AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2023

Magda Linette

Press Conference

M. LINETTE/A. Kontaveit

3-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Magda, congratulations on the win. Just talk us through how you found it out there today.

MAGDA LINETTE: Thank you. I thought, like, the beginning was okay, but I didn't really manage to keep my level, especially on my service games. That is to experience to let that, you know, slide.

I just felt I have to feel -- I have to stay really composed and change a little bit more, change the pace, and give her really the same ball twice because she was getting and finding really good rhythm and was really moving me well on court.

So I was glad that I was able to come back from break down in the second set and just keep the level almost until the end.

Q. In a recent Netflix documentary female players spoke about lower sponsorship for female players than male players, and particularly from small countries as well. How have you found, in your opinion, sponsorship to be for female players this year?

MAGDA LINETTE: You mean this year in general?

Q. Yes.

MAGDA LINETTE: I found it true in my career a very difficult thing because besides having help from a private sponsor when I was coming up, I never really had any help until basically I think three years ago I signed with JOMA. That was my first really clothing contract, and that was the only one that was including some sort of a money compensation.

So I found the subject really difficult, and I have never really had any additional sponsorships. And especially, sadly, I never had anything in my own home country, which I find pretty sad.

Q. And following on that, do you think if you received sponsorship at an earlier period in your career, it would have benefited you?

MAGDA LINETTE: Definitely, because then you can take just a little bit more people with you and start your preparations way more professional. So I think that really helps.

And then, also, it gives you a little bit of that cushion that whatever happens on court, you're not really playing for your life because at the beginning when players are coming up from 25s and they're starting in quallies, it is just, like, a life-or-death situation.

You win, yes, you can afford to maybe take your coach to go for another tournament. But if you lose, that kind of is a very difficult question then. You need to either go down or find another way.

It's like going and play some club matches, which is not very helpful in the way that it's a lot of struggle to go and play club matches, and you can't really practice that well. You can't take another people with you, like a fitness coach or a physio. So it's not easy.