F. SCHIAVONE/S. Stosur
6-4, 7-6(2)

Q. Just not your day today?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I still don't think I played that bad. She just had her day. She went for it and everything came off.
You know, it takes guts to do that, and she did it. I mean, I don't think I can really say I did anything wrong. It was just well done to her.

Q. Do you think that Schiavone came to net today much more than you expected it? And after you say that, I'll have another question.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I kind of expected her to be aggressive, because in the other times that we played recently, she probably wasn't enough and I totally dictated what had happened and I won them.
So, I mean, I was expecting her to do something different. Because if you're probably gonna do the same thing, you're gonna get the same result.
So I kind of expected her to come out that way. Didn't really surprise me, but, yeah, it all worked for her.

Q. Today you've been a fair play loser, although you lost, you've been very much fair play, exactly the way you were when you won your matches. You're also like modest, kind, still with lots of winning desire. Have you always been like this, perfect sportswoman like that, in the attitude?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, yeah, I mean, I try to. Obviously right now it's not easy and I really wish I'd won. But when you play someone who played well against you, sometimes you just gotta say, Too good.
You know, I think she's a very nice person. She's a great competitor, on and off the court. She's the same way, as well.
You know, that's just the way it is. I think, yeah, my idols I think were like that, so I try and do the same thing.


Q. Is the second time, or last year semis, this year final. Do you think also these good results in clay can make you better player, let's say in Australian Open or Wimbledon, or how do you think about that?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I think so.
I don't think there's any reason why I couldn't get maybe similar results on hardcourts. Grass is probably the most difficult for me. But, you know, when you have wins like I've had this week, no matter what the surface, I think it can help.
I've had decent results at the Australian Open, but I would obviously like to make them even better and have something like this happen down there.

Q. At 4 1 in the second set you had the momentum, and then you lost it 4 2. That wasn't the problem, but the seventh game, it was a little weak with your service. How do you cope with that at that moment?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I actually can't remember what happened, but I'm sure I would agree with you that I didn't really step up to the line and play the right kind of game that I needed to to try and keep that lead.
Maybe went a little bit passive, but I wasn't feeling bad. I was actually feeling good. Obviously having that break up boosted my confidence a little bit, but I guess I didn't really keep the foot down and try and keep going with it.

Q. At 6 5 you were stepping up. It was a game that you were into the match, and I thought, Well, this is the momentum that you can break to 7 5. Was it also crossing your mind that that was the moment for the turnaround?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I was trying to. Quite a few games I tried to step in on some returns and try and force something to happen. I had Love 30, 15 30 a few times; had slight opportunities, but never was good enough today when I got them.
For the most part I was holding quite well, so I wanted to try and put that pressure back on, her but couldn't do enough.

Q. You seemed a little bit tight at times, and at times you seemed very loose. Can you just describe the process of that in your mind? Were you aware of that? Did you feel that? When you thinking about it?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I actually felt quite good the whole time. Probably not as free as other matches, but overall, quite pleased with the way I handled it.
I mean, it was a big occasion, and you never really know how you're gonna react. But I tried to prepare myself as best I could, and actually felt quite good out there the whole time.
I don't know. She was putting a lot of pressure on me and really forcing what was happening, so maybe that was kind of why I didn't look the same as maybe other matches.

Q. Everyone felt a lot would depend on your serve, and yet she also seemed to serve, to us, maybe better than we had seen her. Did it surprise you how well she served pretty much throughout the match?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I think so. Yeah, I saw after the first set she had a really good percentage and was placing the ball very well and kind of kept me off balance quite well.
In the past, that's been a shot that I've able to attack against her, especially her second serve, and today she didn't really allow me to do that too much.

Q. I'd like to know if the fact that everyone almost was considering you favorite, did you consider yourself favorite, too, first? And then, if this is this a bigger disappointment because of that?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, it's a disappointment no matter what the case, whether I was the favorite or not.
I mean, sure, going into the match I thought I could win. Past results had gone my way. I was pretty clear with the way I needed to play out there, and tried my best.
Sometimes the one who's expected to win doesn't always win.

Q. Your coach before said that you were upset in the locker rooms when you were talking already with us. I see your eyes a little wet. I'd like to know if you've cried or not?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I mean, yeah. I am disappointed. No, I don't think it's obviously it's because I lost, but it's just been a big journey and a great two weeks.
And to I guess you wanted the full fairy tale, but it didn't quite happen.

Q. Her coach was saying that he thinks that when Francesca is playing well, with the variety of her shots, not only does she play well, but she makes her opponent play badly. Did you find she can be befuddling when she's on her game? And is that part of what happened today?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I don't think I really played badly. I just I don't know. Yeah, for sure, because she plays different to a lot of girls, kind of similar to me: likes to hit with a little spin and go after the ball and all that.
Yeah, I can see how he can have that observation.

Q. Secondly, are you thinking or have you spoken to her about playing doubles together?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: No. I haven't even thought about that.

Q. You mentioned the journey, and your parents just came on an incredible journey overnight, so to speak. Have you had an opportunity to share some moments afterwards, and what did you share, if you can share that with us?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I've seen them for about five minutes, so I think they wanted to let me do my own thing before I played and not change anything, which was great.
Then just before or after I saw my coach, I went up and said hi and then I had to get ready and come here. I haven't really had a chance yet. But it will be yeah, it will be nice to spend the night with them and also lots of friends that have come over, as well.

Q. You've just come off court, but down the line in a year, two or three, how do you think you'll look at this match in these two weeks?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I can only look at it as a great two weeks. To make my first final was fantastic, and to beat the players that I did to get to that point and everything, it's missing that one thing, and that's winning at the end.
You know, I'm proud of this moment, and I want to look at it as a really positive time in my career, my life, and I want to enjoy it as much as I can.

Q. Your opponent was a sneaky volleyer. You have a wonderful forehand. I wonder if you thought about following it to the net.
SAMANTHA STOSUR: I did a few times and didn't, and then gave her a few opportunities to kind of scrap balls back into play. It's not that I was purposely trying to stay on the baseline, but she definitely took her opportunities when she saw them and snuck in.

Q. What was the last shot? Did you shank the ball?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yep. (laughter.) It hit at the top of the frame.

Q. It's an unusual way to end a tennis match. Just like to know, aren't you surprised Francesca has only won three tournaments in her life before today, and now she wins a Slam. Do you think it's unbelievable, it's something that can happen in sports because it's unpredictable, it's something that gives you confidence, that you can do it even when you will be 30 or 32?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Absolutely. We played the final of Osaka last year, and I think she was 1 for 9 in finals. Then the next week she won a title. Now she's won this. I had only won two titles before this match, too.
If I had won today it would be my third, which if you look at it, it's kind of unbelievable. Yeah, she's obviously fit and healthy, and it doesn't matter what the age. If you've got that desire, anyone can do it. I think it proves you don't have to be the teenage wonderkid superstar to win the tournament like this.


(via ASAP SPORTS)

Roland Garros 2010: Samantha Stosur's 05. June Interview