K.KANEPI/S.Stosur
6-4, 6-4

Q. Was that just a bad day at the office or were you feeling a little bit drained from an exhausting couple of months?
SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I mean, I didn't play as well as I know that I can today. But I thought she played well. She served very well. You know, I didn't serve as well as her. I think that kind of hurt me.

But, yeah, it has been definitely a long few months through Europe. But, you know, that's all part and parcel with doing well. I guess, yeah, today I just didn't play as well as I know I can.

Q. What is the overriding emotion you're feeling at the moment?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I'm no doubt disappointed. Yeah, not really any other way to say it really. I wanted to do a lot better here than what I had in previous years. I didn't. So, yeah, it's unfortunate. But I'll come back next year and try even harder.

Q. Did you find it difficult to reprogram from a French final on clay coming here in a short space of time?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, no doubt it's a quick turnaround. But I played Eastbourne and had a few good matches there, then came here and felt as ready to go as I could be.

So, yeah, I'm not going to use that as an excuse. It's the same for everyone. But it definitely is a quick turnaround.


Q. Did the weapons let you down today?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, like I said, I don't think I served as well as what I needed to, and she did. You know, to counteract someone serving well against you, I think it helps if you do the same thing and then maybe puts them under a little bit more pressure on serve. I got a few opportunities, but I wasn't able to take them.

Q. Are you starting to worry it might never happen for you on grass?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: No, trying not to. Hopefully I'll have a few more years to come back here.

Yeah, I'd love to do well here. As Australians, we've always had a great tradition of doing well here. I haven't been able to have my own success yet. I'm still hopeful in years ahead I'll be able to turn it around.

Q. In your game, what do you think needs to improve to make that happen?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: The same things as probably what have been my weapons, but I need to use them in different ways. I need to make sure my serve is working, is even more important on this surface, I think, especially when you're playing somebody that serves well, keep trying to flatten out my groundies and move forward.

I don't think I've got to drastically change anything. I just have to get better at it.

Q. How difficult was it to play someone that played a lot of grass court tennis lately?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: She's a quality opponent. She has been ranked a lot higher than what she is. For whatever reason, she slipped back. She's definitely played a lot of matches recently as well. She qualified at the French as well as here and been playing well.

So, you know, it wasn't an easy first round by any means.

Q. If someone came to you before the clay season started and said, Here is the deal, you'll get to the Roland Garros final but out first round of Wimbledon, what would you say?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Uhm, well, I guess you'd kind of be happy, but also you'd hope to do better here. Yeah, that is what happened. I guess looking at it, the whole picture, I've got to be very happy with what I have achieved over the last few months.

I would have loved to have done better here, but it wasn't to be. But I'm definitely going to look at the last few weeks and go home pretty happy.

Q. Francesca also lost. Is it kind of hard going from this huge moment of high pressure, the great run, to crank it up all again a couple weeks later?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, for sure it's difficult. But, uhm, you know, that's the way it is. The champions of the game can do it back to back. And I guess that's the kind of pedestal that you want to try to look up to and try to get to yourself.

Yeah, neither of us had made it that far at the French and then had to turn it around in such a quick time frame.

You know, that's the way it is. You have to deal with that, try and cope as best you can.

Q. Was there any flatness at all today when you walked out on court?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: No. I mean, I felt pretty good. The last couple days I practiced quite well, tried to prepare for the match as best I could. I did everything I could to allow myself to play well. I just didn't play my best.

Q. Was the grass actually a problem today or was it just that your game wasn't on?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Well, I don't know. I don't know. Yeah, I didn't play that well. Maybe it was the grass. Maybe it wasn't. But you can't change what surface you're on at Wimbledon.

I knew that I was going out to play on that surface. Yeah, it's not an excuse. So you got to prepare yourself, uhm, to do it every day. I tried my best. I just didn't win.

Q. After doubles, do you plan to have some time off or have a break?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, I'm playing mixed as well, so I still have two events to go. Hopefully they go all right. Then, yeah, head home, probably take a good week off, just relax, do nothing, really kind of enjoy the success that I've had, then get started into training again before going to the States.

Q. What are your hopes and goals for the rest of the season?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Oh, well, to kind of kick on from where I was before the last two weeks. I'm really looking forward to the U.S. summer. I'm on surfaces that I really like to play on. I had good success there last year. So definitely try and build on that.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. I think I can do well there. So do the best I can.

Q. Anything particularly fun or quirky come out of your notoriety you gained from reaching the French final?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Not yet (laughter). I don't know. I don't know. For sure things have changed a little bit. But, yeah, I'm enjoying it. I want to keep enjoying it.

Q. Were you able to have a good time with your parents afterwards?

SAMANTHA STOSUR: Yeah, it was a very quick time. I actually came to London on the Monday. They had one more day in Paris. Caught up with all of them, spent a little time with them. I think they had the best three or four days of their life. So it was great to see them over there.


(via Wimbledon)

Wimbledon 2010: Samantha Stosur's 22. June Interview