Unfamiliar Territory: Diana Schneider Prepares for Ground Game Against Jacqueline Cristian in Rome

The 11th-ranked Russian tennis player, **[Diana Shnaider](https://www.sports.ru/tags/35553-diana-shnajder/)**, shared her thoughts on her upcoming third-round match at the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome, Italy. She is set to face Romanian player **Jacqueline Cristian**.

**— Your next opponent is Jacqueline Cristian, someone you’ve faced before.**
— Really? I’m not sure who won. Was it in two or three sets? Maybe Julia took it?

**— It was in two, but they were long sets — 7-6, 7-5.**
— The last I saw, the score was 6-6 in the first set, and then I had to leave for my match. I practiced with her at Indian Wells this year. She plays quite aggressively, strikes the ball well, is more inclined to attack, and moves pretty well. We’ll see how it goes. I’ve never played against her on clay before. So, once again, I’ll prepare my own game, focusing on staying calm and thinking more about my own strategies—where to serve, how to return, and what actions to take. Then we’ll see how the match unfolds, — Shnaider stated in an interview with Championship correspondent Daniil Salnikov.