AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 26, 2024

Diede De Groot

Jiske Griffioen

Press Conference

de GROOT-GRIFFIOEN/Kamiji-Montjane

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. It was a very tight second set. Just talk us through what it's like to hold that trophy in your hands now.

DIEDE de GROOT: Very good.

JISKE GRIFFIOEN: I think it's a very good feeling. Yeah, I think the beginning of the final was good. We played good tennis. But in the second set it got a little shaky.

But, yeah, to close it out in a tiebreak is a good feeling, and it's great to hold the trophy again, and for the first time in this -- I think we both hold it, but we never played together, so that's a nice feeling.

DIEDE de GROOT: Yeah, I think for me it's the same way. I'm very happy to be here and play with Jiske for the first time as a couple. And then to win it straightaway, I think there are some remarks, I think we can still do better, but I think from the last few matches we played together, I think this was already such a step up, so on to...

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How did this partnership come to be? I know you have played together before, last year you played together quite regularly at tournaments but first time here at the Australian Open. What was the conversation that happened to make you play here? Because I know you played with different partners last week. Yeah, how have you found that process of gelling as a partnership?

DIEDE de GROOT: I think, because I have played with Aniek for the past five years, and that's been going really well, but we played a few matches together --

JISKE GRIFFIOEN: Sort of started at World Team Cup was the first time we played together.

DIEDE de GROOT: Yeah, the United Cup kind of tournament for us, we played a couple of matches together. It felt right.

I think that's when we were thinking of maybe starting to play together. So from Wimbledon on, we started to do it.

Q. Is there any kind of Paralympics planning in that as a partnership together?

JISKE GRIFFIOEN: No, because I'm not playing Paralympics. I retired in 2017 and decided to come back in 2020, but my main focus was the Grand Slams. So I said, whatever happens for me, the Paralympics story is sort of done after five editions. So I'm only doing the Grand Slams, so there is not going to be a Paralympics story here for this team.

Q. Does that make a victory today more special? Less opportunities or a more selective schedule for you. Does that make something like this even greater particularly since you retired and come back?

JISKE GRIFFIOEN: I think all the titles we are winning, for me, are all a bonus, on an already beautiful career. The fact that I had to stop wasn't really my choice. So being able to come back even at this age and still play at the top of the game and even winning titles is a real treat, is a bonus, is a great feeling.

Q. How do you feel playing with someone like Diede who's had so much incredible success over the years? Is that invigorating and inspiring for you to play with her?

JISKE GRIFFIOEN: Yeah, it's inspiring. I really like the way how she's playing. I think our games complement each other. We are also great friends. To also play together on the courts, it's a lot of fun, as well.

So it's a great opportunity for me.

Q. Diede, for you, I think you have won three Australian Open doubles titles in a row and four overall. At the same time, all of your singles success. I know you have success everywhere, but is there anything special about particularly playing here or something about the courts or the atmosphere that help bring out your best tennis?

DIEDE de GROOT: So I think Jiske loves coming here. I personally am always a little bit hesitant of the long journey and the weather and the everything. I love the Grand Slam. I love the Australian Open itself. So that's what I'm here for, as well. We play preparation tournament somewhere outside of Melbourne, not a very nice place, I'm just going to say it honestly.

But then to come here and just, it really does feel like the Happy Slam. And that's what it feels like to play here as a player. Yeah, I think that shows on court. We had a lot of fun today. I think for me that's playing with Jiske is a lot of fun and that's why I'm very happy we still have a lot of tournaments ahead of us.