Last year's US Open runner-up, Roberta Vinci, was on the losing side of the net today, as she surrendered to a defeat in the hands of world number two and Australian Open champion, Angelique Kerber. Vinci talked to the press about her match, her approach to it and the evolution of her opponent this year.
Roberta Vinci on today's match and the tight first set
The first set was really tight in the quarterfinal, with Vinci actually getting the chance to serve for the set at 5-4. However, Kerber bounced back and won it 7-5. Since then, Kerber never looked back and raced through the second 6-0.
"Yeah, of course, it was a tough match. Bad luck for the first set. I had so many chances.Probably I was playing better than her the first set" Vinci said about how the first set slipped off her hands.
In the second set, Vinci lost the track, physically and mentally, while Kerber raised her game and took every chance to end this match and take the ticket for the semifinals.
"But she's a great player. She missed maybe two or three balls and she ran a lot. She's in confidence. So I lost the first set, and then the second set she started to play better than the first set. I was a little bit down."
"But anyway, of course, I'm so sad about today. In general, I played a great tournament. Now just will go home and take some days off; see what I have for my injury, and then we will see."
Angelique Kerber herself said that she had a lot of nerves as Vinci was able to trick her in the start of the match, but she managed to relax. Vinci's game fell significantly as she obviously could not keep up, but with more confidence and clear mind, Kerber was able to dominate the second.
"Yeah, I have a different kind of tennis, of course. Yeah, she was a little bit nervous probably because she knew that I am a different player. Probably she would prefer to play with some opponent that plays flat."
"But I have a different game, and, well, to beat her, she's tough. You have to play great tennis, high level. I played a high level for just one set."
"But that was the best that I can do today."
Vinci overall admitted the greatness of her opponent today and as she said, she had to play her best to win one of the best players this year and that happened only for one set.
Last year Serena, this year Kerber: the difference for Vinci
Last year, Vinci had to face the best player in the world in the semifinals, Serena Williams. This year, she got to face probably the best player of the year, the world number two Angelique Kerber, that has the chance to end on the top of the world after the tournament, in the quarterfinals. The Italian world number eight was asked about her approach in both matches, in which she entered as the underdog.
"Well, this morning in my mind I said, of course, Okay, try your best; tough opponent like Serena last year. You have nothing to lose. Play your game. Try to enjoy. I knew that I was in the quarterfinal after a lot of problems, but I was fighting also today."
"But, yeah, she's No. 2 in the world. Maybe No. 1. So she's in confidence. For me was tough, but I play a good game today. I knew it was tough, tough to win against her."
The key words in these quotes by last year's runner-up were probably "after a lot of problems". Vinci has been struggling with a foot injury all week and for the most of the second part of the year, so, it is amazing that she managed to reach the quarterfinals and challenge her better-ranked opponent even for just a set.
Vinci on Kerber's evolution and rise
Angelique Kerber, Vinci's opponent in this quarterfinal, is having her year of her career. She had always been near the top since her breakthrough in 2011, but in this year she has evolved and improved on many different levels and that is evident on the court. Vinci talked about that in her conference as well pointing out the difference in her mentality and her confidence.
"Well, she's a great player. Yeah, probably different is the mentality, from the mentality. She's confident. She misses not so many balls, and she says always focus every single point. She runs a lot, so you have to push a lot to win a point. You have to run a lot."
"She's on fire. She won a lot of matches. She's in confidence. When the moment is tough and both are so close, she's focused. She's in good shape. She's number two. So probably this is the difference between us."
The Italian pointed out confidence as an important factor in her rise and that her game has been the same but now has blossomed under a mental development.