WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 15, 2022

Caty McNally

Press Conference

C. McNALLY/A. Sasnovich

6-3, 3-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Really tough conditions. Walk us through the match and how you rallied to come back in the end.

CATY McNALLY: That's a good question. Yeah, no, obviously she's a great opponent, and she's really tough. She's really dangerous. She has a great backhand. She can take it anywhere in the court.

Yeah, no, the first set I thought I played really well. Second set we had some really long games. Oh, my God. Yeah, I was down a break early, got it back, and then she played pretty well. I had my chances for sure, though.

Third set, yeah, I just tried -- I was telling myself, Keep going, just keep running for every ball. Don't give up.

I had great support out there. Everyone was behind me. My brother, every single point, pumping his fist in my face. That meant a lot. It was just incredible to have that support, that hometown support.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. It took a few years of playing singles main draw to finally get this win. Can you walk us through that moment when it happened?

CATY McNALLY: Yeah, I mean, it meant a lot. Playing in this event has always been a dream of mine, but to actually win, it's kind of like getting over that hurdle almost.

Feels really good. There is no better way to win your first Masters 1000 than at home.

Q. We saw, after the match, obviously you fell to the ground with emotion. I'm curious how much of that was physical? How are your legs feeling? What will the next day look like for you as you try to recover?

CATY McNALLY: Yeah, it was a super physical match. She had me going side to side. As I said, I just told myself to keep running, keep going.

Yeah, I think at the end it was just a little bit of relief of fighting through that. There was definitely a lot of pain and some cramping going on, so it was just such a mental battle. I was just so proud of myself fighting through that when I think I could have just thrown in the towel there and blame it on not having my legs with me.

But, yeah, it just meant so much, having my brother and my parents and just everyone that's been around me since I was a little girl out there, cheering me on to finally win.

Q. That was your brother who you hugged after the match?

CATY McNALLY: Yeah. Yeah, no, that's my brother John. He plays tennis as well. He went to Ohio State. Yeah, I mean, he's my hero, honestly.

I mean, every single point he was there with me, fighting for me. He believes in me. He's had a tough road as well, trying to play, just coming back from injury and stuff.

So to share that moment with him meant a lot.

Q. You also shared a moment after the match with your opponent. Obviously there was an embrace between the two of you. Talk about that relationship and that moment.

CATY McNALLY: Yeah, no, that was really special. Honestly, I was still on the ground. She was walking over to that other side of the net.

That meant a lot, just hugging it out after the match. I think we both really put it all out there physically, mentally. It wasn't easy. I think we were pushing three hours out there.

Yeah, she's great. I mean, I think she's like 30 in the world, so I can see why. Yeah.

Q. You are playing doubles tomorrow with Taylor. Can you talk a little bit sort of about the preparation going into it and sort of what it means to play with her and your dynamics.

CATY McNALLY: Yeah, no, I'm excited. I'm getting the body right. That's the first thing I have to do is get my body right to be able to go out there tomorrow and play.

Yeah, tonight I'm just going to try to like enjoy this moment with my family. I get to go home, see my dog, so that's nice. Tomorrow we will come out with a good game plan, and we will be ready to go.

I'm really excited to play with Taylor. I have never played with her, but I know she's sick at doubles. I'm looking forward to it.

Q. Obviously Coco Gauff took over the World No. 1 ranking in doubles yesterday. You had too much time perhaps with her on court throughout the course of your career. Seeing that from afar, what was your reaction to seeing her take over World No. 1?

CATY McNALLY: I thought it was incredible. Yeah, no, I reached out to Coco and congratulated her on that milestone. I honestly didn't know, like, that match like if she won it she was going to get World No. 1.

Coco and I, yeah, like we are not playing right now, as everyone has probably seen, but we still have a great friendship. I still consider her one of my best friends on tour. We still support each other through the ups and downs.

She texted me this morning, Good luck. She texted me after my match, Congratulations. No matter what, yeah, Coco, it's not only on the court; it's an off-the-court thing too.

Q. Now that you have gotten through the first-round match, what does the preparation look like for the second round?

CATY McNALLY: Well, I have doubles tomorrow, so I will get through that doubles and then for sure just take care of my body again, make sure I'm hydrated, fueled. I play Ons Jabeur, so I have played her a couple of times. I'm looking forward to it.

She's a really good player. I mean, I don't think she's top 5. I'm not sure. We have had some good matches, and she's a really nice girl off the court as well. I'm looking forward to it.