Caroline Wozniacki says Venus Williams was not getting in her head during an incredible second set of their WTA Finals championship match in Singapore on Sunday.
But at one stage, it sure looked that way.
The Danish World No.3 had at one stage been up by a set and 5-0, only to have Williams reel off four straight games, making her grip on the Billie Jean King Trophy look shaky.
A clearly rattled Wozniacki went to the chair umpire to complain that a spectator in the crowd was making too much noise as she stepped up to the baseline to serve.
Adding to that pressure was the stranglehold Williams held over her until Sunday night - the American had won all seven previous encounters between the pair.
But not this time - Wozniacki held off a fast-charging Williams to win 6-4 6-4 and take the most important title of her career.
She says she was keeping it together, even as Williams sent shot after shot "whizzing by me."
"Obviously Venus is a great champion, just like her sister, and I have so much respect for her," Wozniacki said.
"I knew that she was never going to give up, and I knew she was going to come back fighting strong.
"For me, it was just important to try and keep my head down and just focus on myself and what I needed to do and try and forget who is on the other side of the net."
Wozniacki said she complained to the umpire because the spectator was causing a distraction, not because she was shaken by the Williams comeback.
"It's one thing if someone is supporting, but it's another thing when they start supporting during the point and are being unsportsmanlike," she said.
"That's why I walked up to the chair umpire and said to pay attention to the spectators or the spectator that was doing that."
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