PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX

April 17, 2025

Ekaterina Alexandrova

Press Conference

E. ALEXANDROVA/M. Andreeva

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Ekaterina, well done on the match today. Talk us through how it felt on court today and how confident you feel playing indoors. You have already won an indoors title this season. It's obviously a surface and an atmosphere you enjoy.

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA: Yeah, I really love playing indoors, but still, it's a clay court, so it's different from the hard court.

Today when I went on the court, I didn't have really any expectations, but just, like, kind of I was trying to focus on the things that I want to improve on the clay and in my game in general.

So, like, there was no rush for, like, a result or anything. So more, like, on the things that I need to do. And I think that worked, and I'm really pleased with the game today and, like, the overall match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You said before that when you were practicing on court this morning you felt like with no expectations at all. But then you went on court and you played a match like this. It's not the first time this year that you're beating a top player. I do wonder, is it easy for you, like, to get on court, better maybe to go on court with no expectation, just, like, trying to get into the match in your way?

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA: Yes. Yes, for me, for sure. Because when you don't have, like, any huge expectation in your head how the match is need to go or how you, like, expect you to play on that match, it's so much easier and, like, you don't have that extra pressure that you have on yourself.

So it's always, like, you're trying to be in the moment and to work with the problems you have, like, in this exact moment, even if it's, like, not looking the way you want it to look. So it's always easier that way.

Q. Do you think the experience was also a factor today, that probably she's still kind of new, finding herself in a situation where the opponent is doing, like, she's commanding everything?

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA: Well, I don't know. I know she played well this year and, like, the year before. She's in top 10 and she can play amazing. She won two Masters in a row. So I knew, I mean, for sure, it's going to be difficult against her.

But again, I wasn't trying to think about how she's gonna play today. More like what I need to do just to improve myself.

Q. Do you sometimes feel like you're underrated on tour maybe by tournament sponsors and opponents?

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA: Honestly, I don't know. I never thought about it (smiling).

I don't know. I'm just trying to do my thing every time I go on the court or, like, on the tournament. So you're practicing, you go on the court, you're trying to do your best, and then it is what it is.

I don't know. I never thought about it, actually (smiling).

Q. Did you already think about that car? What's your car experience? Do you have one? Do you need one? Do you like that one?

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA: I mean, it's always nice to get the car as a present (smiling).

Q. Did you already get one? Did you already get one as a present?

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA: No, no, no. No, I didn't. So if I get one, it would be a huge present and huge experience.

I mean, it's always nice to think that you can win, like, a car or money or like the points. But it can be a little bit distracting. When you're thinking too much about the car, you're kind of like forgetting about the things that it's like at the start of the tournament, it's five difficult matches that I need to play.

So, like, the car is, like, so far away right now. So, no, I'm not thinking about the car (smiling).

Q. Due to the public holiday, we won't have matches tomorrow, which is unusual. It's because of the public holiday. I would suppose you have some special days during the year, as well, which you want to stay or to enjoy calm or to celebrate? Which one would you do or what would you do on those days?

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA: Well, I think, yeah, maybe Christmas, just like stay at home, just spend time with your family and not to worry about anything else.

Sometimes it can be a little bit rushed with the whole, like, preseason thing and traveling to Australia, so you're trying to leave as early as possible. But the same way, you want to stay home, just spend, like, these days, like, with the family at home and not, like, be bothered by any tennis stuff. So, yeah, probably this.

Q. So what would you do maybe?

EKATERINA ALEXANDROVA: Just, I don't know. Normal day, so like when you woke up, you don't need to go anywhere. So you can stay, like, whole day at home.

Maybe to cook some dinner just when everything is arriving, just spend some time with the chatting. Easy day.