Shortly after her victory in the first round of the Transylvania Open, a 6-4, 6-1 win against Victoriya Tomova, Ana Bogdan – now on a six-match winning streak after her recent title – attended the press conference to meet with journalists.
“I started a bit slower, trying to get used to the lights and colors. Then, I found my rhythm, I was very focused on every point. I wanted to play as beautifully and as well as possible, and I enjoyed what I did on the court. I think that’s the most important thing as a performance athlete, to enjoy what you do.”
When asked about how she feels in Cluj, Ana said:
“For me, the Transylvania Open is the best WTA 250 tournament in the world. It’s my heart’s tournament, it has a special significance for me because I’m playing at home. I love this place, I love this court, and that gives me a lot of energy to play as well as I can.”
Compared to last year when she exited in the first round, she has a different state of mind now. “I’m good, I’m calm, I’m happy every day, and I’m happy to have the most important people with me. Last year, I came with a different vibe; maybe I was more tired, coming after tough matches. Now, I feel better and enjoy every day here. I really like seeing both my sister and my boyfriend in the stands. It means a lot to me; it gives me good energy. Today, I even saw them smiling in the stands, which made me smile, but I had to restrain myself and focus on the game.”
Ana Bogdan’s next opponent will be Nikola Bartunkova, a 17-year-old player from the Czech Republic, ranked 289th in the WTA, who caused an upset in the first round by defeating Dayana Yastremska.
