ROLAND GARROS

May 24, 2026

Ksenia Efremova

Press Conference

S. CIRSTEA/K. Efremova

6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Ksenia, bad luck today. Of course, you know, not the result you wanted, but do you have some takeaways from your match tonight?

KSENIA EFREMOVA: First of all, of course, it was a good experience. You know, she's a great player. She plays like top 10.

I think I'm very proud how I started the match. Yeah, it was, like, 3-1 up, but then, yeah, it was difficult to, you know, to stay there, but I tried my best. That was most important.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. Good evening, Ksenia. So the match switched quite quickly after 3-1 where you were really in the match and you were leading. You were very aggressive. Then all of a sudden we have the impression that you lost the thread, and the switch was very, very harsh. What was that power struggle between you and her?

KSENIA EFREMOVA: Yes, I was leading 3-1. Then I had 3-2 and a ball for 4-2. Then I felt that, yes, my shots were not as hard, and it was easy for her to come back, because she has a lot of experience. She came back easily just because, you know, I dipped by 5% maybe, my level.

Q. So doesn't this type of match give you an idea of what is lacking with regard to these players who are in the top 20 today?

KSENIA EFREMOVA: Yes, I think I'm not very far off, even though the score was 6-3, 6-1, but quite honestly, I felt that I really wasn't far from the level. It's just a gap in experience, and I need to learn, and there are things to improve, for sure.

I need to do a lot of work and a lot of things to improve.

Q. With regard to your experience of last year in the quallies, you said that you felt a lot of pressure. How did you feel in this match with the experience of last year?

KSENIA EFREMOVA: I think that this year was better. I began the match quite well. I wasn't stressed, and I was playing my tennis at my level. Quite honestly, it was really great to play in front of that audience, that crowd, and I took advantage of that.

They were supporting me. I heard a lot of Ksenias, come on, and I really love that, because it's my first Grand Slam with the pros, and you need to enjoy it.

I hope I will be playing many more Roland Garros in my career. It's a shame, but it's a lesson.

Q. What next? Are you playing the juniors and doubles, for example? How do you see the season after Roland? What type of tournament with what objectives?

KSENIA EFREMOVA: I'm going to play doubles with Eleejah Inisan. We're going to play against Ostapenko and I don't remember her partner's name, but that's going to be a great match.

It's not going to be an easy match. They're No. 5 seeds, so we'll see what happens there. Then with juniors, of course, I'm going to try and win the title.

I haven't yet talked with my coach, Emmanuel Planque, but I think that we will be playing ATF Pros, 75,000 to win some points and to get up as quickly as possible and into the top 100.

It's very difficult with the limitations of 16 tournaments per year. It's not like for the guys. I know that there is no limit for the guys, and I think that it's a shame, but let's see.

I'm going to try and really go and get those points and break into the top 100.

Q. I would like to come back to the question of training and what you said in the press conference. Can you explain in detail how it works for choice of the partners? When you are training for a Grand Slam, how do you choose them, and how is it all organized?

KSENIA EFREMOVA: Well, I was very lucky, because I work with Emmanuel Planque now, and he knows a lot of girls, a lot of coaches. When he goes to the restaurant, everybody swarms around him to talk with him. He knows a lot of people, and that's a real stroke of luck for me to be able to train with high-level girls.

Yeah, it's amazing. Thanks to him.