ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2023

Camila Osorio

Press Conference

C. OSORIO/A. Bogdan

3-6, 6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Camila, congratulations. Can you tell us what made the difference today?

CAMILA OSORIO: To be honest, I don't know. I think it was a tough match. I didn't know what to do the first set. She was playing great tennis.

I wasn't being that positive at every point. Usually that's, yeah, what I try to do in every match, but somehow I turn it. I start playing longer points. I stopped complaining also a little bit.

I think that helped me to control kind of my emotions, of course, and I start being more focused on what could I do to change what was happening.

So I think, yeah, that was the key, just to try to stay calm again and stay a little more positive.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. It's a pretty unique scenario, I imagine, for you being I think it was sixth alternate from qualifying. What sort of emotions do you go through if you are top seed and you keep seeing these other names?

CAMILA OSORIO: Oh, my God. You don't understand, no, no.

So I knew, of course -- I still don't understand the rule, to be honest. I still don't get it because, you know, because what's the point of being seeded if that doesn't matter in these situations, but, okay, that's the rule. I mean, there's nothing you can do about it.

But I was kind of mad, to be honest. I was sad. I started crying when they did the -- how do you say -- the draw. But there was nothing I could do to control it.

Yeah, when I heard that there was a retirement, I was like, okay, come on. Maybe one more chance, one more chance. Yeah, in the end McNally retired, so I'm lucky to be here. I'm also grateful to have the chance to be playing, well, now in the second round.

Q. For you mentally then when you do make the main draw, you have absolutely nothing to lose, or do you want to prove a point? Does it make it a little more difficult?

CAMILA OSORIO: To be honest, I wasn't thinking about that. I was just, like, okay, I'm playing. Now I have the chance; just go for it.

I was enjoying it. Well, I was 5-1 up in the third set. She started playing a bit more confident, no fear. I start thinking at that point, but then somehow I control it because, of course, the thoughts start getting into your head. Like, okay, I'm here. I'm 5-1 up.

But somehow I finish it. Yeah, I won the match, so that's good.

Q. I know that it had to have been a roller coaster of emotions from the match you lost in quallies until now, but I think I saw on social media people were telling you, don't worry, you're going to get in. I know people behind the scenes were also kind of thinking because percentage-wise it looked like statistically you were going to get in as a lucky loser and then for that not to happen, what were you telling yourself the whole time? Like, how were you managing that?

CAMILA OSORIO: When the draw was out, I was, like, okay, this cannot happen to me. That's what I thought at the beginning. Like, this is impossible.

I was, like, why? This is unfair and all of that. The day after I was, like, okay. I was more calm. I was, again, trying to think -- you lost, try to accept that. That's it.

Then yesterday in the morning I went with my coach to play ping pong to not think about it. I started doing other stuff to not think about what was happening.

But when they call me to the office to let me know that I was in, I just started crying again (laughing), just because I was really happy.

I don't know. It was a roller coaster, as you said. Now that I'm here, I am thankful. I believe in God, so it was like a miracle for me. Yeah, thankful to have the chance and this opportunity to be playing in a slam.

This is my third year, I think, I'm playing the main draw, so that's good, I guess.

Q. Then just obviously when you came back in Madrid, great tournament. You had a good one in Rome as well. Now, yeah, lucky loser. Sixth to second round is pretty good. How are you feeling just kind of emotionally dealing with all of these kind of ups and downs, but generally ups that you are experiencing here in Europe?

CAMILA OSORIO: I'm feeling really good. I'm feeling that I'm playing great tennis. Every time I step on court, I have this confidence that I could play anybody. It doesn't matter if winning or losing, I still have a lot of things to learn and to improve, but I'm just happy.

I'm playing well. I'm playing well and kind of without fear. Just enjoying the moment, enjoying every time I step on court.

Even the last match I lost to Mirra, I think we played great tennis. I had my chances. I didn't take them; she did. It's, like, every time --

I'm not thinking also, when I'm losing, I'm not that -- how do you say that? (Speaking in Spanish) I don't tell myself off so much. That's also good because you're going to lose so many times in tennis. That's normal.

But for me I don't think it's so serious, and I just try to stay positive and see all the good things that I've been doing and that I need to work on and improve.

So, yeah, I'm just really happy with what I'm doing right now and how I'm playing and how I'm managing all the situations, like being six out -- (laughing). Just kidding.

Q. Lucky loser.

CAMILA OSORIO: Yeah, yeah, exactly. I'm happy.