AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2024

Wang Yafan

Press Conference

WANG YAFAN/E. Raducanu

6-4, 4-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Through to the third round. How are you feeling after that?

WANG YAFAN: Of course, feeling very happy. This is first time I play with her, and also first time win the second round. So for me it's a little bit maybe crazy.

Q. You weren't on the entry list for this tournament at the start. You were outside the cutoff. Then you made it in. Then in the first round you were down 6-Love, 4-1 to Cirstea, and now you're here in the third round of the slam for the first time. Like I said, crazy. What do you think of all of that?

WANG YAFAN: I think I didn't thinking too much. So maybe first round, I thinking maybe don't lose 0-6, 0-6. So I just tried to maybe get one game or two game.

So I think just the focus of the match and what I need to do and don't think, didn't thinking too much for score. So try to play every point.

I think for first match and after maybe win two games, and feeling maybe you can win more. So I getting better for my tennis in first match.

After we have more confident for maybe final set. So just play every point, yeah.

Q. Tonight's match was against Emma was so physical. It was three hours, and she was struggling with her breathing and had a medical time-out. You seemed really strong. How did you feel when the match was deep in the third set, and the rallies were so long? How were you feeling?

WANG YAFAN: I think no very strong. I also cramping after. Yeah, I already treatment went over. So in final set I think I have cramping start maybe 3-2 just a little bit. Not very, very hard.

But for first game I have little bit. I can't jump too much, so I tried to hit more, more aggressive. So I think the good is I hit more in for today, so maybe lucky for me. Also good day for me.

Q. You played Qinwen Zheng in the third round. An all-Chinese match in the third round. Do you know her well? What do you think of that match and what that means for Chinese tennis?

WANG YAFAN: I think it's very good for Chinese tennis because the match who win, we have people together (indiscernible). I didn't play with her before. It's first time. I think I don't thinking where from for her. Just hit, play my tennis. Doesn't matter who is my opponent. Do my best tennis like this, yeah. Also, she play very good, so I just try to do my best.