Dalma Galfi Exclusive Interview: I was dealing with some mental issues but now I’m on the comeback trail

Dalma Galfi (0:00)

This podcast is part of the Sports Social Podcast Network.

John Silk (0:05)

Ready? Play.

Let's talk tennis. You know, I made a note, and this was early on in your match, actually, and it was just like a random question that I was going to ask you, which was like, you're winning a match, a fantasy match in a way, you're winning six love, five love. What are you doing in that twelfth game? Let's say you're playing the world number 600, 700, someone you know you're going to beat, let's say. Do you take it easy in that twelfth game, or do you just go for the jugular?

Dalma Galfi (0:42)

No, I even now, like it was six love and six one. In the end, yeah, six one. And yeah, I just went there, and I just tried to play my game. I didn't really think about who is on the other side of the net.

John Silk (0:55)

Have you ever been in a six love, have you won six love, six love in your?

Dalma Galfi (0:58)

Yes, I have.

John Silk (0:59)

Does it feel, so it's a good feeling, but it's a bit strange?

Dalma Galfi (1:02)

It's a bit strange, yes. Actually, I remember I won six love, six loves in my first Masters 1000 main draw, which made me break into top 100 as well, that match particular.

John Silk (1:18)

Which one was that?

Dalma Galfi (1:19)

It was 2022 Miami Open, first round. And that broke me in top 100, so it was a pretty special match. But yeah, it felt good. I was in control, I was confident. And yeah, you can, if you're not confident, you can start thinking a little too much, like, oh, why is this so smooth and easy?

But yeah, you're going with the flow.

John Silk (1:47)

Today, you played an opponent you've never played before, and you really didn't know her so well. She's obviously quite new on the tour. I noticed that you won the toss and chose to receive. Again, what are you thinking in that moment? Is it, do you read something in the, you know, before the match or, because I think you make that decision before the warmup, right? When you make the toss, right? I mean, what is it? Or is it even the night before? Is it something your coach might tell you?

Or what is influencing that decision?

Dalma Galfi (2:15)

I always choose receive.

John Silk (2:16)

Do you always choose receive?

Dalma Galfi (2:17)

Like 99% of the time.

John Silk (2:19)

So if you're playing Sabalenko or Vabakon, are you receiving?

Dalma Galfi (2:22)

Yes.

John Silk (2:22)

Okay. Why?

Dalma Galfi (2:25)

I don't know. It's just, it's not that I don't trust my serve, because I do trust my serve. It's one of my best shots. But I like to have that extra game before going into my serve.

And, well, I just kind of think of it as a warmup game. And also, first game is always tricky, because you're not like crazy warm, and yeah, anybody can choke. So I think it's the easiest to get broken in the first game.

John Silk (2:58)

Talking of choking, can you remember? Let's not talk about choking specifically, but just anxiety and nerves. Can you remember like the most nervous you fell either before a match or on court?

Dalma Galfi (3:14)

I can't remember like one particular match, but yeah, I've been dealing with that this year a little bit. Okay. Throughout the summer, so...

John Silk (3:23)

I thought in the spring of this year, or maybe the beginning of this year, I remember thinking, I think you might get like a career high. You were sort of comfortably inside the top 100, I think, if I've got my numbers right. And I thought, I think Dalma and Pano as well, your compatriot, I think, was playing some good tennis around then. And I thought, maybe we're going to get a couple of Hungarians, maybe even top 50

But it sort of didn't quite happen.

Dalma Galfi (3:47)

Yeah, beginning of the year was okay, and then I just started going downhill. I was dealing with some injuries and some mental issues, so that made it a little hard.

And yeah, now I feel like I'm going to come back and feeling confident again on the court. And yeah, just playing.

John Silk (4:11)

What made you choose BLM this week?

Dalma Galfi (4:16)

After US Open, I played a 125 on clay, and I felt pretty comfortable on clay again.

So yeah, now it's a little bit of a weird schedule that I'm doing. I'm going back and forth from clay and hard court. But yeah, I'm comfortable on clay, and I think I'm playing good tennis there.