CHINA OPEN

October 4, 2023

Ivan Dodig

Austin Krajicek

Press Conference

DODIG-KRAJICEK/Koolhof-Skupski

6-7, 6-3, 10-5

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on your win today. Could you please talk to us about your feelings right now.

AUSTIN KRAJICEK: Yeah, I mean, it was a great match tonight. Really high level I think from both teams. I think we did a good job in the second set of staying in the match, really keeping our level where it was. I thought we played great into the second set and third set tiebreaker.

It's super exciting to win here. We haven't been back here to China in four years. To be back first tournament to win was super special. I know Ivan won it the last time it was held, which is super cool.

Like I said on court, I think it was fantastic crowd support all week. Really one of the better tournaments I ever played in. From start to finish, to the match today, full stadium every match. So it was really fun to play here. What a great atmosphere. Excited to be back in China.

THE MODERATOR: Ivan?

IVAN DODIG: Yeah, definitely was great to be back here in Beijing. Really had a great time. From the first round we played good matches. Crowd was amazing. Well done to all the people who tried to organize this tournament, who put the great effort, director Lars Graff and all the sponsors was just amazing, one of the best tournament of this year. Not just because we won, but everything was just perfect, organization.

Really great fun to be back in China. Really happy to be back again after four years. Yeah, hopefully now we can be more often back here.

THE MODERATOR: The winner tonight will be No. 1 in the ATP rankings. Winning here in Beijing mean something very special to you?

AUSTIN KRAJICEK: Yeah, for sure. I mean, we're pretty close in the rankings there with Neal and Wes. Of course, there's some competition there. We've had some close matches the last few times we played them.

Yeah, I mean, there's competition there for sure. We just try to play the best match we can. Luckily we were able to get the win today. Hopefully we can continue that momentum going through the fall and finish the year where we'd like to and where our goal is to, so...

THE MODERATOR: Ivan, you were the defending champion here. Was playing this year anything different or more special?

IVAN DODIG: Yeah, definitely. I think it's always special to come on these tournament. I think for us, every player, is special because we have four big stadiums here. You play great matches on big courts. It's always special.

I won last time here, so it's great memory. Just when I see 2019 was last tournament here, we are now four years after. Like I said, it's great to be back. It's great to win back-to-back tournament. Yeah, really enjoyed. Had a good time.

THE MODERATOR: Austin, first time in Beijing. Talk to us more about the things you have done here culturally, locally.

AUSTIN KRAJICEK: Yeah, unfortunately us tennis players are a little bit boring sometimes. I actually really wanted to go see the Great Wall. Unfortunately every day they had a trip organized, it was on our match day, so I didn't get to go. Definitely gives me a reason to come back next year, among a lot of other reasons.

Yeah, we typically don't get too much. Coming over, adjusting to the jet lag, trying to practice, getting used to different conditions, we don't get to do as much as I like.

Like Ivan said, the organization was fantastic. The hotel was nice. The site is top-notch. Four stadiums, full crowd. Great food, setup. I enjoyed my time thoroughly in Beijing.