AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 23, 2023

Donna Vekic

Press Conference

D. VEKIC/L. Fruhvirtova

6-2, 1-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on reaching the quarterfinals for the first time here in Melbourne. What are the emotions you're feeling right now?

DONNA VEKIC: Well, I'm happy to be in the big room (smiling).

Yeah, I'm super happy, relieved as well. It was a really tough match. A lot of ups and downs. I would say also very high quality level of tennis from both of us, especially from her in the second set.

So, yeah, I'm just really happy to win. Didn't really think about it yet (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk about today's match in terms of facing her. What did you think of Linda's game? What was the key in the end?

DONNA VEKIC: I played her in Kooyong the week before, so I knew her game a little bit. She definitely played much, much better today, which was expected. I knew she was going to come out fighting, come out swinging.

I knew I had to, one, bring my best level, and two, try to stay with her even if things didn't go my way at some point, which they didn't. I knew I just had to fight until the end and believe that I can win.

Q. You mentioned on the court about having a rough last few years. What specifically were you referring to?

DONNA VEKIC: I mean, after 2021 Australian Open, I had the surgery on my knee. The whole year I was struggling, still had pain. After Australia last year I had to take another couple of months off again for the knee. It was just a battle.

I hope that I finally found the solution, how to deal with it. I think it will be here, I don't want to say 'issues', but it will be up and down for the rest of my career. But I have a good team around me who take care of me and take care of my knee along with the rest of my body.

I'm just really happy to be playing at this level again.

Q. Can you say a few words about Pam Shriver. What do you expect she can help you with all her experience?

DONNA VEKIC: Yeah, it started in San Diego very randomly. We spent a lot of time there together. I went to L.A. after, so we also saw each other there.

I was like, Hey, Pam, we get along so well, do you want to join Team DV for next year? She said yes, which is, one, a huge honor for me to have such a champion wanting to work with me. Two, I really believe that she can bring a lot to my game. Everyone says she's only bringing volleys for me, and I'm going to improve my volleys, that's for sure. Also, a lot about serve and the rest of the game. That's for sure.

Q. In terms of working with Pam, she can be very direct, speak very plainly. She's a big champion, good cheerleader. Seems like she's your good luck charm with San Diego and here. What are the conversations like when it comes to your tennis? Can you give us specifics about what she kind of tells you?

DONNA VEKIC: I always like that from any coaches, for them to be direct. Even if it's sometimes what you don't want to hear, kind of at the end of the day you do want to hear these things if you want to improve.

She's, like you said, always been very direct. Something I really appreciate. But other than that, I think we have a great atmosphere in the team. With Nick as well, they make such a good combination. Nick and I did really hard work in the off-season in Monaco, and we were talking with Pam on the phone from L.A. We all met here in Melbourne.

It's also great to see that I have success and results from our work so early. It's not just from the work now, I've been working hard the last couple of months. It's finally all coming together.

Q. When you go through an injury like that, it takes so long to recover, does it shake your confidence? Did it put a strain on your mind?

DONNA VEKIC: Like, you wouldn't believe. I said twice I'm going to quit tennis (smiling).

But after saying that, one, I won Courmayeur, then I played really well in San Diego.

Of course, you have doubts especially because I wasn't really fit, I was so far from moving the way I was before. I didn't trust my knee. I didn't trust my abilities.

Then my fitness was improving, but it wasn't coming together on the match court. I was putting a lot of pressure on myself, as well. One thing, to play well in matches, having the expectations of my level what was before surgery.

I remember after US Open last year when I lost to Kudermetova first round, I played well. In the end I lost. I was like, I give myself until Wimbledon next year to see if I can reach at least my same level than before. If not, it was too tough for me mentally to be on this average level, I would say, for me because I know what I was capable of before.

Q. You said this is the first time you really believed that you can win a slam. What changed?

DONNA VEKIC: Hmm, what changed?

San Diego was really important week for me, beating all those top players, ranking-wise. It was a huge confidence boost. Gave me a lot of belief.

I think really honestly that week I saw that I can do it. If I can do it there, why not here? If it doesn't happen for me here, I really believe that in the next couple of years, why not?

Q. You're still just 26, but somehow a veteran on tour. What still drives you, motivates you? You seem to enjoy the tennis tour more than ever.

DONNA VEKIC: That is very true.

Yeah, it's my 11th Australian Open, not counting the juniors. I've been around for a while. But I think that gives me a lot of, one, experience, but like you said, I'm still only 26. I don't feel 26 when I wake up in the morning and take my first couple of steps (smiling).

I really do enjoy it more and more, especially when I'm winning, playing good. At the end of the day, how can you not enjoy when you play on these courts, when you play on -- Margaret Court is one of my favorite courts, for sure. When you have people supporting you, you cannot beat this feeling.

Q. On the point of being an 11-year veteran of Melbourne, much has been expected of you since you made your splash onto the pro tour, the inside as well, you knowing what you're capable of. What has it been like in terms of that journey to this quarterfinal in terms of having to deal with chasing and making good on that expectation while also having a lot of physical roadblocks?

DONNA VEKIC: I think my mindset coming into this year, it's a little bit different than the years before. I wouldn't say tennis now is my priority. It has been my priority for the last 10 years.

I don't know. Definitely a little bit different in my mind. I have a lot of confidence from San Diego. I was feeling great at the beginning of the year in Perth. I was playing well. Playing really well in Kooyong.

I put so much pressure on myself in the first round here, that when I stepped on the court, I was completely frozen. I won the first set, but like if you asked me my name, I would have to look up on the scoreboard to check what's my name. I was completely blocked out there.

Honestly, I was losing 1-0 in the third set when it started to rain. I would definitely say the rain saved me a little bit because it gave me a couple of hours to regroup, cry my eyes out to Nick in the treatment room, just kind of release a little bit the pressure.

From then on, I've been playing much better.

Q. Looking ahead, you've got Aryna. How much confidence do you bring into that match? What is the key?

DONNA VEKIC: Yeah, actually I've been watching a lot of tennis. Somehow I didn't manage to catch her playing. I've read, of course, on Twitter that she's playing maybe the best tennis on the women's side this Australian Open.

I have a great head-to-head with her. All of our matches have been really tough, so I'm sure next one will be, as well.

I'm just going to take it one match at a time, just really focus on that match. First not think that it's quarterfinals because it's a big match for us both. I'm sure she'll be feeling it as well. I will try to take revenge for Belinda (smiling).