ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 13, 2024

Jelena Ostapenko

Press Conference

J. OSTAPENKO/D. Kasatkina

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: You're the champion here in Adelaide; how does it feel?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Thank you. It was a great week, and I'm really, really happy. Also a little bit tired, but it's worth it. I think I played really well the whole week, and some matches were today, but today I felt like I played really well.

Q. You had a huge smile on your face during the celebration and presentation. What does it mean to you to win a title again?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yeah, it's really great, especially just in the beginning of the year, and I think it kind of gives more confidence and especially during the season because I won doubles last week and singles this week, so I feel like I play well in Australia.

Q. In the second set, the point that took you to 4-1, it was a slight backhand that went down the line, really nice shot. Do you have a favorite shot?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I honestly was working on this slice, and I am working on this slice shot a lot in practice, and I'm really happy that it helped me and worked in a deciding moment. I think it was a great shot.

Q. You're back into the top 10; obviously it's been five years since you've been in there. What does that do for your morale? Does it make you feel like you belong at the top end of the game again?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, of course I had the game to be there, and I'm playing aggressive, and I feel like now some things are sticking back, and I feel like I'm playing more consistent and I'm more mature as a player.

It's just the beginning of the year, but I will work harder to be back in top 10 and top 5 and stay there.

Q. You took the harder road here compared to your opponent tonight. You had a couple tough matches in your first two rounds, had the leg pains, she had a couple of walkovers. Did you feel like that made you battle-ready for the final?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Sometimes it really depends, but sometimes it's just better to get matches and be in the rhythm of matches. She didn't play for two days, so sometimes when you are in the tournament it's maybe also a disadvantage. It just depends on every player individually.

Q. What did you think the key was to winning the match today? It was mainly on your racquet with the winners; did you feel that you had a bit more weaponry for her?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Just in all moments I tried to play aggressive, and like in deciding moments especially to put pressure on her.

I feel like there were some key points, especially I think the one shot down the line that was a long rally I hit, and that was one of the key moments probably, and after that I won the match.

Q. Obviously we've got the Australian Open which starts tomorrow. You've got Kim Birrell in the first round. How far do you feel you can progress in the tournaments this year?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I'm not trying to put any pressure on myself and not play with any expectations, just take one match at a time. I still want to enjoy this victory. It's going to be short, but I want to enjoy it a few days, and when I get to Melbourne, I will be ready for the tournament.

Q. Will you celebrate tonight?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Just a little bit, yeah, with my team.