Australian Open Sunday, 14 February 2021 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Simona Halep Press Conference

just think that two matches in a row cannot be the same, S. HALEP/I. Swiatek so I'm just getting ready for to face her here.

3-6, 6-1, 6-4 Q. Darren wanted to know if you look at the videos that he sends you. THE MODERATOR: Questions, please. SIMONA HALEP: I do. (Laughter.) Why? Q. I know this is a big match for you. Just talk us through how you feel about it. Q. Because he didn't think you did.

SIMONA HALEP: Well, yeah, it's been a big match. And SIMONA HALEP: Honestly, I didn't the last one. But the also pressure was there. But I'm really happy I could win whole week I did, but last one, no, I didn't. Because I it. It means a lot, and I'm happy that, you know, I played didn't want to put extra pressure on myself. I just say I my game and I felt great on court. go there, I know her because we play two times before, and I will see on court. He was right (smiling). Q. When you were asked about your next opponent, before the name was fully out, you said "Legend." Q. How would you describe how your draw in this When you play Serena, do you feel in any way any tournament reflects the depth of the power in the different playing someone with 23 Grand Slam women's tennis field all together? singles titles as opposed to an Iga or, you know, anyone else? SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, it's a lot of power. I also watched a little bit of Serena with Aryna Sabalenka SIMONA HALEP: Of course it's different. She's the only today, and there was huge power. one with 23 Grand Slams, so you cannot compare Serena with all of us, because we do not have so many But, you know, I'm not scared of the power that is in Grand Slams. tennis right now, because I have experience. I played many times with these players, and I beat most of them. But when I step on the court, it's just another opponent, and always I'm focused on myself more than I focus So I'm confident with my way of playing, and doesn't against who I play. And I'm trying to give my best to try matter that much the power of the game for me. everything I can to win that match. Q. You talked about feeling pressure for tonight's Q. Is it easier or harder when you're playing Serena match. How much of that just comes from wanting to focus only on yourself? to make the quarterfinals? How much comes from not wanting to lose to a 19-year-old in the fourth SIMONA HALEP: No, it's not that hard, because I'm round two slams in a row? Where does the pressure used to play Serena. We played so many times. I know come from? what to expect. SIMONA HALEP: No, the pressure came from the way I I will just try to do my game, and I will be confident. played the last match against her. I just expected from myself a better game, which I did, and I'm really happy Q. What is your most indelible memory from your about that. victory over her at Wimbledon? And the pressure of the tournament. Is nothing specific. SIMONA HALEP: The game, I think it was one of the It's just the way that I'm here, the fact that I'm here, and I best in my life. The best day actually of my life. put 100% from myself in every match.

I felt very confident back then. I felt every ball. I felt all So that's why I feel the pressure. the game. But I'm not different mentally from that day. I

104679-1-1063 2021-02-14 11:13:00 GMT Page 1 of 2 Q. On tonight's match, obviously you talked a little what you need against Serena? bit about it on court, but you said you started the match playing too direct, too flat, and then started to SIMONA HALEP: I need my best tennis, yes, to win make the adjustment. Can you talk about why you against her. But I'm not thinking of those matches. chose to start the match playing maybe a little bit more flat and then when you made the adjustment, As I said before, I don't expect two matches in a row the what did you start to see change in the match? same way, so I'm ready for a long match. Also, I'm ready for everything, to face everything, but I know what to SIMONA HALEP: Well, I thought before the match that I expect. have to be a little bit more aggressive than Paris. In Paris I have been very far back, and my ball didn't go So I will just be focused and do my game. Is the only through the court. So I thought that it's a better chance one thing that I can do the best. to go and hit. FastScripts by ASAP Sports But then I saw that I do some mistakes that I don't really handle them. I don't like to do easy mistakes. And then I just step back a little bit. I did a step back, and I wanted just to open the court more to have more time and to roll the ball better.

So I did that, and that's why I could win.

Q. Now you have 100 Grand Slam wins. How does it feel?

SIMONA HALEP: It feels nice. It's nice performance, and I'm happy that I touched that number. Let's hope that I will have many more (smiling).

Q. Towards the end of the match, the third set was a little bit up and down and -- not up and down but tight between the both of you.

SIMONA HALEP: Tight, yeah.

Q. The last few games, it seemed like she sorted her game out a little bit and started to play much better. What was the key to kind of being able to get that match over the line for you, as she was playing better?

SIMONA HALEP: Yeah, I felt that she was playing better, and also, she was more focused than the beginning of the set.

She didn't give up a point, which makes the life tougher during the match, but I did the same thing, and I'm happy that I could be a little bit stronger in the end.

I felt the pressure when I served, but the serve held me also today and also the whole week. So I'm really happy with the game I played tonight and all the matches.

Q. The two times you have beaten Serena in the past, both matches were not close, really. You won very big at Wimbledon and then Singapore five, six years ago. Is that something you're going to try to do again in this next match, to try to play an amazing, untouchable match? Do you think that's

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