Tennis. Roland-Garros – Ksénia Chasteau, titled: “The medal at the Games, I believe in it!”

Ksenia Chasteau made Roland-Garros history this Friday, June 7. Last Frenchwoman in the running, after the coronation ofEdouard Roger-Vasselin in mixed doubles, the 18-year-old Habs won the final of the first edition of the junior wheelchair tennis tournament. In the final, she dominated the young American Maylee Phelps, 17 years old and with whom she also won the doubles tournament, 6-2, 6-3. A victory which perhaps promises her a bright future on the senior circuit, while she hopes to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris this summer…

Congratulations on a long, but extraordinary day. What a great accomplishment, winning your second Grand Slam title! How special is it to win at home and on clay?

Yes, it’s a very special moment for me, since I’m at home! I am also very happy to play on clay, since it is my favorite surface. Roland-Garros, for me, is always a special tournament. And the second Grand Slam, in Junior, is a good start for my career.

Ksenia, congratulations! You won the title, it’s wonderful. You won it at home. For you, what did this French audience bring you? We saw that there was a very nice atmosphere. Did it allow you to push yourself to your limits, to increase your limits, to allow you to break away on certain points? How did this help you?

Obviously, as I said, I’m at home. I have many, many people that I know. There was, I think, a pretty special energy. I believe in energies, a little. I think it helped me in certain moments of the match. I have already experienced a Grand Slam in Juniors, at the US Open. It’s completely different. It’s true that Roland-Garros, and all this energy, France, and also, I don’t know… I don’t know if I’m the only one, but clay, I have the impression that it gives a extra energy, this color which is lively…! There you go, that’s how I managed, also with a lot of work, obviously.

Congratulations again on this title! I would have liked to know how you prepared for this final? Is it a usual routine, like a usual match, or is it a bit special?

It’s true that the preparation was interesting. What’s more, now I’m already playing in the adult women’s circuit. So it was a bit special to return to the Junior circuit for a bit, against juniors. It had been five months since I last played against juniors. So, it’s definitely different. The preparation and mental approach were a little different. But we were trying not to fall too much into this trap too, and to do the same preparation, ultimately, to stay in the present.

I think the preparation, honestly, to answer the question, it hasn’t been too different. I still had my whole team at the same time. It’s cool. So, we were still able to prepare even more, ultimately. But I think it’s not that different.

“How am I going to approach the Games? With a lot, a lot of preparation, again”

Congratulations again! After this victory against Maylee Phelps, the second, with the US Open, how are you approaching this coming summer with the Olympics? I think this is one of the super important goals for you. So, with Roland-Garros now, that adds up to your career.

Yes, yes, it’s true that I need to approach things well for this summer. The Olympics are for women. Suddenly, it’s completely different. It remains a great experience at Roland-Garros. This will help me for the Olympics since it’s in the same place, at Roland Garros. I think this title will help me a lot for the Games. Tennis-wise, maybe a little less, but in terms of experience, a lot.

Now, how will I approach the Games? With lots and lots of preparation, again. What was your question again? Was that a bit like that? Sorry… (Smiles.) So, I’m obviously looking forward to it. I’m on the right track, too, to be at the Games, on very good track. I’ve had a lot of results with women. I am happy to have this experience, once again, at Roland-Garros. This makes me just want to be there again this summer, end of summer, for us.

Your last junior match was this double, pretty crazy, since you saved 8 match points. Finally, YOU saved 8 match points. Can you talk about how you feel after this doubles victory? It’s a bit like the icing on the cake, I guess.

It’s true that we didn’t expect such a close and tough match. Honestly, the opponents played well. They set the intention. I didn’t have an extraordinary match, but I knew how to stay calm in the most important moments. That’s the main thing in tennis. We are very happy to have saved so many match points. In these moments, I just try to breathe, to really feel the present, to watch the ball. We talked about simple things with Maylee. We managed to save all these match points thanks to these elements.

Very happy to win this doubles, and obviously to make the doubles at Roland-Garros, it was still important. It wouldn’t have been cool to only win the singles and not the doubles. There is also this desire, and this aggression to win the two titles, with Maylee.

“I think there is definitely a medal to be won”

Good evening, and congratulations on this title! This is your second Junior title. You said that you were also starting to play at the higher level, among the Seniors. There are the Paralympic Games. Are you dreaming of a medal, or is it too soon? What state of mind are you in regarding this?

Indeed, there are the Games. I’ve had a lot of good results lately in adults, notably winning a lot of World Top 15s and Top 15s. I’ve also had a World Top 10 finish two or three times. It’s true that there was already a goal, which was to qualify for the Games. Here, we can say that we are on the very right track. I can’t officially say I’m there, but honestly, there’s a better chance now that I will be there than not.

Afterwards, the medal, the idea of ​​the medal, I believe in it. I believe in it, because it’s really these performances that mean that I can believe in it today. This mental strength too, honestly, this mental strength that I manage to have in matches, in tournaments, and this physical strength. By catching the best in the world, I think a medal is possible, particularly in doubles, but also in singles. Tennis is an extraordinary sport for that reason, from start to finish, the match is never over. The others too, the best, will also have emotions, will also have pressure. I might be the only one who might have the least pressure. I have this position of outsider. It’s very, very comfortable. I think there is definitely a medal to be won.

Do you already know how you are going to celebrate?

For Roland-Garros? (Laughs.)

“We’re going to have fun, have a drink…”

For your two victories of the day.

How am I going to celebrate? With all my team, my team, my family. I’ll eat what I like! No I’m kidding. (Laughs). I like everything. I’ll enjoy it a little, of course. I have a whole weekend in Paris. We’re going to have fun, enjoy, have a drink… That’s it!

You were talking about energy earlier. Can you tell us more about it ? Is this something to relax you? It’s what ?

Energy is… It naturally relaxes me. I think it fuels me. It’s more in terms of food. It fuels me, it comes a little from the heart. There, we talk more about the heart. We disconnect the brain a little. Energy is connected to the heart, for me. Sometimes you have to disconnect your brain a little during certain moments of the match, but not all the time either. Just, there you go, take advantage of this energy, look around, have a little gratitude for everything that’s happening right now. It’s good to settle down and receive this energy. Personally, I receive it at the heart level, so there you go… (Smiles.)