AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 27, 2022

Diede De Groot

Press Conference

D. DE GROOT/A. Van Koot

6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: You had doubles delight yesterday, now you have the singles. How are you feeling right now?

DIEDE DE GROOT: I feel really good, especially because last year was a very tough year with so many big tournaments, then the Games to sort of top it off. This year we sort of tried to go back to basics a little bit and tried to really put the focus on all of the Grand Slams, beginning the year with this one. It's good.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Quite a dominant display. How do you keep those levels up, keep as consistent as you did today throughout?

DIEDE DE GROOT: Yeah, I actually think that I already started playing this level at the preparation tournaments. I think here and there there were some games where back then I sometimes just let it go for a little bit. Myself, a few days ago, I had the same thing where I actually played really good throughout the first set, 6-Love I think, then the second set was sort of so-so. That's actually what the focus was about this match, throughout the whole match, try to stay the same.

I think I did that very well.

Q. You've been in Melbourne Park and competed at the Australian quite a few years now. There's only been one year where you haven't gone home with the singles title. What is it about this place?

DIEDE DE GROOT: I don't know. I really like playing here. I think coming out here, you need to travel a long way, you're far away from home. I think it also helps me focus in a way where there's not as many distractions as there are at home.

I really just like how everyone is just happy here. Everyone is enjoying themselves. It makes me enjoy myself. Yeah, it's always nice playing here.

Q. Do you think you are approaching the form you had last summer in France?

DIEDE DE GROOT: Definitely. I feel very relaxed. Last year during Roland Garros I had the same sort of feeling. I was very confident about my game. I think this match sort of was a display of that same time that I was in back then.

Yeah, I'm happy.

Q. Second set you were 5-Love up. It turned out to be the second longest game of the match. Did you feel any nerves at that stage or a temporary blip?

DIEDE DE GROOT: It was a little bit of overconfident I think. I tried to finish it a little bit prettier than I should have. Yeah, that was just a game where I tried to hit a few harder serves, a few bigger points. That didn't work well, so I had to go back to my own game.

Yeah, that was straight back on there the next game, so all good.

Q. Overall how happy are you with the (indiscernible)?

DIEDE DE GROOT: Super happy. It's the beginning of the year. I think I've showed everyone that I'm ready for the rest of the year. It's good.

Q. You were here so often, all the hype of Dylan Alcott, how much it means to the people here. Talk to me about how the perception of wheelchair sports, especially in tennis, is seen here in Australia in comparison to Europe and your home country, the obstacles you have on a daily basis.

DIEDE DE GROOT: I think to start my answer with Dylan, I've had a lot of questions about him this week. It's okay, yeah. I'll answer another one (smiling).

I think he's done really well for us here in Australia. His person, his personality, is very outgoing. He uses that to get the crowds to get attention to the game. I think he's done that very well for us here in Australia, especially where he makes the players go to the next level.

I think in all of the other countries, for us being from a very small country like Holland, it's very difficult also because we don't have a home Grand Slam. I think in all of the Grand Slam countries like USA, Great Britain and France, I think those are the countries that have tennis at a very high level and at a very high - how would you say it - like a high pedestal, it's very high in standards. I think in a country like Holland, we have ice skating or hockey, we're good at hockey. Those would always be the sports that get more attention.

But I think in general, in Holland especially, we're viewed as professional athletes. We're included in all of the professional programs. I have nothing to complain. It's all very well-perceived I think.

Yeah, hopefully we'll grow even more.