“Marta told how she is superior to the leaders of the world ranking”, — write: sport.ua
– Are you satisfied with your season?
– Not completely. You know, I’ll see where I’ll be at the end of the year, but now is the time to look back and analyze what you did and what you could have done better. I think this year I made a lot of improvements off the court – in the way I live, the way I perceive life. So there were a lot of positives, but also some problems – injuries, defeats in close matches.
– It seems that you have some regrets about the 2025 season?
– I just feel that many times this year I “battled against the wall”, lost matches to tennis players from the top 10. In many matches I was very close to victory, but I could not push through. So when the season comes to an end, there is some disappointment. I think there are a few final steps that need to be taken to overcome this. It is important to sincerely believe in what you are doing and that everything will work out. This year, sometimes it seemed that obstacles were constantly appearing on the way, I was unlucky with the lot. But somehow I ended up where I am now. It was a good year, but not good enough for me.
– What distinguishes you from the players at the top of the rating?
– Against Iga (Sviontek), when I played with her, I was not ready for this level at all. That was over a year ago, and she was already very strong then. Against Aryna (Sobolenko), I know that I will face a tough battle. I have my strengths, but at the end of the day they are all much bigger, taller and physically stronger than me.
– Do you feel pressure or fear in front of such players as Iga Svyontek or Arina Sobolenko?
– Each of us has our own biological structure. Some have higher testosterone, some have lower, that’s natural and it definitely helps. I feel smaller around them. I try to figure out how to beat these opponents with my tennis skills, but I have to work much harder to win a point. I have to run a lot more than they do to earn each point.
– How can this physical difference be overcome?
– I can’t make myself 10 kilograms bigger or five centimeters taller, so I have to use everything I have, 100%. Other players have an advantage in other aspects – it’s just that. When I look at the photo after the match, when we are shaking hands at the net, I look much smaller than some of my opponents. But this is part of the sport – and for me it is a great challenge to play against such tennis players. There are tons of things I can improve on, but they still have a certain edge over me.
– Are these female champions also stronger mentally?
– Their confidence is of a completely different level. I played several close matches against Arina, and you can see how she works on break points. She just doesn’t care. She has no doubt that she will play them: a strong serve, a powerful forehand – that’s all. No doubt. She is No. 1 in the world, has played in many finals and has that confidence. It is she who allows her not to doubt. It is not so easy for me to play without doubt. But that’s what makes tennis an interesting sport, and I like the way I’m trying to figure it out.
