AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2024

Hubert Hurkacz

Press Conference

H. HURKACZ/A. Cazaux

7-6, 7-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Hubie, congratulations. This is your first quarterfinal at the Australian Open, also your second quarterfinal at all the Grand Slams. What worked so well for you today to get the straight-set win?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I think I play a good match today. I was serving decent. From the baseline I was really aggressive. I was managing to get ahead in the rallies. That was giving me confidence.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You're the first Polish man to reach the quarterfinals here at the Australian Open. Can you put in perspective what that means to you personally, but maybe also tennis in Poland?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Well, yeah, I didn't know that, so... Obviously Iga was in the semis here before. Definitely really, really exciting. I want more kids hopefully to play tennis, enjoy that sport. I think it's a fun sport.

Definitely, definitely really happy with my performance today. Making it to the quarterfinals, it's nice, but obviously we're hungry for more. Definitely proud of my performance and the team performance today. Looking forward to next one.

Q. You hardly lost any points on your serve today. How much confidence does the serve give you at the moment?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I think a lot. I still think I can serve better than I was serving today. Also will work on few things tomorrow and will be ready for Wednesday.

Q. Since you last played in a quarterfinal of a slam for the first time in 2021 at Wimbledon, how do you think you've evolved as player since then?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Well, I think a lot, to be honest. I played so many matches in between. Was actually long time ago since I played quarters in a major. Just played so many matches, gained a lot of experience playing on tour for couple of years, playing against the best players in the world.

I think my serve has improved as well. I would say my return, my knowledge about the tennis, knowledge about myself, also physically I think I'm a better player since then.

Q. When you say 'knowledge about yourself', what have you learned about yourself since then?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I would say also mentally, how to manage myself on the court, to be ready for each point. I think that's been doing better job. Here also things weren't going my way, to be able to, yeah, just accept it and be ready.

Q. Can I ask you about the next match? If you now look at the progress that Medvedev has made, how do you see his story and his development?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I mean, Daniil is amazing competitor for so many years. He's been at the top. He was No. 1 in the world. He won a Grand Slam. Yeah, I mean, it's a fun match. I'm going to give my best. He's going to give his best. It's an interesting matchup, I would say.

Definitely he's been playing many times here in the quarterfinals. He was in the final. Yeah, I would say, I mean, he's really tricky opponent.