AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2022

Maddison Inglis

Press Conference

K. KANEPI/M. Inglis

2-6, 6-2, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: What do you feel will be the main takeaway points for you?

MADDISON INGLIS: Yeah, today was a pretty special opportunity I think and experience. I thought I played really well in the first set. Then, yeah, it's been a big week, lots of things happening. Yeah, I thought Kaia played really well in the second and third. She's obviously a really good player. It got away from me a bit there.

I'm really grateful for the experiences that I've had this week and I'm looking forward to take it into this year.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How much confidence do you get out of today's match moving forward?

MADDISON INGLIS: Yeah, I think I was kind of just reflecting a little bit these last couple hours. I think it's been an amazing week for me. I just feel like I've taken a bit of belief out of it that I can, you know, play at this level and I belong here I think.

I think I've just got to, like in today's match, just got to be able to maintain it longer against those really good players for three or four or five matches in a row.

But, yeah, I'm going to take a lot of confidence into this year which is exciting. Yeah, hopefully I'll get a few more opportunities like this.

Q. Obviously too soon to know how it's going to soak in, but what is it like, never won a Grand Slam match, suddenly you're one set away from reaching the fourth round, the media attention?

MADDISON INGLIS: Yeah, it's been really special. I mean, I've enjoyed this week so, so much. Playing on Rod Laver today, it was a dream come true. I was so, so excited and so happy just to be out there playing.

They asked me yesterday, Would you be okay if you're on Rod Laver?

I was like, That's why I play the sport.

It's one of the biggest courts in the world. To play out there today was an unbelievable experience. Even though I didn't get over the line today, I think there's a lot of positives that I can take out of it.

Q. Can you take us through your mind when you had won the first set, I suppose the lessons you learnt from what happened in the next couple of sets?

MADDISON INGLIS: Yeah, I thought I played quite solid in the first set. I was dictating the points a little bit more. She made a few errors I think that maybe she didn't in the second and third. I thought maybe just dropped a little bit in most aspects. I really tried to keep my energy going and tried to get energy from the crowd. They were amazing out there, the crowd. I was really lucky to have that.

Yeah, I think she just played really well in the second and third. I don't think I played my best, so wasn't a good combo.

Q. What do the next few weeks look like for you? Have you changed any of your plans as a result of this week?

MADDISON INGLIS: Yeah, I do have to have a bit of a look the next couple days. I was planning to be back to Perth to see my family, but I think that might change now because of the announcement a couple days ago with the borders.

I'm going to try to play Doha and Dubai. I would have been in them last year but I just had a few things going on, a couple little niggles, I didn't get to play. I'm hoping to go play those tournaments.

Yeah, have to look at the schedule after that. But hopefully Indian Wells and Miami, as well. That would be exciting.

Q. In terms of ranking, have you had to reassess where you want to be now at the end of the year?

MADDISON INGLIS: Huge goal is still top hundred. Yeah, this week helped a little bit with getting me a bit closer. But I actually don't know what I do go to after today. I think someone said like 115 maybe. So, yeah, there's a big gap between 115 and 100. Still a lot of work to do.

I can do it if I keep playing like I did this week.

Q. You talked earlier in the week about how you weren't able to go home for Christmas, you touched on the announcement. What is your take?

MADDISON INGLIS: Yeah, it's disappointing. I think it was Thursday morning, yesterday morning, Friday morning to wake up to that news. I was really looking forward to them. I think it's been almost a year since I've seen my family, which so many people are in this situation. It's just a bit disappointing.

But I'm super lucky. I have really good friends here. I have a really good friend in Melbourne I can stay with until I can get back. I am very lucky in that sense.

Q. What does it mean to actually do what you've done this week in terms of that belonging and belief? How do you think it will help you?

MADDISON INGLIS: Yeah, I think there's still so much work to do and a lot of things to improve on, which is exciting. But, yeah, I think it's just sometimes you think maybe I can't get to that next level, but I think this week I really proved to myself and to the people around me that I do have it in me.

Belief does a lot for, like, your game, how you play I think. I'm just hoping to channel that and take it into the next tournament.

Q. Have you had a whole bunch of coaches come forward to say they want to coach you?

MADDISON INGLIS: No, no, I actually haven't (laughter). I need to get that figured out. I have a couple weeks now, a few weeks, before the next few tournaments. I'll have a little bit of a think about that.

Q. Buy yourself something? You have to put some of this money into tennis. A little present you're going to get yourself?

MADDISON INGLIS: Oh, I haven't thought about that either. I'm sure there will be. I really want to treat the people I've had around me to a really, really nice dinner or night or something. I'm looking forward to doing that.

Yeah, I'm sure I'll buy myself something nice.