Fiona Ferro: "Very proud of me" after defeating Kristina Mladenovic at the US Open – US Open (F)

"You lead 5-1 in the first set, 5-3 in the second and 5-2 in the third. Each time it was hard to conclude (win 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 against Kristina Mladenovic). How did you experience this scenario?
I started very well, applying what I had planned, namely to start the fight, not giving too many free points. Kristina was not in it and I left quickly: 5-1. I got a little tense and she came back to 4-5. At second place, I lead 5-3, 30-0 and I think she raised her level of play at that time. After the loss of the second set in the tie-break, I felt it would be difficult because I took a bite on the head and it grew in power. So I'm very proud of myself, to have managed to stay in the third set.

Was it played physically or in the head?
Physically I was good but, yeah, playing a player from his country we know well, it always gives matches to the mind. And considering the scenario of that one, even more.

Your difficulties to drive the nail at the end of the set, they seem recurrent …
It's something that I work with my mental trainer: stay in the moment to conclude the matches. Because in fact, when it touches the goal, I feel that I play shorter, I go less and the opponent is free. I have made progress on this, but there is still some way to go.

You have just defeated Alizé Cornet in the final in Lausanne and Kristina Mladenovic at the US Open; Is it important to gain self-confidence and position yourself just months from the Fed Cup final in Australia?
Like all the girls who will be selected for this final, my goal is to be titular. After we'll see who will be the best at that time, but yes, it would be a dream to be the holder for the Fed Cup final.

Friday, in the third round, you find the Chinese Qiang Wang (18th), for the fifth time in a year. How do you see this match?
Last week in the Bronx, I did not have a good game against her (defeated 6-1, 6-4). She's solid but I do not think she's playing her best tennis right now. The goal will be to get him into the fight, physically hard. "