Qiang Wang – Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You must be very pleased with the way you played there.

QIANG WANG: I just try my best, yeah.

Q. What do you think you did well today?

QIANG WANG: I just focus on my game, yes, and I will try my best bring the practice to the court.

Q. Did you have a game plan to use against her?

QIANG WANG: My coach said play more to her forehand and move her.

Q. Good advice?

QIANG WANG: I think so (smiling).

Q. Coming into this tournament, did you expect to do so well? Have you been doing anything differently, perhaps?

QIANG WANG: You mean off the court? Yes, I go to Dubai Mall before the match, before few days. Yes, I go shopping.

Q. And in terms of training, have you changed anything recently? How do you explain doing so well at a big tournament like this?

QIANG WANG: Because last week I play not so well, so I just have day by day. Now is feeling much better.

Q. Going back to the match, Kristina Mladenovic did a lot of unforced errors. Did you feel that she had not her best day, as well?

QIANG WANG: Yes, I saw her play last night and she play really well against Pliskova.

Yes, today first set she miss so much, and I think she’s a little bit tired of last night. Yes.

But second set I think she played better but still not her best.

Q. The second set you fell a bit back. Did you feel exhausted yourself in the second set when you fell a bit back and was tight?

QIANG WANG: Yes, I just want to stay with her, not fall down.

Q. Can you tell us a bit about your background? Where are you based? Where did you start playing tennis?

QIANG WANG: I start play tennis at nine or so. Because my not healthy, so I just try beyond my house. That’s it.

Q. And where was that?

QIANG WANG: Tianjin.

Q. Do you still live there?

QIANG WANG: Yes. That’s my hometown.

Q. Why do you think a lot of Chinese players are doing so well? You have Peng Shuai and youngsters coming through. Why?

QIANG WANG: I think in China for tennis is still young, because we don’t have so many years of tennis.

We building now, I think. And then after few years, I think we gonna be better.

Q. How do you think Pete contributes to this, your coach?

QIANG WANG: Oh, my coach? I think he has fine with me.

Q. Your English is quite good. Where did you learn how to speak it?

QIANG WANG: Really? I don’t have so much confidence of my English. Because my coach speak English, so we talk a lot.

Q. The end of the match, it was hard for you to finish the match. Were you getting nervous that she would take it to the third set?

QIANG WANG: Yes, I really nervous after the end, and I just keep going, try to do myself, not focus on point. Yeah.

Q. Did you have any particular tennis idols or inspirations growing up?

QIANG WANG: Now Radwanska is my idol. Yes, I really like she play tennis.

Q. Did you speak with her before?

QIANG WANG: No, but we have play few times. Yeah.