School exams to Rome debut, Valentova passes both tests ahead of Gauff rematch

Tereza Valentova wasn’t positive if she was going to play the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The Czech teenager, who performed the ultimate on the L’Open 35 de Saint Malo WTA 125 occasion in France on Sunday, solely arrived in Rome at 9:00 pm native time Tuesday ahead of her Wednesday first-round match in opposition to Yulia Putintseva, her debut on the occasion.

Why the late arrival? Well, the World No. 48 on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz had to pit cease Monday in her native Prague, Czechia, to full an educational examination for her highschool commencement.

“It was a little bit chaotic because I arrived at 9 pm yesterday, so I was doing exams [for graduation]”Valentova stated to press Wednesday.

“I didn’t plan to play this tournament because — we didn’t know. I was like ‘[I have] nothing to lose, just I’m going to play and enjoy that I get to here and play a match.'”

Even on brief preparations, Valentova fulfilled the duty in opposition to Putintseva, incomes a 6-3, 6-2 win over the Kazakh to avenge her Mutua Madrid Open first spherical loss a pair weeks in the past to Putintseva. She’s primed for a second-round showdown with Coco Gauff on Thursday of their first assembly since Gauff defeated Valentova within the second spherical of Roland Garros final yr en route to her second Grand Slam title.

“I’m excited and I think I can just play with open mind and enjoy the match because, how I said, I’m not even that prepared, but I’m looking forward to it and I’ll do 100% to play on my side,” Valentova stated. “It’s going to be also revenge.

“It’s a unique degree to play revenge in opposition to Grand Slam champion. For me I’ve nothing to lose. I can play and I can see the place my recreation has developed, what I can do higher subsequent time.”

As Valentova has ascended into the highest 50 within the PIF WTA Rankings, she’s been juggling academia with the calls for of knowledgeable tennis participant. She’s finding out to obtain her diploma from Czech secondary faculty, and has to full a sequence of three exams starting from Czech literature, English and economics. Often, she’ll hit the observe court docket earlier than hitting the textbooks as half of her every day routine.

“It’s so difficult,” Valentova stated, laughing. “I don’t have free time to just stop and lay in bed and watch videos. When I have free time, I need to study. I need to do it because when I do it, then I can lay in the bed and do nothing. For now, I need to study as much as I can and be ready for the exams.”

She’s handed two of the three, with the latest occurring on Monday, and it is protected to say as soon as she passes the third, she will not be studying textbooks for some time. Upon completion, Valentova plans to solely give attention to tennis and would take into account college research in a while in her life if needed.

Her subsequent examination will not contain one of the 20 Czech books she’s had to learn. Rather, she’ll be tasked with one other likelihood to resolve the equation of defeating Gauff, the 2025 Rome finalist and defending Roland Garros champion.

Compared to a yr in the past, Valentova stated she feels extra assured and that her mindset has developed with the rising strain that comes as her rating has improved — Valentova was ranked exterior the highest 175 this time final season. She enjoys the range to her recreation, being aggressive from the baseline and on the internet, however incorporating a various shot choice from slices, high spin balls and drop pictures.

“Now it’s like more pressure than last year,” Valentova stated. “But the pressure is — how they say — a privilege because the pressure’s going [up] when you’re successful so that means you’re doing something good so the pressures come.”

“I have so many things to be better at.”

Last season, Valentova told wtatennis.com that she didn’t feel overmatched vs. Gauff deposits the defeat, however now she’ll get a second likelihood to stack up in opposition to one of the WTA Tour’s high gamers. They’ll be third on Campo Centrale following Jasmine Paolini’s match in opposition to Leolia Jeanjean. As for Valentova’s stress ranges, she is not too anxious concerning the match, however the exams outweigh the stress of tennis.

“It’s different stress,” Valentova laughed. “The match I’m also stressed but I’m used to it more than the school stress. Cannot compare I think.”