High spirited Hsieh Su-wei jokes “Naomi Osaka is probably going to smash me”
Hsieh Su-wei reached her first Grand Slam quarter-final with a straight set victory over Markéta Vondroušová, 6-4, 6-2
The current doubles World No 1 enjoys playing in Melbourne, as she reached the final of the doubles competition in 2020. A year later, she is making records as the oldest player to reach their first Grand Slam quarter-final at 35. Hsieh Su-wei now faces Naomi Osaka looking to go further in what is already her best Grand Slam performance.
Also read: Osaka saves two match points to beat Muguruza, will meet Hsieh in quarter-finals
This is your first Grand Slam quarterfinal that you’ve reached. How exciting is it for you?
“It’s quite exciting. But during the match when I was winning, I didn’t feel it was real because there was no fans there.”
“I have an Australian coach. Most people know it. This year I have a hitting partner, he’s living Melbourne. We have a lot of fun together.”
How have you managed to maintain this level and break through?
“Before Roland Garros I never beat a top-10 player. Funny thing about Roland Garros, I was dating my boyfriend, it was first year or second year, I forget which year, but his parent was first time coming to watch my match.”
“Then the first day I was losing very bad. And I saw the parent, I think they look like they’re going to fall asleep. I tell myself, Okay, now I don’t care what happens, I will try to catch every ball, try to make it look little bit better. At least I want to see them a little bit awake. That’s the way I get back, win the set and win the match.”
Why do you think your game troubles Naomi?
“We all know she’s a very good player. Anyone play her, they will get troubles. I not worry about it. She probably going to smash me on the court. I try to play my game, do my job, see what happens.”
“I trouble her? Really? Okay. I don’t think right now. I will see what’s going on with my team, what they say. I will try to do a little bit better, I hope.”
When you’re in Taiwan, how big a star do you feel, when you’re home?
“Because I don’t like to put sun cream, so I’m very tan for the Taiwanese. It’s pretty easy recognise me on the road.”
“But I was traveling a lot because I play singles and doubles, my ranking is sometime up and down a little bit. I have to play quite a lot of tournament, so I’m not there all the time.”.
