to win is better than playing good and losing, you know.
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August 10, 2011
R. VINCI/C. Wozniacki
6 4, 7 5
An interview with:
ROBERTA VINCI
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Did you feel that the wind was a factor in the match today for you? How did you feel or deal with it?
ROBERTA VINCI: Well, I wasn't confident. Today was so hard to play, and I saw that Caroline, she makes a lot of mistake, especially in the first set.
So yes, yes, I think that I can win today, yeah. Was not easy, but I can. I can do it.
Q. I was wondering where that win ranks in your career in terms of all your victories. Did you do anything different last night to prepare against someone who was ranked No. 1? Did you eat anything differently or do anything differently?
ROBERTA VINCI: No. No, nothing special, nothing no change. I have the same coach, same trainer, same friends. No. (Laughter.)
Q. What was, I guess, going through mind as you started rallying back? You're down 5 1, picking up a game at a time. At what point did you say, I'm gonna take this match?
ROBERTA VINCI: Yes, I was 5 1 down, but I knew that that I can win the set, because as I told you, it was a lot of wind, so some mistakes, some balls I was focus every point.
I tried to stay, yeah, focused and play aggressive, some slice on her forehand when was possible. And that's it. I think this is the key that I won the set.
Q. Where does this rank on your wins in your career? Is this the greatest win?
ROBERTA VINCI: This is the best win, victory in my life. Yes.
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August 10, 2011
A. PETKOVIC/G. Arn
6 4, 7 5
An interview with:
ANDREA PETKOVIC
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. So that was a pretty long match out there for the two sets. I think some crazy amount of deuces. How do you deal with such a long match?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Oh, actually I felt awful today on the court, because it was really windy, and the second sets were not the easiest one. Also playing on the outside court without the Hawk Eye, which was sometimes interesting, because Greta plays really fast and she serves really fast, so sometimes it's not easy to see the balls.
I needed to get used to it. But I think the most important part was that I stayed calm throughout the whole match, even though I was really maybe 15% of my normal play and I felt awful. But I managed to stay calm, and mentally I was at 100% intensity all the time, and I think that was the difference.
But it was just a few points. It could have gone exactly the other way, so I'm quite happy that I won.
Q. You probably know each other really well, too. Did that come into play for such a long match, also knowing what the other girl does?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Yeah. Well, actually I never played her in matches before, but obviously I know her for a long time. We played for the same team, for the Fed Cup in Germany, so I have known her for what, now? Five or six years?
So, yeah, it was you know, it's never easy when you know somebody really well. It can be a very good match or a very bad match. Ours was like parts of some and parts of the other, but yeah, I'm happy I'm through.
Q. I think I saw you on the practice court afterwards. Was that because you weren't happy with how you were hitting?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Yeah. Sometimes, you know, when I tighten up during the match I like to go out and hit some balls, and so I hit another maybe 200, 300 balls, and now I feel fine.
Q. Just a general type of question. How much of your game do you feel like is natural talent and how much of it is hard work?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Just in general? Well, I think that if you have natural talent and you don't work that you cannot achieve anything, and I also think if you don't have so much talent but work very hard you can achieve something. If you have both, it's very good. (Laughter.)
But I really feel like, you know, I'm definitely somebody who works really hard and who works many hours and who needs that to feel good out there on the court.
I just think that even if you are the biggest talent in the world, to get the consistency with those kind of players who we have today, which are great players, I think it's one of the greatest times for women's tennis. Also for men's tennis. With those players that are around, you need to work really hard to have the consistency to compete with them.
It doesn't matter how much talent you have. I think most of I think in earlier times it was not like this. I think only a few players were working really hard, but now everybody really knows what they have to do to step out there and be able to compete.
That's why, I think, women's tennis is getting so much closer to each other and so much stronger, also.
Q. When you first started playing tennis, did it come very naturally to you?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Well, actually, I had a really strange career, because I didn't play tennis professionally until I was 19, which is quite a change for girls.
