AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2023

Shuai Zhang

Press Conference

S. ZHANG/P. Martic

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the presser for Shuai Zhang. Firstly, congratulations on the second round win. What are you feeling at this point in the championships?

SHUAI ZHANG: Obviously feeling good at the Australian Open because here is so special for me, first win in Grand Slam. So after seven years I still can reach to the third round in 24 hours, so I feeling so happy.

Yeah, I think all hard work is working, so make me every day improve a little bit. Yeah, I just feeling happy (laughing).

Q. You said 24 hours to turn around and play.

SHUAI ZHANG: 20 hours. Right?

Q. Exactly. What was the recovery like yesterday? You got finished quite late. Yeah, how are you feeling physically? You still feeling young, still feeling like you can to it?

SHUAI ZHANG: Oh, my God, I'm still feeling strong, so ready to play another one (laughing). Yeah, I think, and, like, we were just talking with Danielle Collins, we are all energy for here.

So we are ready. So really, really happy to play Australia Open. That's the dream for everyone. That's why we always play so good.

Yeah, good recovery very important, especially for the 30-plus player (laughing), yeah. I think everything I did is the right thing. That make me still play at tour and I can play at this level.

Q. You mentioned it before that, you know, yeah, seven years since you broke through here and got your first slam win. What does it mean to you to be able to get not just here in Australia, but also a good run in New York and have the success at the slams? What does it mean for you to be able to still do it?

SHUAI ZHANG: You know, when I win the first match Grand Slam here is 2016, January 19th. Today is which day today?

Q. 19th.

SHUAI ZHANG: Really? Oh, my God, I don't know that. 19, seven years ago first win. I'm waiting for this win many, many years, so I tell myself, good enough. Any day if I want to retire, I will -- how to say, I'm feeling it's happy, not something still dream not coming true, you know?

I feel like all dream I'm done for everything because I already win the one and WTA tournament. I'm feeling I reached to the top 30. So I only need one win on Grand Slam because everybody laughing me before that, and they're feeling like, ha ha, you will never win on Grand Slam. You should go retire. I want to show them I can win even my match.

So after there I've reached to the quarterfinals, and then I win the Grand Slam doubles title, first win, second one. Who knows for future? I work for the third one, but almost the last year, but I can play at Centre Court Wimbledon too much. That's another dream. So who knows?

But every day I'm working so hard for the next goal. I don't know. Nobody knows what's that, but for this moment it's reach to the third round. I'm really happy.

Q. Next match you have Katie Volynets. Do you know her? Have you ever seen her play? And if you have not, how tricky is it to face somebody in a big match third round of a Grand Slam that you have never played before?

SHUAI ZHANG: I have no idea because 20 hours ago I still first round, before the first round, so how can thinking too much about third round or big moment or big match? So maybe first round, go home. Or focus on doubles, mix? So now I can focus on work for the next round for singles. Nothing better than now feeling.

So I play a lot big, big match, great match. So I don't think this make me feeling like a big match, or I don't want make me nervous. Please don't make me nervous (laughing).

So just in my life just no more day, no more matches. So no matter the match, every moment, every point, if we lost, no problem. We learn from the match. We learn from the opponent. So maybe can make me more better for the next time.

So today the win I think from before many, many great match I almost win, but I lost, so make me today strong and better. So who knows? Sometimes even lost, but we learn so many things.

Q. There was lots of Chinese supporters in the crowd today. How did it feel playing with so much support?

SHUAI ZHANG: Oh, just perfect, yeah. So good. But also a lot crazier the fans. When I play, I think, like, oh, I am feeling like one month ago the football World Cup, the semifinals, Argentina against Croatia, I feel like amazing. Oh, wow.

A lot of people take the flag and then like this. I think, like, oh, I'm on the World Cup because I watched so much football because my coach love Argentina, loved Lionel Messi. Before this year the World Cup I don't know about Messi everything. My coach every day talking to me. 20 years ago I'm super Italy fan. After I'm a Netherlands fan. Now I like France so much.

Robert said, Come on please, last time French already won one time. This time Messi win. This is the last chance, last match, last time play World Cup. Already 35 years.

I said, Oh, okay, okay.

He said, Please cheer for Messi.

I said, Okay, Argentina every day. So that's why I feel like, whoa, yeah.

Q. You are China's top ranked player. Do you feel pressure because of that?

SHUAI ZHANG: No, not first day. Also, yeah, I think I'm -- for sure one day some young girl much better than me, now the performance already much better than me, much stronger than me. So I'm not surprised. One day for sure they will better than me, but I'm so surprised I'm this age still No. 1 in my country, but I tried my best so keep going and tried to next step.

Q. What do you make of the new generation of Chinese players as well?

SHUAI ZHANG: Oh, they are so good. You know, not only great tennis. I'm feeling also nice person, nice people, but for me I think these are kids.

When I see Jerry first time, he like this and little boy. How to say, my friend we are same age play tennis, play Australia Open Junior together. We're training together every day. The girl when she retired, she coaching Jerry. So one day in China Open she said, Hey, Shuai, please take photo with my little boy, and he loved tennis.

I say, Oh, okay. So now, see, he already second round, so amazing. A lot of great stories.

Also, I love watch the Yibing. What's his English name? I don't know. I love watch him play. Super good tennis. I also feeling I can learn a lot of things from young player.

Also, Zhang Zhizhen already very close to another step. We always say, Let's go, next time. See, I'm 14 times. You only three times (laughing).