THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 11, 2021

Diede De Groot

Press Conference

DIEDE DE GROOT/K. Montjane

6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Third Wimbledon title. How special is it playing on No. 1 Court today, another major show court at one of the Grand Slams?

DIEDE DE GROOT: Yeah, actually it was a little bit of a surprise yesterday when I saw the schedule. But it was so great to go there and to see how many people were still watching us.

Yeah, the noise that they made was great. For us as wheelchair tennis players, we don't always have that many people cheering for us, so today that was great.

Q. Did you find a difference playing on the grass in No. 1 Court compared to the outside courts?

DIEDE DE GROOT: I think it was actually just better. The quality was better. I think there were less gaps in the back. The courts we've been playing on, I think they've been used throughout the whole tournament. I think Court No. 1, I think they preserve it for the best matches.

Yeah, it was good quality.

Q. You necessarily don't want to talk about it, you now hold all four slams at the same time again. Wondering your thoughts on the possibilities for the rest of the year, either the calendar Grand Slam or the Golden Slam?

DIEDE DE GROOT: I'm just really looking forward to the next tournament. I still have one preparation tournament for Tokyo left. I'm ready to just play well and go to Tokyo feeling ready.

Q. How does it feel to have the title back in your hands?

DIEDE DE GROOT: It feels really great. I think for a lot of people, they always think, Oh, Diede, she's good on grass. I think that's because this is where I won my first Grand Slam. I don't think I'm necessarily really good at grass. I think for us as wheelchair tennis players, it's very difficult. You need to be in the right mindset.

I did that very well. So I'm happy just to play well, play sort of my own game even though that's not really a grass game.

Q. Talk about the match. She started quite strong. You turned up your level. It was like the Diede Express is in control from there. Is that what it felt like on court?

DIEDE DE GROOT: For the first two games, I'm sure Katie was a little bit nervous as well, but I was shaking. I felt a little bit nervous. I felt it in my tummy, as well. That was just something that I really had to control. I had to calm down.

I think after I settled down a little bit and calmed down, played a few good points, even though I didn't win the second game, I played a few good points, and that helped me to get in the rhythm for the third, fourth, so on game.

Q. About this moment, you are part of history. You are part of "the" first wheelchair tennis match final to be played on No. 1 Court. That's something nobody can ever take away from you, is it?

DIEDE DE GROOT: No, definitely not. Like I said, I was a little bit surprised. At the same time I was very excited. I had a few people coming out to watch me today, which was also great. They had the opportunity. They cheered for me. It's just great to have so many people watching us. Even I think it was on BBC 2, a lot of people were able to watch it at home, which normally doesn't happen. So it's great.

Q. How important is it that it was a women's tennis match, as well? Usually with these firsts, it's been in the men's or other divisions.

DIEDE DE GROOT: I think if you look at it like that, definitely. I hadn't looked at it like that.

It's great to be part of that history. I think many more moments like this hopefully follow.

Q. Does No. 1 Court finish your list of major courts? Suzanne Lenglen last year at Roland Garros. I presume you've played at Ashe or Louis Armstrong at US Open?

DIEDE DE GROOT: I think so. We played a doubles final at Suzanne Lenglen. I think many years ago I played on Margaret Court, my first Australian Open final I think. And, yeah, US Open is always very keen to have the wheelchair tennis on their match courts, their center court. Yeah, I think so.

Q. You mentioned in your on-court interview your fan club. How many close friends have you got over?

DIEDE DE GROOT: One of them was my cousin. She lives over here. I hadn't seen her in two years. She was like, you know what, I can come over and watch, I can be there, just tell me when you're on. I was like, Well, you know what, I'm playing on one of the big stadiums, which means I get a lot of tickets. If you want to bring friends, bring over as many as you can.

Yeah, it was my cousin who I hadn't seen for a long time, which meant a lot to me.

Q. I also saw a gentleman who had "Diede" written on his head in marker pen.

DIEDE DE GROOT: I saw that as well. It's good.