00:00 It is often said that tennis is an individual sport,
00:04 but it is never more beautiful than when it is collective.
00:09 BNP Paribas, faithful to tomorrow's tennis for 50 years.
00:15 Yeah, tough match.
00:17 She played unbelievable tennis and still I had a lot of opportunities and I didn't use it.
00:25 Of course I'm very disappointed with this tough loss, but that's okay.
00:30 You had the match point at 2-5, 5-2.
00:43 When did you feel like your game began to get away from you?
00:47 Was it then or after that?
00:49 I think after I lost my serve. I was serving for the match, so I think after that game
00:55 she kind of stepped in and started playing a little bit more aggressive.
00:59 I lost my rhythm and I wasn't there.
01:10 She's been a little bit under the radar, injured a lot.
01:14 Can you compare what it was like playing her versus what it was like
01:18 your usual opponents or rivals for the last year, Iga and Elena?
01:25 She was a little bit out of the radar, but she always played great tennis,
01:33 coming to the net, playing really aggressive.
01:37 If she sees this short ball, she's coming to the net, so it's kind of a little bit tricky
01:42 to build a point against her.
01:46 Yeah, she just played great tennis.
01:49 You often talked about your emotion on court this year.
01:58 How did you feel on court today? Was it some kind of extra pressure?
02:06 Not like super extra pressure. I felt good. I fight for every opportunity.
02:12 Emotionally I felt really good. I don't know.
02:22 It's just tough to say anything about this much.
02:27 Okay, we have Chris and Jonathan. Chris, just raise your hand so they can see.
02:31 Irena, you've done an incredible job overcoming adversity this season.
02:39 Last year was tough. This year you came and won the Australian Open.
02:43 We're on a 12-match winning streak at the SLAM.
02:45 I know today was hard, but do you look at it as just another challenge
02:49 that you're going to overcome?
02:52 Yeah, of course. You're always facing some challenges.
02:57 I definitely have to learn something from this match and come back stronger.
03:07 But anyway, I think what I was doing, and hopefully I will keep doing it this season,
03:12 that's incredible. That's just next level.
03:15 I don't look at this tournament as a negative tournament.
03:21 I think I did a great improvement on the clay court and it's my best result here.
03:26 Right now I'm trying to stay positive no matter what happens on the court.
03:32 But anyway, whatever. I'll come back stronger.
03:35 It's tough, it's tough match, but I had so many opportunities.
03:39 But still I would like to look at this tournament as a positive tournament.
03:48 Irina, you've told us that it's been a very challenging two weeks for you emotionally.
03:53 And you have also said that you have wanted to look after yourself
03:57 and your mental health and well-being.
04:00 Has there ever been a time in these two weeks when you felt like you did not want to play tennis?
04:07 And also, has there ever been a time when you thought your emotions
04:12 would not allow you to play your best tennis?
04:16 No, there wasn't anything like that.
04:20 I felt bad emotionally after one press conference.
04:25 As I said, I couldn't sleep.
04:27 The only thing I can do well in this life is play tennis.
04:31 So I tried to focus on things I could control and I could do.
04:36 So there wasn't any moment when I was like, "I don't want to play tennis."
04:41 No, I really want to play tennis.
04:44 That's the only thing I do well in life.
04:46 I have some control.
04:49 That's okay.
04:51 It's been a great couple of weeks with some challenges, emotional challenges.
04:56 But I think I'll get through it.
05:00 I don't know. I think I'll be stronger.
05:04 Irina, I saw you say a few weeks ago that you didn't yet have a visa to get to the UK.
05:13 Do you have the visa now? Can you come?
05:15 Yes, now I have a visa.
05:17 We can celebrate. I'm coming to Wimbledon, which is great news.
05:22 How much are you looking forward to coming back to Wimbledon?
05:25 I'm super excited. I really like to play there.
05:29 I really enjoy the atmosphere over there.
05:32 I really missed last year's Wimbledon.
05:35 I can't wait to come back and show my best tennis.
05:40 Irina, we know that Grand Slams are pretty exhausting at the best of times.
05:43 You spoke about your struggles to sleep at times.
05:47 It was a very physical match today as well.
05:50 How exhausted do you feel, both physically and emotionally, at this point?
05:55 I think I'm really exhausted right now.
06:02 I think it's only because I lost this match.
06:06 It's a very tough match for me to lose.
06:11 I think it's normal to feel exhausted after two weeks of playing non-stop.
06:18 Playing on the clay, it's always physical matches.
06:22 I think for the next couple of days I'll be just partying hard, joking.
06:29 I'll rest, recover and get back to practicing.
06:35 Love it.
06:37 First of all, congratulations on just getting through this tournament.
06:43 I would like to ask you a tough question.
06:47 If I understood right, the other day you said you were, at this point,
06:53 not supporting the president of your country.
06:58 Do you feel okay, do you feel safe with that statement?
07:02 Are you fine with it? What are your thoughts? Thank you.
07:05 I don't want to talk about politics today.
07:08 I made all my statements. You have it.
07:11 I don't want to talk about politics today.
07:15 Let's just talk about tennis. Give me some rest, please, from politics.
07:18 Thank you.
07:20 Thank you very much.
07:21 Thank you.
07:22 Thank you.
07:22 (laughing)
