“A match from which I have a lot to learn, but also to show”

For the second time in her career, Jaqueline Cristian is in the third round of the WTA 1000 tournament in Madrid, after 2024, but although the course contained only one match, it was intense, stirring, with emotions, but also with inspired tennis. The Romanian overcame Yuliia Starodubtseva, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in 3 hours and 8 minutes, saving three match points in the second set.

He then detailed the key moments of the duel, how he managed the match balls, but also how he sees the dispute with Aryna Sabalenka in the next round in a short dialogue with GSP. Jaq recently played the WTA leader in Indian Wells, losing with 3-6, 1-6but now he wants to approach the game as an opportunity and enjoy it.

– Jacqueline, you have added another match to your collection of epic matches in your career. How was this matchup so exciting and with many twists and turns?
– Yes, I think I'm a bit in the drama queen era, honestly, because in the last matches I only played 3 sets, I saved match points, but this one, honestly, is the most special of all, because the level of tennis was very high. She started and played really well throughout the match, I felt like she didn't drop her level for a second and I came into the match a little bit harder.

– In what sense?
– From the point of view of tennis it was not how I wanted it to be, but it is very difficult to play here, honestly, in Madrid. It was seen that she was coming after some good matches and, normally, the benchmarks are different when you already have the experience behind you. I actually tried to focus on myself, to raise my level, not to think about the score, not to think about anything at all, only to do things better and to have confidence and stay positive all the time.

Jaqueline Cristian: “It's about decisions, courage and a bit of luck”

– What else helped you?
– The fact that lately I have returned good matches and that gave me confidence, especially in those important moments, I knew I could rely on myself and that's where I increased my level of play today, precisely in those moments, and when I closed out the second set it was, from the start, a confidence boost because I did the right things, I felt like I was on the right track, it's raising my level and I just have to hang in there and return every ball.

– A classic question: at the match balls, there were three, two tied and then one more, how is the mind?
– The mind is calm, at that moment, actually, that's what I tell myself, not to think about the score, not to really think about anything, just to focus on the ball, on me and on doing things technically and tactically well. I mean, at that moment it's about decisions, it's about courage, it's about a little bit of luck, naturally, but today I was really calm and I had a quiet mind in those moments and that helped me a lot.

Jaqueline Cristian: “I want to enjoy the game itself more”

– The meeting with Aryna Sabalenka is coming up, you faced her recently, how do you see this match?
– I have nothing to lose in the next match, I just want to enjoy the match itself more, because at Indian Wells I honestly didn't know what to expect. Of course, you know you're playing against the world number 1, you know you expect all the balls to come back very well, as if by hand, but I just want to be able to focus a little more on myself and keep my emotions under control, because at the end of the day, I have absolutely nothing to lose, it's a showpiece match, so to speak, where, effectively, I have to enjoy myself and try to play as well as I can.

Aryna Sabalenka celebrating a point in Miami Photo: Imago Images

– And an opportunity.
– Yes, it's a match from which I have a lot to learn, but I also have a lot to show, at the same time. So, I'm really thinking about the next duel with joy, I'm going to prepare it better than last time and I'm going to try to enjoy myself on the field first of all.

– Thank you very much and good luck!