TENNSI US OPEN 2014 – 28th of August 2014. Z. Diyas d. C. Bellis 6-3, 0-6, 6-2. An interview with Catherine Bellis
Q. How would you describe the twists and turns of this match and what you think it eventually depended on?
CICI BELLIS: I think in the beginning of the match I was, you know, nervous and I was a little tight. Then the second set I became freer. Third set, I mean, she just kind of played better than me. I wasn’t playing as well as I would have liked to, but it was a really good experience, I think.
Q. Did you get tired in the third set emotionally or physically?
CICI BELLIS: Yeah, I got a little tired. But I think definitely I could have made more balls in the court and made a few too many errors in the end.
Q. That was your first tournament at this level. What, if anything, surprised you the most about these few days?
CICI BELLIS: I think what surprised me is that I could really, like, stay with these pros. And I think today if I had, you know, played a little bit better, it would have been a different result. But, yeah, I mean, definitely just that I can, you know, play with them is really good.
Q. What about off the court?
CICI BELLIS: Uhm, like in the locker room or…
Q. Anything about the past few days that maybe surprised you.
CICI BELLIS: Not much off the court. I think just on the court, they compete a lot better than juniors. They’re a lot more focused, for sure.
Q. Do you think someday you could possibly lift up the trophy at this tennis tournament?
CICI BELLIS: You know, I’d love to one day. But I’d have to work a lot harder, in the next couple years work really hard, you know, and keep doing what I’m doing.
Q. How would you describe the last 48 hours of your life?
CICI BELLIS: A lot different than before, for sure. But I loved it. I mean, with everybody, you know, supporting me, supporting, you know, like American tennis, it’s been really great.
Q. How about playing in the juniors next week, what do you think that experience will be like after what you’ve just experienced?
CICI BELLIS: I think it’s definitely going to give me more confidence, you know, going into the juniors and definitely believing that I can beat, you know, whoever I play in juniors, for sure, if I play well. So I think it just gave me a lot more confidence.
Q. If you had to summarize this whole experience up in one word or phrase?
CICI BELLIS: Unbelievable. Like this whole experience has been unbelievable, like mind-blowing. It’s been crazy. It’s been like the best couple days of my life, so…
Q. What’s the best thing you’ve heard said about you the last couple of days, and how has it made you feel?
CICI BELLIS: I think just people saying that, like, I’m going to be the future of American tennis. I mean, that’s what I’ve wanted to be since, you know, I was a little kid. I think that definitely makes me want to, you know, work really hard and try to become that.
Q. What’s the best thing your mom has said to you recently?
CICI BELLIS: Just go out and have fun. It doesn’t matter. We’re also here for the juniors, to play juniors. That’s definitely right now my number one priority. Pros is just icing on the cake.
Q. Was she at the match today?
CICI BELLIS: Huh-uh. She gets too nervous. She doesn’t watch my matches.
Q. What would it take for her to show up?
CICI BELLIS: I don’t think she could.
Q. One way or the other, she never watches?
CICI BELLIS: No. She hasn’t in a long time.
Q. What did you hear from her after the match, if you’ve heard from her?
CICI BELLIS: My phone died, so I haven’t had any communication with anybody.
Q. Your dad was there, right?
CICI BELLIS: Yeah.
Q. Have you spoken with your father?
CICI BELLIS: Yeah.
Q. What did you say to each other?
CICI BELLIS: You know, he was just really proud of me, everything that I’m doing. Doesn’t matter. We’re here for the juniors. So just move on. It’s okay.
