AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2023

Jelena Ostapenko

Press Conference

J. OSTAPENKO/K. Baindl

6-3, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Jelena, congratulations on the win today. How are you feeling?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yeah, it was a really good match today. I felt like I played really well and better than the previous two rounds. Yeah, I just didn't give many chances to my opponent, so I'm really happy with the way I played today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Welcome to the Round of 16 at Melbourne Park. How does it feel to play better and better with each match, and do you feel like you're kind of rounding into form now with that confidence that makes you a very dangerous player in the second week of the slam?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yeah, it's always tough in the beginning of the year because you come after, like, two months playing no matches. So it's kind of a little bit tricky to get back into the matches and stuff, but I feel like I played really well.

Even, like, the second round match was a bit tough because it was windy and everything, but I felt like I really showed my game in the third set.

Today I was really focused and really into the match because I haven't beaten her before, so I really wanted to win today. I just tried to do anything, everything to win today.

Q. What's the challenge for you at the Australian Open? What is the toughest thing about this tournament in terms of trying to get your best game out for, you know, matches and matches?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Just to try to get back into the matches rhythm and also try to not maybe follow the draw because there were a lot of upsets.

Just try to take one match at a time and prepare very well for every match. Yeah, try to not think forward. Just to enjoy the moment, to be in the moment. As I said, take one match at a team and prepare as good as possible.

Q. You talked about your preseason and the work you put in there. For you especially with the way that you play with the power game that you play, what is the focus in your preseason? Do you just do repetitions? Is it decision-making, what shot to hit where? How does your preseason shape out?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I think I was working a lot on my movement and also the fitness and kind of everything. The first practice was more like repetitions and try to feel the ball and to feel the shots.

Then, of course, also try to step into the court and do some exercises to push myself to go forward and to be aggressive and to play in the court. I think that's the main thing, which I did very well today.

It's taking time away from the opponent, so the opponent has less time to run and get the balls back. So I think that was the most important in preseason. And also, of course, to move better.

Q. Do you feel as though in your past instances where you've had really strong runs at the slams, whether obviously Roland Garros or Wimbledon, but do you feel as though there's a moment or a match where your game clicks in the first week and it gives you that confidence to just kind of go barrelling through the second week? Or is it really a gradual thing for you in terms of finding that slam-winning confidence?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I think it's more like every match you kind of get more and more confidence because every match you obviously play better and better. I just think now I'm maybe more mature, and maybe sometimes I need to play more confident and to not go for, like, crazy winners. But also, on the other hand, I have to be aggressive because that's what the opponents don't like and what makes me a dangerous player.

So kind of mix it up, everything, all these things. If they work well together, I think I can play well.

Q. When you talk about mixing thing up in your game and we've seen it obviously in the past in terms of, you know, your game at the net and your movement and things like that and your mid-court game, but you also obviously have a power game that can dismantle anybody regardless if the other things are working or not. How do you make the decision as to whether to pull back or to go, you know, play full power all the time?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, it always depends on the day because not every day, obviously, all the tennis players are feeling their game the best. It kind of depends on the day.

If you feel really good, you can always step on the court and play well, but if you really have to play a little bit more like rally and to get the points and then get into the game and then you can start to be aggressive.

But sometimes I feel some matches even if you are losing, but you still have to be aggressive, and that's the key what gives you the win. Like French Open final, for example, I kept being aggressive all the match, and it brought me at the end the win.

Q. Looking ahead, you play Coco. Talk about the challenge of playing her. Obviously, you play very differently, but what's the key for you to beat her?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, she's a great player and she's still very young, but she's already very experienced. Of course, it's going to be a tough match.

I, honestly, will go out there and just enjoy the match because it's great to be already in the fourth round and to play such a great player like Coco. Of course, I'll try and do my best to perform well, and I think we're going to have a great match.