Press Conference Key Quotes

Match Performance and Strategy

"Yeah, super happy to be through this match. I think I didn't really start at my best and I was struggling to find my rhythm. But then I feel like in the last two games of the first set, I found my rhythm and I was able to step in and to play a little bit better tennis."

— Irina Begu • 00:00:00

"I prefer to be unpredictable. But yeah, I was definitely working on surfing volley and I'm super happy to be able to do it on the match because, you know, on the practice is one thing, but be able to be kind of like fearless and go there at the match, it's something else. So, I'm really proud that I'm able to show this tennis."

— Irina Begu • 00:01:00

"I mean, first of all, it's the first match, right? So you always kind of like just trying to figure it where you are. And also the opponent that I never played before and I haven't really watched her games before and kind of like lose her out of my radar. So, I didn't really know much about her and I was just struggling to find the rhythm of her shots. And I'm happy that I could manage and I could get this win in straight sets."

— Irina Begu • 00:02:00

"I think the game, no, not the game, but the serve was really a little bit awkward for me. It was not that heavy, not that fast. So, I was trying to find the perfect position for me to return. And also the balls were flying a lot. She was serving really good targets. So, it was a combination of a couple of things. But then at the very end, I felt like I have to step in and I have to try to put as much pressure as I can on her. And I did it and it really worked well."

— Irina Begu • 00:03:00

Personal Growth and Career

"Yeah, I think it's very important to always working on your game, always developing as a player, always searching for something that is new, that is going to help your game. I think that's the key to be consistent, always bring something new on the table. And I think over the years we've developed my game so much. We added a lot of new things. And yeah, I'm proud of the work we've done together with my team."

— Irina Begu • 00:04:00

"I think it was against Ashley Barty at the road lever. And probably not the best experience to have for the first time facing Australian at the road lever. But I'm also proud of the connection I was able to build with the fans since then. And that wasn't my best experience, to be honest. But it was also cool because she was in the top 30, I think. For me, it was a really big match, really big opportunity to see where my game at. And even though I lost that much, but I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot from that loss."

— Irina Begu • 00:05:00

Collaboration and Sponsorship

"Yeah, I'm super excited about this partnership. You know, like first time I met them, I think last year in New York. And I even bought my birthday gift there and I really love the boutique they have. I love the team. They're very creative, very fun, like really fits my team well. And yeah, I'm super excited about this partnership because they give me this space to design things, to be creative, to be unique. And they understand me really well. They know me well. And they do such beautiful pieces like this. And I'm super excited about this partnership."

— Irina Begu • 00:06:00

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a long-term, for sure, partnership. And yeah, we're going to create a lot of cool pieces."

— Irina Begu • 00:07:00

Encounter with Legends

"Oh, yeah, of course I did. I'm a huge fan. And yeah, the whole match I was just telling myself, do not look there, please. Do not look. But yeah, it's incredible. I would never thought that Roger Federer and Rod Laver are going to be sitting first row watching my match. And yeah, that's unbelievable."

— Irina Begu • 00:08:00

"Yeah, of course. I just wanted to impress Roger with my game. I just couldn't do tweener, but it's okay. Next time. Next time."

— Irina Begu • 00:09:00