Until I was 19 I played two or three times a week almost like a hobby player. But I was always you know, I always played the way I played. I always was hitting the ball hard. And if I managed to hit it in the court three or four times in a row, I probably would have won. If not, I probably would have lost.
So I was winning against some players who were there, you know, practicing since they are 14 being out there on the professional tour and I was winning against them on a good day. So I figured, okay, if I get more consistent I can beat them, you know, consistently and not only on a good day.
That's why I decided to try it professionally. I had to deal with my father. If I'm not in the top 50 after two years, I'm gonna quit. After two years I was 49, which was lucky, also. But, yeah, it always came you know, I think my greatest talent that I have is that I'm a competitor in everything. It doesn't matter if it's tennis or reading a book or I don't know.
In school, I always wanted to be the best, and that's sometimes more important than how you feel the ball. But sometimes I feel the ball.
Q. There are a few of you like that actually these days, it seems. Like Kvitova, for example, said she didn't really start playing until she was 16.
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Who?
Q. Petra Kvitova.
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Oh, yeah, yeah, exactly. She was going a little bit the same career like I did, because we were always at the same not at the same level, but we were always there. And I remember her. I remember when she was like normally you know the girls when they are 17, 16.
She was there but not really, you know, playing. And then all of a sudden when she started really practicing hard she was playing some great tennis.
Q. So it's still important to have the natural talent, then?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Probably. I guess. You know, it's both. All the girls who are there are so talented. And the nice thing is that everybody has something different. Everybody has a talent for something else.
Ana has an incredible talent for forehand and serve. Vika Azarenka has the most talent for backhand I ever saw in my life. Serena has talent for everything. Everybody has something special. That makes it so much more interesting, I think.
Q. You mentioned on your Twitter last week that you fell in love with a Canadian director, Xavier Dolan.
ANDREA PETKOVIC: I did. Yes.
Q. Is that part of your routine, to watch a movie from the country you are going in?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: No, it was a coincidence. Actually, it was so funny when I came here, because right before I came to the States, I watched Arcade Fire live. I saw them live in concert. I was blown away.
And two days later I read this article in Germany he's not very well known I just read this article about Cannes and about his movie, and I was like, I have to see this movie. And his story, with, you know, with her mother and leaving home and making a movie with 17 years old.
So I went it was so tough to find this movie. I had to go like one and a half hours in the Internet, and I had to travel one hour to go to see that movie in Frankfurt. So it was really hard work to get this movie. I was also blown away.
I came here. I'm like, I'm actually I'm going to put something on Twitter tonight. You're gonna like it, I think. I'm quite Canadian at this time of the year.
Q. Have you had a chance to try the beer?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: No, not yet. I'm waiting until after the tournament.
Q. As you were saying, so many players right now in the women's game can just come through. Anybody can win. How does that affect you mentally in terms of sort of both feeling like there are no limits but also sort of every round is very dangerous?
ANDREA PETKOVIC: Yeah, it makes it on the one hand it makes it so much tougher, because you don't you know, you don't have these easy rounds anymore in the beginning.
I remember Steffi, they didn't even, you know, care about the first four rounds. I'd talk to the reporters. They were like, We didn't even go. We looked at the time and wrote if it's under an hour or under 30 minutes, you know.
This just doesn't exist anymore. That makes it also much tougher for a woman to dominate right now, because she has to go, in a slam she has to go through tough matches every match, every match.
So it takes much more energy than it used to before, which makes it much tougher. But on the other hand, you know, you don't go on the court and you feel like, okay, I don't have a chance.
You always go on the court. You know that when you play bad, you're probably going to lose, but you know when you play well, you always have the chance to win. That makes it so much more interesting, and, yeah, appealing. It also gives, I think, most of the players that's why it's getting so much better. It's giving them more motivation to work, because they are like, Okay, I can win this. I'm there and I'm, you know, mingling with the big ones, and I have my chances to go deep in the Grand Slam.
I think that gives us the motivation to work even harder, and that's what makes women's tennis so much better now.
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ROGERS LEGENDS CUP SET TO THRILL TENNIS FANS
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