THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2021

Ashleigh Barty

Press Conference

A. BARTY/A. Blinkova

6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You didn't seem absolutely at your best, but pleased you're working your way into the tournament with more coming up?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Yeah, tough one. A few things didn't feel quite right today. That's half the battle in sport, is being able to find a way when it's not feeling all that great.

I felt like when my back was against the wall today, I was able to bring the good stuff. It just wasn't quite there all the time. We have another opportunity to now go out on the practice court, work on it, try to bring some good stuff in the third round.

Q. You seemed aggressive on the second serve. Was that something you were conscious of?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Not my best serving day. But that happens as well. I felt like I was just out of rhythm a little bit. A few technical things weren't quite feeling spot on.

But you have those days where some days you feel like you're eight-foot-tall and can't miss the box. Other days you feel like you're three-foot-nothing, just getting over the net is a bit of a battle.

We just go back to work. Certainly nothing that will concern me over a longer period. We have those days. We just go back to kind of the routines that we usually would and try to find a way in the next match.

Q. On your serve, was it a conscious effort to do the second serve quite aggressively or were you still feeling the effects of your hip injury?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: No, I feel fine. I think it was just not a great serving day. So certainly not something I'm going to blow out of proportion.

Q. How old do you think you were when you first learned about Evonne Goolagong? Can you describe for you how your knowledge of her developed over time and your feelings for her legacy?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: I think from when I was quite young, obviously I learnt about the way that she played the game of tennis. I think probably once I first met Evonne when I was 13 years old was when I really began to understand the impact she had on people's lives outside of tennis. I met her just in Brizzie one day when we were talking about her foundation and kind of all of the things she was doing off the court. Then of course that led to more curiosity of how she played the game to more curiosity of how she's impacted people since she retired and kind of her legacy that she's left after her tennis.

I think it was a gradual progression as I got older. I was obviously more curious. When I began a relationship with her is kind of when there was more of an open conversation between both of us, kind of me trying to learn and be a sponge as best I could and learn from one of the greats.

Q. What do you think the legacy of her accomplishment here at Wimbledon is?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: It's a legacy of opportunity, in my opinion. I feel like the way that she approached her tennis and approached her matches here at Wimbledon, it was a courageous stepping into the unknown I think. There was no one that had done it before her from our heritage.

I think for her to be able to be the first one to pave that path was really showing that no matter what anyone says, you can go out there and believe in your dreams, put your dreams out to the universe, and you never know what can quite happen if you're willing to work for it and get after it.

Q. In your next match with Katerina Siniakova, how will you approach this match? What will you look to work on? What mindset will you have?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: The same as every other match. I try and approach every single match with the same mindset: that's one that I go out there and try and play my opponent one-on-one. I try to bring my game style and play my game style as often as possible, knowing what their strengths and weaknesses are.

I go to work with Tyz. We work on a few things, talk about a few things. There's nothing drastic that changes. It's more how we like to approach how we go out there and play each and every match.

Q. Have you played her before?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: In doubles plenty of times. I don't believe so in singles.

Q. A couple of matches now that you've got under your belt on the Centre Court. Have you noticed any difference in playing on the court, the way the surface has played from the first match to this one?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: Traditionally the court is obviously played in a lot more. You could even see today there was more wear and tear behind the baseline. That's natural for a grass court, it's played in. I think it was certainly nice to be able to have some sun on it today, have the roof open for most of the last two days. I think that helps the grass kind of breathe, be played in a bit more naturally I think.

It certainly felt a little bit firmer today. But again, in two days' time all of the courts are more worn in. Each and every time you step on these courts here at Wimbledon, they've had a few more matches on them. That's kind of the challenge is that the courts adapt. You adapt with them. You have to understand they do change throughout the tournament.

Q. A couple of matches in now, how do you feel? Obviously you don't want to play your best tennis now. But how do you feel the progress has been? Where would you say percentage-wise you are at the moment?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: I'm exactly where I am, and that's all I can ask. There's no kind of percentage of how I'm playing. It's just trying to find a way each and every day, each and every match.

I feel good. Like, I feel like it's certainly nice now to have another opportunity here in the third round here at Wimbledon. I'm looking forward to another challenge of playing Katerina. It's a tough one. I'm looking forward to it. It's different challenges each and every opponent. That's all I can do is prepare for that opponent as best I can and see what happens.

Q. Does it make it a bit awkward when you don't get an opportunity to practice on the court that you're going to play a match on? Firstly you're probably not going to get Centre Court a third match in a row, but you never know. Could be Court 1. What about that aspect? You're easygoing, nothing bothers you, but what do you think?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: It doesn't bother me, Craig. Certainly whichever court I get to play on here at Wimbledon, it's a privilege.

I mean, the courts are all a little bit different. They're all a bit unique. That's natural I think. Any tournament in the world, each court is a little bit different and plays a bit differently. Understanding that comes with experience.

If what court I played on bothered me, that would be a bigger issue. I'm enjoying all the opportunities that I get to play on all courts around the world. Playing on Centre Court here at Wimbledon is a very special thing, and something I certainly don't take for granted.

Q. What are your thoughts about the draw as it stands with so many of your big rivals having disappeared from the draw? Naomi, Serena, Simona is gone. Do you feel this is turning out to be potentially a golden opportunity for you?

ASHLEIGH BARTY: That's an impossible question to answer. I mean, the three names you mentioned are all not in the draw for different reasons. That's not something that I can control. I think speculating now is a waste of time. It's certainly not something that I'm going to do, is be looking at the draw. I never have, I never will.

Obviously those that are injured, I really hope that they get healthy and they're playing out here again soon. It's a waste of time thinking about that.