AUSTRALIAN OPEN

February 9, 2021

Christopher O'Connell

Press Conference

C. O'CONNELL/J. Struff

7-6, 7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Chris, talk us through two extremely tough sets, then seemed to have that confidence after going two sets to love up.

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, I felt awesome out there, pretty relaxed and calm. I was serving well, but he was also serving well. So, yeah, the first couple sets ended up in a tiebreak. I just felt that my game lifted slightly. I just made a few more returns in the tiebreaks both sets. Really that was the, yeah, slight edge.

Then, yeah, I felt like I just ran away with it a little bit in the third set.

Q. Clearly starting to feel pretty comfortable on the center stage.

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah. Sorry, repeat that?

Q. Started to feel comfortable on the Grand Slam stage, win at the US Open and today.

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, the more I play these type of events, the better I feel out there, the more confident and calm I feel out there because it's a different environment, different atmosphere.

Q. Were you caught up in the northern beaches lockdown? How impacted were you?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, I was impacted a little bit. I'm from the northern part of the northern beaches. Yeah, it was a bit tough there for a little bit.

But I managed to get in a little bit of training. A little bit stressful at times, but it was okay.

Q. Neighbors and stuff like that, backyard courts?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, pretty much. Got some family friends just up the road from us. I was able to get on their hard court, with my little brother and them. It was good.

Q. You talked quite a bit about your backstory, the past two or three years, how much it's meant to you to get back to this level. Looking at that US Open first round win and today, are they life-changing wins in a way for yourself?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, I mean, that's why we play tennis, to play Grand Slams, to get to win first rounds of Grand Slams. It's just awesome, yeah. Unbelievable feeling.

Q. I think you may have done some time in Wollongong with Alex on the way down. How important is it for players to come together, to keep pushing in terms of trying to work towards the top 100?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, I mean, Alex had a different pathway to me. He went to college tennis. He did the college path for four years. But it's good to be around him. He's very professional. He's playing some good tennis.

Yeah, we were stuck down in Kiama trying to go about the orange zones, get into Victoria. Yeah, he's a good player. I think he's playing at the moment, so hopefully I can get out there and watch a little bit of it.

Q. We see some players hit their stretch at 16 or 17, other players thrive in their mid 20s, John Millman, now over 30. Does that give you hope on the future, there's still plenty of time for me?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, definitely. Still don't think my best tennis has arrived yet. It's just taken me a longer time to figure out how to get these wins, feel confident out there, feel comfortable.

Yeah, I've still got some learning to do.

Q. You had Daniil in the second round, US Open. You might play Bautista Agut here. What kind of lessons would you have learned from playing such a high-ranked player at the US Open to what you might experience here?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, I mean, those guys are top-10 players for a reason. They've got a bit more of an X factor. I felt that out there when I played Daniil. It was just at a different level.

In saying that, I did feel comfortable in the rallies. Going to take what I experienced in that match and bring it to my second round match. But I don't think he's even through to the second round yet. He's yet to play. So I'll definitely get out there and watch him.

Q. (Question about the draw.)

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, I thought it was a pretty tough draw again. But, I mean, there could have been worse draws, there could have been easier draws. I mean, all matches are going to be tough no matter what player I get put up against.

I was fortunate enough to watch a little bit of him in the ATP Cup, yeah.

Q. The advantage coming up against these high-ranked players, the fact that you might know a little bit more about them than they know about you?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, for sure. I haven't made it to the ATP Tour yet so I'm not around all these top players week in, week out. I'm sure he wouldn't have seen much of me play. But I've seen plenty of him play over the past five years.

Q. How much did last year affect you?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, it's tough for me, but for everyone. I wasn't the only one going through problems. Yeah, it affected my tennis a little bit. I struggled to get out on court to train because I didn't know when I would be back on tour playing.

When they announced the US Open, that changed everything, my mindset. I had something to look forward to, something to train for.

But it was good. I got to spend a lot of time with my little brother, family, girlfriend, surfed a little bit, saw my mates. So it wasn't too bad.

Q. When that lockdown happened again with the northern beaches, what were your thoughts at that point? Was it a case of not again, another setback?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Like I said before, there's a court up the road, some friends had a hard court. Got my little brother out there, the people that own the court got out there for me. Yeah, it was a little bit challenging. Also it was raining a lot in that period. So, yeah, it was a little bit tough.

I just focused on getting my fitness levels up, knowing that, yeah, I was just hoping that I'd get my fitness levels up and be ready to go once I played a Grand Slam match.

Q. I was meaning on the mental side personally for you. You'd be caught up in that all over again, not knowing when things were going to open up once more.

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, it didn't really affect me too much, to be honest. I was fine.

Q. Any of your family able to make it down for the match?

CHRISTOPHER O'CONNELL: Yeah, been down here with my girlfriend for the past three weeks. My mum and dad are down here. It was awesome for them to watch.