TENNIS WTA MONTREAL – 4th of August 2014. D. Cibulkova d. F. Abanda 6-1, 3-6, 6-0. An interview with Francoise Abanda
Q. What is the feeling for you right now, pride to have taken the second set against a top 10 player or disappointment to have lost?
FRANCOISE ABANDA: Yeah, I think I played like one of my best tennis tonight. Especially I played it in Montréal in front of home and the crowd. So I’m really glad I was able to deliver that in the second set.
So I guess I’m just excited to know that I can actually compete against a top 10 player. So it’s just more motivation for me to keep training and do better.
Q. At what point did you feel that home court advantage, that the crowd was really rallying to your cause, especially in that second set?
FRANCOISE ABANDA: Yeah, I guess was the end of the set. Even though I lost the first set, the whole crowd was still with me and cheering me up, so I think it helped me.
But in the third set, again, the crowd was still with me, but I just was missing a bit of energy towards the end physically and mentally.
It’s something I have to work on, yeah.
Q. At the end of the match, your former coach was here. What did he mean to you in your career?
FRANCOISE ABANDA: Yeah, well, Jean Claude Lemire is someone really close to me and the family. He was my first coach. He started me and my older sister. He always believe in us. He was with us all the time. So it was great for him to be here tonight.
I think without him I wouldn’t really be here. So I think he played a huge part in my career, early career. So, yeah.
Q. It was fun to watch your emotions, fist pumps. But there were moments of frustration, too, that we could read in your body language. Do you believe in just kind of letting your emotions out in the moment or are you trying to work more towards an even keel?
FRANCOISE ABANDA: Yeah, I’m normally more calm. But I think because of the context, I was in Montréal, it was the home crowd, I think I was more excited than normally. So I think it helped me in the second set.
Yeah, I’m normally more calm. I think, yeah, Rogers Cup, I was really excited. I was playing some good tennis, so I think it was emotional towards the end of the second set.
I think I got emotional, and the crowd, it was just a good atmosphere.
Q. What was going through your mind when you had the fourth ball hit the net and drop in?
FRANCOISE ABANDA: Yeah, I mean, on the fourth and fifth, I was like, C’mon, when is it going to stop (laughter)?
Yeah, I think I needed that for me in the third set. But it’s tennis, and it’s part of it. Unfortunate for me but I guess good for Dominika.
Q. How was the crowd?
FRANCOISE ABANDA: I was playing home in the club where I practice all year round. It was very emotional for me. The crowd was behind me. It was a very good experience.
Q. What do you have to improve?
FRANCOISE ABANDA: Well, in the third set I felt tired and I let go a little. I need to improve my physical conditioning. But also I’m not used to playing against players at that level.
Now I know what I have to work on if I want to win those three setters.
