US OPEN

September 11, 2021

Desirae Krawczyk

Joe Salisbury

Press Conference

KRAWCZYK-SALISBURY/Olmos-Arevalo

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congratulations, once again. The moment that, Joe, you hit that smash and you won the match and you guys had that embrace, what were both of you thinking at that moment where you have won another major?

JOE SALISBURY: To be honest, not really thinking anything. Yeah, it was just pure emotion, I guess. Just joy, excitement. Yeah, disbelief.

I wasn't really thinking anything. I was just enjoying the moment.

Q. Desirae?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: No, I mean, like Joe said, I think after he hit the smash, we were up 40-Love on my serve and go to 40-30. I think once that point hit, it was just kind of, yeah, disbelief to have won together again. Yeah, pure happiness, obviously.

Q. What's the most disbelieving part? You guys have won a couple of majors together and have won majors in big tournaments. What's the disbelief part? Even though you guys have already done it, what's the disbelief?

JOE SALISBURY: I think obviously, yeah, we know we can win, yeah, because we have done it before.

I think, especially this one, obviously Des's home slam and, yeah, she's won three in a row. We won French together. She won Wimbledon. She won here. Three in a row. It's incredible.

And then, yeah, for me, coming off winning the men's yesterday, and, yeah, winning the mixed today, yeah, it's just an amazing feeling that kind of what we have achieved this year. So I think it's, yeah, not just the fact that we have won this week, because, yeah, even though it's amazing achievement to have won the US Open mixed doubles together, I think it's just everything, this year and this week combined.

Q. Desirae, to have your name next to names like Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Leander Paes, Margaret Smith Court, winning three mixed doubles Grand Slams in the same year of the Open Era, your name is going to be alongside those names. What do you think about that?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Honestly, just to think about that, it's just crazy to me. No, I'm just happy with, you know, how well I have done.

Yeah, I mean, honestly, it hasn't really sunk in yet. No, I'm just happy to be able to play in front of a lot of friends and family here and to play with Joe and have our whole team with us. It's just been a good two weeks.

Q. You mentioned after the semifinal that you guys bonded over the TV show Friends. Is there any character, Joe, that you resemble the most? Desirae, any character you resemble the most? Doesn't have to be the woman represents Phoebe, Rachel.

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: I'm definitely Monica. Yes, I'm definitely her. Just clean freak. I want things my way (smiling).

JOE SALISBURY: I don't know. To be honest, I'd probably be closer to Ross.

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Yeah, definitely Ross.

JOE SALISBURY: I have never had to answer that question before.

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Big Friends fans, yes.

Q. How did you realize that? Did one of you sit home and watch Friends, and the other said, Oh, my God, I loved it?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: I actually don't know. I think it was on TV, and then -- I don't know actually.

JOE SALISBURY: We both just kind of bring up references to it or quotes from it.

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: I send GIFs to him all the time, references, just like a GIF, yeah.

Q. Arizona State, and college, just kind of the dominance that you guys have had. When you first got together, could you have imagined being together, you know, for a long time? Given your success, like, is there a part of you that thinks, no, we've got to keep this going because this could be a historic pairing? Any thoughts about having this historic season turn into a historic run?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: I mean, no, I actually didn't think about that. We kind of just asked each other, Hey, do you want to play at AO, do you want to play this? It kind of just snowballed.

No, I think we just enjoy each other and we have fun on court. It's meshing well, and here we are. Yeah, I don't know.

Q. You had the Arizona State colors, like in the stands, as well, with your box, being college players. I guess how much do you think your success can inspire those in college to be able to succeed on the pro tour? We have seen a lot of college players do well on the tour but a lot of players go through the juniors and whatnot. How special was it knowing that you guys had the college experience before all of your success?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Yeah, I mean, it was great to have my coaches flew in from college, flew in I think before semifinals, they flew redeye and came out. It's been great to have them here and supporting and college tennis, as well.

I think college tennis for me was a big stepping stone into going to the pros. It definitely helped me grow as a player and as a person. I think it played a major key into how I have developed throughout these years, for sure.

Q. Joe, given the beginning of your career and wanting to play singles and then part of it being health reasons, possibly thinking that doubles may very well be the best route for you long term, just this journey that you have had over the past few years, like when you think about the beginning of your tennis journey to where you are now, does a part of you feel satisfied? Is a part of you in disbelief knowing where you started to where you want it to be compared to where you are now?

JOE SALISBURY: Yeah, I mean, obviously I'm very happy where I am now. I didn't think that I could achieve the things that I have done or definitely didn't expect that I would.

But also I wouldn't say I'm satisfied either. I mean, I definitely -- I mean, I love what I do. I love playing tennis, I want to keep doing it for many more years, and, yeah, I really enjoy it.

Obviously winning titles is great, and it's really special. That's kind of why we want to do it, but also, I want to keep doing it because I enjoy it, not just because I want to win more Grand Slams, but because it's what I love doing, and hopefully I can keep going for many more years and trying to win many more titles. Have to wait and see.

Q. Joe, there used to be a time where seeing Brits in men's finals, doubles finals, used to be the norm. Now there is a chance that three of the five main disciplines will have a British flag waving as a champion with yourself with the men's and mixed and Emma with the women's singles. Put that in perspective how important that may very well be to have the US Open, possibly have three of the five disciplines have a British winner?

JOE SALISBURY: Yeah, obviously it's great. It's great for British tennis having more people doing well.

I think, yeah, what Emma's done is pretty crazy. I don't think anyone could have expected it. I know definitely nobody expected it.

Yeah, what she's doing is amazing. Yeah, hopefully she can go all the way and get the title, but, yeah, obviously it's great for British tennis what she's achieving, and I'm sure she's going to go on to do great things.

Q. Congratulations, Des. It's amazing how you and your partner have won so many Grand Slams together. Of course for us in the Philippines, we are cheering for you and super supporting you. Please tell us about your Filipino roots. I know you played in the PCA, you won there. When was the last time you were in the Philippines? Is your mom here?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Yeah. No, my mom's not here. She's actually back home. Yeah, my mom is Filipino, and that was the last time I was in the Philippines was during that PCA Open. I think I played a couple ITF events there. I was there for a month and I played that Open tournament, yeah.

Q. Can you tell us where did you develop your tennis? Like here as a junior, I know you went to college here in the U.S., but how did you develop your game and who was the most influential person to really help you in your game?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Yeah, I started, grew up in Palm Springs and had a couple coaches there. My dad was my biggest influence. He brought me into tennis when I was about two, and then I had my first racquet.

Yeah, I grew up in the desert. It's him and a couple of coaches who have been with me since high school.

Q. For aspiring young Filipino tennis players, what would you say would be the key to your success that could maybe help them dream of maybe winning a Grand Slam like you have?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: I think just the biggest thing is really just to enjoy it. Obviously enjoy the moment. You work your way up to hopefully playing in the pros, but I think you have to enjoy each moment and take that stepping step to the pros as well.

Q. Any plans to go to the Philippines in the near future? No?

DESIRAE KRAWCZYK: Not that I have thought of, but maybe one day (smiling).