It was great! - facts and figures

[16 June 2008]

The historical final between two Romanian girls in Roland Garros remains as an unique and extraordinary  chapter in the beautiful world of tennis. Few days after such a great performance, Elena Bogdan tried to talk about facts and figures lived during the whole week in Paris:

Olimpia Team: In few words, how was the atmosphere in Paris?

Elena Bogdan: Everything in Roland Garros during the tournament was fantastic because us as juniors were pleased to train and and walk between all the big players from the circuit and because of the crowd who always was cheering and supporting us, these aspects making such an event complete different from an usual ITF tournament.  

Olimpia Team:  How do you feel as a finalist in Roland Garros?

 Elena Bogdan: I am feeling very welll because I've played the final, in the same time proving myself that I am capable to do it. The atmosphere during the final was great, being a lot of spectators on the court number two.

Olimpia Team: What was the toughest match for you?

Elena Bogdan:  Without doubt the toughest and the greatest match was the quarterfinal against Melanie Oudin, an opponent with a lot of experience, a strong game and a real fighter

Olimpia Team: There is a difference between Australian Open and Roland Garros?

Elena Bogdan: I think it's the same, at least for me, but the difference can be the people.

Olimpia Team: You are at the second big final in your career in juniors after the Grade A Copa Gerdau final played in Brasil, what can you tell about that, knowing the fact that few months ago you started to play in juniors?

Elena Bogdan:  I am looking back at the first matches in ITF Juniors and I am telling you that I was watching the higher ranked players performing and I was so emotioned because they were playing great and I didn't expect at that time to beat them ever, but now everything has changed. Last year I played few events in South America and I saw a lot of players ranked in top 100 and top 50 ITF Juniors, wishing to be like them (  my ranking was around number 300 ITF Juniors at that time ) because I knew that I can be as one of them and because I wanted so much to play in Grand Slams ... and now I am in top 10 ... which is great, but now I just want higher, both as ranking and developing my own game.

Olimpia Team: Which one is the most pleasant remembrance from Roland Garros 2008?

Elena Bogdan: The sensation lived after the match won in the third round in three sets with 8-6 against Bojana Jovanovsky.

Olimpia Team: What happened during your official practice session before the final when the legendary John Mc Enroe stepped on your court earlier and almost pushing you off the court?

Elena Bogdan: Yes, it's true. Being at the end of the training while serving few balls he just entered without telling anything and wanted to play down the line with his partener. They finnaly expected five minutes and played cross court.

Olimpia Team: You are traveling alongside ITF Team for few weeks already, what is your impression about this initiative of the international federation?

Elena Bogdan: The ITF Team has great coaches and I believe that this circuit it's good for juniors. It's a wonderful atmosphere inside the team which I've experienced in the past in the national team championships, but here is something different.

Olimpia Team:  Your parents were all week long next to you in Paris, did this aspect count for you?

Elena Bogdan: Yes, without doubt it was good having both next to me in the tribune, cheering and supporting me.

Olimpia Team: Big surprise when your coach appeared before the final in order to support you, isn't it?

Elena Bogdan: Well, first of all I didn't expect him to come, but it was a great surprise for me being there for me and I am glad that he supported me in the final. Just great.

 Olimpia Team: There will be few days in Eastbourne, after Roehamptom and in the final Wimbledon, all being events held on a new surface for you, the grass court. What do you expect to happen?

Elena Bogdan: I want to play on grass as soon as it's possible and I want to accommodate in order to play the best of my game.

 

Congratulations Elena and good luck in Wimbledon!

Roberta Burzagli, the coach from ITF Team who is with Elena these days  in  Eastbourne was impressed in this weeks alongside the Romanian player, telling us the following:   

"In my opinion first of all is a pleasure to have Elena in the ITF team, she is a very nice girl, likes to work and respect very much all the other girls in the team.

Elena is always very focus and knows what she wants. She practices with high intensity all the time and showed that she can improve very fast over the last 4 weeks. She was improving also her confidence match after match on the tour and she proved it achieving the final in singles last week in Roland Garros!

Now is time for grass, a new chalenger for Elena and for almost all juniors on the tour. Lets keep the fingers crossed!"

 

After the final played in Roland Garros, Elena Bogdan moved up to the  spot number six  in the world junior ranking, her best ranking so far.

Photo gallery from the Roland Garros Juniors final:

http://www.olimpiatenis.ro/albume

The festivity from Roland Garros Juniors final : SOON!!! ( in Multimedia/ Movie Gallery on Olimpia Bucharest Players Site )

Interview Elena Bogdan after the semifinal:

http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medialibrary/audio/mp3/IO_33349_mp3.MP3

Interview Elena Bogdan after the final:

http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medialibrary/audio/mp3/IO_33426_mp3.MP3

Congratulations  Elena!

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