THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 27, 2022

Anett Kontaveit

Press Conference

A. KONTAVEIT/B. Pera

7-5, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Anett, good win for you today. How did you feel out there?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Yeah, I mean, it was a bit up and down for me. I felt like I started really well, and then my level dipped a little bit. But I was really happy that I managed to fight through it, get back in this first set, then felt like I was playing better in the second.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What does your seeding here mean to you? What do you think it says about the state of your game?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I mean, it's been pretty exciting, being seeded second. I have had health issues recently and didn't play any lead-up tournaments to Wimbledon. I didn't come into this tournament with a lot of confidence.

But really excited to be playing again and really happy that I can compete here.

Q. What do you think the key is for you to perform at your best?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I think fitness has to be on point. Yeah, I mean, right now it's maybe not where I'd want it to be, but it's getting better.

So I think what I need is just more matches and more fitness and more consistency.

Q. It's a shame this year Wimbledon doesn't have ranking points. Maybe there's a positive because the pressure of losing or gain ranking points isn't on you kind of frees you up. Could you speak on that a little bit.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I lost first round last year, so it would have been not much pressure, I mean, with losing points anyway. I didn't have anything to lose.

But, yeah, I mean, this is how it is. This is what we're dealing with.

Q. Curious what your health symptoms are at this point in your recovery from COVID, how much you feel it day to day.

ANETT KONTAVEIT: It's been getting a lot better. Like a month ago, I was really having a hard time. I really wouldn't have come here if I wasn't feeling like I could play a match, compete at the highest level.

I've been feeling better. I mean, there's some times I felt, like, dips in my energy from time to time. But I've been managing it, trying to prepare the best that I can, you know, take the most out of the situation I'm in.

Q. There's still a lot we don't know about COVID, lingering effects. How are you trying to get help? Who are you turning to for advice?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I've been trying to just manage and sort of overlook how I feel more because there's so much that we don't know about this. Everybody reacts differently.

I think the biggest mistake I did for me was I tried to come back too soon for Rome and the French Open. So I think that set me back a little bit.

I've been just really monitoring how I'm feeling. If I'm feeling too tired, just going with practices, off that.

Q. What details at Wimbledon do you notice the most that are really special to you?

ANETT KONTAVEIT: Well, I think this place has this atmosphere. You just come through the gates and there's so much history. Everyone's wearing suits. It just looks so beautiful. There's flowers everywhere. The green grass courts look great.

I mean, I think just all of it together, yeah.