ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 12, 2024

Jelena Ostapenko

Press Conference

J. OSTAPENKO/E. Alexandrova

6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: You're through to the final. How does it feel?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Thank you. Yeah, it's a great week. It's really nice to play here in Adelaide, and the atmosphere is really nice, and it's my second time. I'm really enjoying it a lot.

I think it's a great week so far, so hopefully I can keep it up tomorrow.

Q. You've had four very good wins this week, five matches tomorrow. That's a lot for one week. Is that a good thing going into the Australian Open? Is it much better than not playing or practice? How do you see that?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, for sure it's better to play some matches before the big event because it's for sure better than just practicing. You can have practice matches and stuff, but it's completely different, and when you go on the court and you play a tournament, it's a different thing.

Especially I think it's important to have some matches before going into the big tournament.

Q. It was 37 degrees when you started at 4:00 today. Did it feel that way?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Honestly at 10:30 in the morning I went out for breakfast, and when I was outside, it was already 34 degrees. It was like really warm, really hot, to be honest.

But it's really good that we are playing under the roof. It's a bit colder. But still, you feel this heat. I mean, it can be sometimes Australia tricky with the heat.

Q. Daria obviously has not played a semifinal today in the heat in particular. Does that give a big advantage for tomorrow, or does she miss out by not playing?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, it's an advantage and also disadvantage maybe to have a couple of days with no matches. Especially like I'm now every day playing a match, and I am kind of in this rhythm.

It's up to the player. Everyone is different. It's more individual. For someone it works, for someone it doesn't work.

Q. In relation to tomorrow's final, I think you've won the last three times against Daria. What are your thoughts on the final tomorrow?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: For sure it's going to be a tough match. We are really good friends with Daria, but yeah, it's going to be a really tough match. She's a great player. She's in good form, so I'm ready for a battle. I just need to do the things that I need to do and focus more on myself. I think it's going to be a good match.

Q. If you're both staying at the same hotel and you see Daria at breakfast, do you look the other way or do you go up and say hello?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: No, we are just going to say hi and laugh about something. We are good friends.

Q. You are very enjoyable to watch, particularly when you hit the big winners from the baseline. Do you enjoy it, as well, the way you play? Obviously lots of shots go in but some don't.

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yeah, of course. I was like this since I started to play tennis. Maybe it was because I honestly started to play tennis on a very fast surface which has had not much space behind, and the ceilings were quite low. The bounce was very, very -- when it's not even.

Q. Uneven?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yes, uneven. Maybe that's why my style is aggressive, but also I was always able to hit the ball quite hard.

Yeah, when I hit those winners, of course I enjoy it.

Q. You've got six WTA top titles. You're going for your seventh tomorrow. In terms of goals for the year, what are your aims this year? Are they to get as high in the rankings or to get as far in a major -- what's one thing that's a priority for you?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, of course the priority was to be back in top 10 and stay there, not just to be back, and to play as good as possible at the Grand Slams. I guess I will be back to top 10 after this week. But still, it's just the beginning of the year. I just want to play more consistent and enjoy.

Q. You said you really enjoy starting the year in Australia. This is your first time in Adelaide; is that right?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: No, it's my second time.

Q. Is it better than the first time?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: Yeah, it's a really nice city, and there are some things to do. I really like that we stay almost in the city center so we can go for breakfast or for dinner somewhere to eat, and also I really like that the courts are just across the bridge. I think it's a big advantage because if you have a match and then you have a few hours, you can just go and rest in your room.

Q. When do you go to Melbourne?

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I will go to Melbourne Sunday because tomorrow the final is quite late, so I don't think I will be able to catch the flight before Sunday.

Q. If you win quickly...

JELENA OSTAPENKO: I mean, I don't go with that mentality. I go with the mentality that it's going to be a tough battle and a tough match.