Clara Tauson – Press Conference
THE MODERATOR: Clara, congratulations. Your first WTA 1000 semifinal. How do you feel right now?
CLARA TAUSON: I mean, I think I feel great. Can’t feel otherwise. It was a tough match against Linda today. I think she’s one of the best players I played this year. We played twice now. It’s been really hard both times.
It was great to get the win today and through to my first semifinals.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. Could be very difficult to have a great win like you did last night and turn around and have to do it all again. How did you prepare for today’s challenge?
CLARA TAUSON: It’s funny you say that. I was texting one of my best friends now. I had a great match today, I’m for sure going to play shit tomorrow (smiling). But I didn’t. I’m really happy about that. Otherwise I would have lost for sure.
Yeah, I mean, I think that’s what helped me. I was aware it was going to be a tougher match. The level I had yesterday is a level you hit maybe five or six times a year. So I was sure it wasn’t going to be the same and I was really prepared for that.
Q. How do you think about the tournament itself? What does it mean to you winning it all?
CLARA TAUSON: Yeah, I have a far road ahead of me to win the whole thing.
But yeah, I mean, I think I feel great here. I was super sick last week, so I didn’t have any expectations coming into this tournament. Sometimes that helps.
But I think the place here is great. I love when you can just get out of bed and walk to the courts in no time. I don’t have to get up so early. I like that a lot. Yeah, I think the facilities are great here and I feel great here.
Q. How do you prepare for a semis mentally?
CLARA TAUSON: I don’t know (smiling). I have to go do my recovery and talk to my coach, then sleep well. Hopefully I’ll play good again tomorrow.
Q. Is confidence a key factor for you? Do you keep that in mind going into the semis?
CLARA TAUSON: Yeah, I mean, I won a lot of good matches this year and played some good tournaments.
Yeah, I think the consistency has been very important for me. I don’t think I’ve ever put down these kind of results on this level. So it’s really nice for me that I can go out there and play freely.
I mean, in most matches on this level I’m going to be the underdog. But hopefully soon I’ll have a better ranking so the pressure’s going to be on me.
I mean, if you win a lot of matches, you’re going to have confidence. You can see I hit some lines in the last game. I mean, if I was down on confidence, I’m sure I wouldn’t have hit those kind of shots serving for the match.
But yeah, I feel great. I’m happy to play.
Q. Speaking of text messages, did you get a lot of messages last night after the win?
CLARA TAUSON: Yeah. My phone has been blowing up. I haven’t responded to anyone other than my best friends and my family yet. I’m sorry to those people, but it’s been quite a lot.
I mean, I’m going to respond to everyone when I’m finished. Now I’m going to still focus on the matches I have to play, yeah, focus on myself, not look too much on the social media stuff. It’s more important that I keep my focus here. After the tournament I can talk to everyone.
Q. Are you someone who gets superstitious with the more matches you win, try to keep up the same routines?
CLARA TAUSON: Yeah, I’m so superstitious. I don’t know. My warm-up program has to be the same every single day. Like my body warm-up, not my hitting warm-up. That’s my main thing, it has to be the same every day.
Yeah, otherwise I’m really low-key. But that has to be perfect.
Q. Eat the same meal at dinner?
CLARA TAUSON: Before the match I eat pasta with pesto. That’s just I don’t know. It’s great here, so that’s why.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
