“Caroline is such a tricky opponent I really tried to stay focused through the whole match because you never know,” Shnaider said. “Maybe the opponent isn’t feeling well in the beginning of the match, and then she starts feeling more comfortable. Maybe she sees the score and thinks, ‘Ok, whatever, I’m losing,’ and she goes for the shots even more.
“So, I tried not to think about the score because for me, the goal was just to win a match. The score doesn’t matter. I just tried to play a good game and win the match.”
A sweet treat will be Shnaider’s likely reward for her emphatic victory, the former NC State standout struggling to choose her favorite gelato flavor among vanilla, hazelnut, or pistachio.
“Oh my god!” she laughed. “The gelato here is so good. I’m literally eating it every day, I don’t care.”
Shnaider will next face Romanian Jaqueline Cristian for a spot in the Round of 16.
