After years of steady progress, Kristina Mladenovic has arrived in a big way in 2017. The Frenchwoman’s competitive prowess was never in doubt – she was a former world No. 1 junior in 2009, a two-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion (2013 Wimbledon; 2014 Australian Open) and a winner of the women’s doubles title at Roland Garros in 2016.
But it’s in singles that she has truly shined this season. After the Australian Open, the 24-year-old fell outside the Top 50 before breaking through for her first WTA title in St. Petersburg in February, one of four finals she contested in a four-month span.
Yet perhaps her most notable result was her trip to the last eight at Roland Garros, during which she battled a back injury and overcame defending champion Garbiñe Muguruza in an atmospheric fourth-round encounter to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal on home soil – and second overall after progressing to the same stage right here at the US Open two years earlier.
Having peaked at a career-high ranking of No. 12 in June and sitting at No. 9 in the WTA Race to Singapore, Mladenovic’s athletic, all-court game is having an increasing impact on tour.
She recently spoke to USOpen.org.
USOpen.org: You've been one of the best-performing players on tour this year. What has helped you go to the next level in singles in 2017?
Kristina Mladenovic: Nothing much has changed around me, but I'd say the biggest difference for me was my physical conditioning. So my all-around game improved also, my level increased, and just the work is paying off. I guess also maturity. I'm 24 now, and it's coming closer probably to my experienced maturity – let’s say the peak. And I'm just happy that things are going the way I was aiming and just trying now to keep working and keep on improving.
USOpen.org: One of your biggest results was an exciting run to the Roland Garros quarterfinals. How do you reflect on those two weeks in Paris?
Mladenovic: It was obviously a great achievement for me. I always feel like I've been playing well at the French, reaching the third round the last four years, I think ... reaching for the first time the second week [this year], when I was the most expected [to], extra pressure compared to usually, so I'm pretty satisfied I overcame that challenge. And also having those super-big matches with lots of suspense and drama – to pull through it, I have kind of a proud feeling. It was overall a great tournament for me and hopefully can just help me for the next years. Of course, it's a great feeling to reach quarters – it's my second in a Slam after the US Open. Hopefully I can build on it.
USOpen.org: You're currently in ninth place in the Race to Singapore. How big of a goal is it for you to qualify for Singapore and appear in your first WTA Finals in singles?
Mladenovic: It's a goal of mine, for sure. I try to be really relaxed in my head. The season is very long – lots of big tournaments where you have to play well to qualify. But it's very exciting to be named in part of this race and just to see that people are following, believing. And just to see my name completely up there, it's a great feeling. Gives me power and energy, somehow, to keep working and fighting every day through practices or matches, to try to go week after week, chasing that goal of mine. It goes in the same way with my ranking, so hopefully we'll see at the end of the season what it brings.
USOpen.org: Another notable aspect of your career is your success in doubles. Do you find it easy to combine the two disciplines? And how do you think it helps your singles?
Mladenovic: It always helped me at the beginning of my career. Having those big titles in the Slams, in women's and in mixed, brought me a lot of experiences on the big stages, and, overall, it helps me to improve my singles game. I think sometimes it's worth [it more] than having hours of random practice where there is no pressure and match adrenaline. Now that I have completely different goals or expectations in singles, because I know I can go deeper than maybe the past few years when I was younger, then it's just about adjusting [for] the best scheduling. But I still believe I need some doubles time on the court to continue improving my singles game.
USOpen.org: You reached your first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2015 US Open. Does that mean the tournament holds a special place in your heart every year you come back?
Mladenovic: Of course it does. It's very special. Especially that I reached that quarterfinal playing an epic night match on Ashe (against Roberta Vinci). If I remember well, I hit a 'tweener winner point. Memories are amazing. I love the city. It's like a big show. It's very exciting. Every Slam has its own special thing, but I gotta go with the US Open. It has a special thing for me in my heart. And also last year was great, reaching the doubles finals, so I love it. I just love the US Open – all the fired-up people, the atmosphere and everything that goes with it.
