AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 25, 2023

Donna Vekic

Press Conference

A. SABALENKA/D. Vekic

6-3, 6-2

DONNA VEKIC: Hello.

THE MODERATOR: Donna, not the result you would have looked for today. What are your reflections on a great run to the quarters.

DONNA VEKIC: Thank you.

Yeah, a little bit disappointed, but as you said, was a really good tournament for me. We'll try to take some time and reflect over the last couple weeks, yeah, take the positives.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk about the match a little bit, the break points that you had, the opportunities. Did you feel that was her stepping up and wiping them away, or did you feel like it was missed chances?

DONNA VEKIC: I don't think I can be disappointed or think too much about the break points because she played them really well. The only thing I can really be disappointed about and try to work on is my serve really let me down today. I was struggling a lot. First serve, second serve, I think I had quite a lot of double-faults, as well. So really going to have to...

Maybe it was one day, bad day in the office, I hope. But, yeah, little bit disappointed with that.

Q. On the serve, I know you haven't had a chance to debrief yet, but do you have any idea what was going on with that? Anything you can put it down to?

DONNA VEKIC: I mean, it was all over the place. But I think mostly in the net (smiling).

You know, my serve is one of my biggest weapons, so if that's not working, it's very tough out there, especially against her, who is not giving you any easy points, easy shots. I think that's why maybe also I felt a little bit more pressure, because I knew if I didn't have a great serve, that she's going to crush it.

That could be one of the reasons, as well. I mean, with her, you cannot really count on building the point, staying in the rallies, working your way up. If you don't have good first shot, you're in trouble.

Q. In addition to making the quarters here, you also started undefeated at the United Cup. Is there a way that once you kind of process this loss, you can kind of think about the seven matches in a row you strung today to start the season?

DONNA VEKIC: Of course. I mean, I'm sure in a couple of days I'll realize what a great month it has been, what a great start of the year.

Right now I am sad, disappointed. But I think it would be strange if it wasn't like that. Most importantly, I really enjoyed my time here. I've had a great couple of weeks, not just the matches, I had a lot of fun training, doing some off-court stuff, just spending time with my team.

Just the beginning of the season (smiling).

Q. Four players left. Who do you think is best placed to win on Saturday night?

DONNA VEKIC: Oh (laughter).

That's a tough question because everyone's playing so amazing. I was watching a little bit yesterday Vika and Jessie. Somehow when I watch tennis on TV, it looks like lights out to me. I don't know. I'm like, Oh, my God, I'm nowhere near this level.

Then I watch some of my highlights. I'm like, Okay, that looks pretty good, as well (smiling).

I don't know. It's going to be a mental battle out there I think, as well, because I think also today she played some great points, but neither of us played an amazing level, especially in the first set. There was a lot of mistakes. Both of us were struggling a little bit. She prevailed in the end. Then she played a lot better in the second set.

I think looking right now, maybe a little bit later, but I don't think it was a great level of tennis today. It was more of a mental battle out there, as well.

I think who is going to stay more calm and be more confident is going to win.

Q. You still have a strong head-to-head against Aryna. Is there anything different about her? Does she feel different to you as an opponent at all?

DONNA VEKIC: Maybe. Maybe she was a little bit calmer than in our previous matches. In all the matches that we've played, all the matches that I've won, I was playing much better.

She just served really unbelievable today. Those first shots after my return, and I did manage to get a lot of returns in play, she was just crushing the ball. It was very difficult for me out there.

Q. I noticed at some point in the last 24 hours you posted about players council, players council rocks. Obviously that was in response to the handshake or the hug between Pegula and Azarenka. You talked about friendship with Belinda. Can you tell us more about the dynamic on the WTA players council.

DONNA VEKIC: We have a great group, a great group of women. We spend actually a lot of time together. We had a really long meeting before the tournament even started.

I think we need to spend even more time together because there's a lot of things that need to be improved, discussed, et cetera.

It's amazing to see top players, like all of them, they're playing so well, giving so much energy into that, into the council, trying to improve the tour, trying to help other players. It's really inspiring.