AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2022

Amanda Anisimova

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/N. Osaka

4-6, 6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on the win tonight. It was a very close match. What emotions are running through your mind right now?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I just want to soak in this moment. I'm just extremely happy. It was an amazing match. It was very close. You know, there were a bit of nerves, and to play Naomi for the first time, it's unreal, honestly.

So I'm just really happy with the win today. Yeah, it sucks we couldn't both win today, because these matches are hard. Honestly, I think she's a very nice girl. These days are kind of tough. Yeah, I'm just really happy in the end.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. What does Naomi mean to you as a player and a competitor on tour? What does playing her and beating her mean also?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I think she's really inspiring. What she's done the last couple of years is amazing, and just how authentic she is. I think she's just great, really fresh for the tour. I think she's really funny and sweet. It was really cool to finally play her today. She has a really big game, so I knew that I really had to step it up and try to be as aggressive as I could.

I don't know if I did that so well today, because in most of the moments I feel like she was more aggressive. I'm not really sure, but I think my serve is what really helped me today.

Q. By "authentic," what do you mean?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: She just tells the truth about how she feels. She spoke about her mental health the last couple of years.

I know she's gone through a really tough year last year, so I kind of feel for her today. I know it's not easy, especially just being the defending champion, kind of feel bad.

But, yeah, just the way that she talks about things and how honest she is, I think that's really inspiring.

Q. Your return was great, especially in the second set and the third set. Seems like you read where she serves. Can you talk about your return?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: My what? Sorry? Returns?

To be honest, I did not think that, but thank you, because I was getting very upset with how I was returning today.

But she has a really big serve. She's one of the biggest servers on tour, so I was really trying to stay dialed in in those moments, because those were the most important ones.

But in the third set, she was always holding serve, and, I mean, we were both just going back to back with our serves. I think in the tiebreak I really tried to stay in those moments, just try to dig deep and try to make those returns, which I think I did the best was in the tiebreaker, returning her serves.

Yeah, I've worked a lot on it, and I think all the work I've done in the preseason has helped me for today, because honestly I have worked a lot on my returns. I think it's just paying off.

Q. You have been in fantastic form since arriving in Australia. What do you love about playing here in Melbourne? The whole summer has been amazing. What do you love about playing in Australia?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: To be honest, I love playing in front of Australian fans (smiling). I think they are so cute. It's just so fun playing here. The atmosphere, it's just similar to US Open. I absolutely love it.

You know, the last tournament was pretty small. It was still an amazing week for me, but I was really looking forward to this and just playing on these big stages. Here at Australian Open, it's just an amazing atmosphere. This is everything that I train for. I mean, I was getting goose bumps in the tiebreaker. I always get that feeling and I'm, like, Go away.

Yeah, it's an amazing feeling, and it's all of that hard work that I put in is to have those moments like today.

Q. Do you think of yourself as a big stage player? What's the experience of playing on a night like this against Osaka? How does it feel different or bring out the best in you?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, going in today it was the first time playing against Naomi. To be honest, I was just thinking to myself that it's going to be a really good test for me today to see where I'm at. I know I'm coming off a title. But honestly haven't had that many top wins, I feel like, like with Naomi that I had today.

I just really wanted to see where my game is at and if I can handle it, like try to win today. So, yeah, I think this is a huge boost of confidence for me.

Q. You said you appreciated Naomi talking about mental health, the struggles she's had last year. Wondering about her being a top player opening up, does it make it easier for you and other players on tour to feel less alone or to see someone being open about it, like you said?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, for sure, just to spread awareness and try to get rid of the stigma around mental health. I think that we're in a completely different time now. This generation is becoming more honest about all these kinds of things. I think it's great to see.

I'm comfortable speaking about whatever, you know. I've gone through a couple of hard years, and I don't mind posting stuff on social media and just try to spread awareness for people who are also going through tough things.

I think it's great to be relatable to other people who follow us. I think it's a great message.

Q. How tough those years have been for you, how much more does that make this night mean to you?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, last year was a huge struggle for me. Honestly, I didn't think that I would -- I mean, it's not that I didn't think, but I really wanted to be having these moments again. Sometimes you doubt it, like what if I get injured and I'll never be able to play in a Grand Slam again?

Like those thoughts try to creep up in my head sometimes. Yeah, last year was just not great, all my results I wasn't happy with. I'm just really happy that I had a great preseason with my team, Roman, Rob, and also Gleb (phonetic), this guy that I was training a lot with in Miami. They've done incredible work with me in the preseason. I'm just incredibly thankful and grateful that I have such an amazing support system around me and a team.

So I think that without them, this probably wouldn't have been possible. So it's also really important, the people that you surround yourself with, and that's what really helped me after this past year to get back to, you know, the level that I can play.

Q. What's Darren Cahill bring to your game? What did he advise you going into this match this evening?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: He's been a great addition to my team the last couple of weeks. You know, he tries to help me stay calm and relaxed and just give me the confidence going into this match today, just believing in myself and knowing that I can do it. I think he does a great job of, you know, telling me those things.

Yeah, I mean, he's just been great helping me. He was at my warmup today, and just try and play relaxed tennis. Yesterday I was kind of stressing myself out a little bit trying to play perfect. He intervenes in those moments and tells me, Just relax, and play the game that I know.

Q. How does it feel to sort of be back on top of your game? Where do you think you can sort of get to by, say, year's end?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Honestly, I'm just enjoying one match at a time right now. I don't think that I played amazing tennis today. I think it was a little bit tough, and I was pretty nervous.

Hopefully I can build on this into the next round. And, yeah, my body is feeling good and I think that in the tough moments I was able to produce some good tennis. I'm feeling good, and I'm just enjoying every single match here.

Q. Great win. I'm curious how different, or maybe it doesn't feel different, I don't know, does this feel to your run at Roland Garros through the first week? Can you compare/contrast them at all?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: To be honest, I didn't really think about that today. I actually got to the fourth round here a couple years ago before my French Open, so maybe that's a little bit similar, because, you know, playing in Melbourne and playing in front of the crowd I had a pretty decent week that year.

I already forgot your question.

Q. Fair enough. It wasn't a good question. It's fine. But going ahead, though, looking ahead towards Ash, obviously you guys played in Paris, semifinal. What do you anticipate from that match? What will that match against playing her now as a World No. 1, what will that mean to you?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Maybe that's why you compared it, because I'm up against Ash next. Okay. That makes sense.

She's an amazing player. I look up to her a lot. I love her game. She's very consistent. She's a champion.

So it's just going to be exciting to go up against her, another amazing opportunity for me. Gonna get back on the practice court tomorrow and work on my game and just try to give myself the best chance tomorrow.