AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2024

Magdalena Frech

Press Conference

M. FRECH/C. Garcia

6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions in the room.

Q. First of all, just your thoughts on the match, what it took to win it, and just your level today.

MAGDALENA FRECH: Yeah, I think I was pretty calm on the match, and I tried to focus on my game. I tried to play near the baseline. So I think it was a key.

Caroline played so hard. She hit so hard the ball. I knew I had to play faster and take her time. So, yeah, I think I did it well, and mentally I was on the court.

I think I made sure to win this match.

Q. You had such an emotional first round. Just a very tough match and a very emotional win there. How difficult was it to maybe process that win both emotionally and physically and then get ready to play a player of Caroline's quality?

MAGDALENA FRECH: Yeah, of course, it's always tough to play against Aussie in Australian Open. Yeah, this match was also on the big stadium, John Cain Arena. So it was new experience for me.

I think I played really well after first set. So in the second and third set I think I made a lot of good choices. We played really good match. So I knew today I have to play my game, I have to be more aggressive.

Yeah, I did well.

Q. Did you know that Caroline lost to Magda Linette last year here, and did you talk with Magda about the match?

MAGDALENA FRECH: No, no, I didn't talk, but I knew. I knew because I checked last year the scores, so of course, I knew.

Q. How did you prepare for this match?

MAGDALENA FRECH: My coach watched Caroline's match. Of course, I watched the match against Naomi Osaka. I think everyone watched this match.

Yeah, but it's a different perspective from the TV and different on the court. So I was prepared for, I don't know, bumps today. After two games I knew I have to be more aggressive and near the baseline because I was, like, two meters behind. I think that was a key.

Q. Did you feel that she was nervous on the other side of the net?

MAGDALENA FRECH: Yeah, of course. I mean, it was a lot of tricky points. It was, like, I don't know, 1-3 in the first set, but we played almost a half an hour. So it wasn't easy for her, of course. Yeah, she's a big hitter, so everything is one centimeter in or one centimeter out. That makes a difference.

Q. You had a career high ranking just a few months ago. I guess a couple of months ago. Can you talk a little bit about what has changed either in you or in your game over the last 12 months to get you towards this direction?

MAGDALENA FRECH: After the pre-season when I worked so hard, I told myself I want to just have fun on the court. I don't want to make a pressure on me, and I don't want to, like, be scared on the court. I just wanted to play my game.

Yeah, I just want to have fun, and I'm telling to myself in the difficult moments that you are here, to just enjoy this moment. Yeah, I think it's much better for me for my mentality. So, yeah.

Q. I saw you smiling a lot in the Saville match, even in the tight moments.

MAGDALENA FRECH: Yeah, it's relaxing.

Q. That was very surprising. Why was that difficult for you to adopt that perspective before in the past? You seem to be saying that it used to be a lot more stressful and more scary on court.

MAGDALENA FRECH: Yeah, I think it was too much pressure on me. I wanted too much. I wanted to win too much.

Before the match I was even scared sometimes. I didn't want to win, you know. I was just thinking to play, but not to win. Now I'm ready to win, and I know this.

Q. How would you describe how your game has changed or evolved, like the actual tennis over the course because I think if we go back and look at some of the earlier tape, you're a different player.

MAGDALENA FRECH: Exactly, exactly. I'm really happy that you can see this.

Q. Oh, absolutely. 100%. Can you talk a little bit about that change and why?

MAGDALENA FRECH: In the pre-season we worked so hard. We wanted to change my game style with my coach. We tried to convince me to play more aggressive, so win every point.

After the pre-season when I start my season in Oakland, I tried to do this in the first match, and it work after 6-love in the first when I lost. So, yeah, it worked in the second and third set.

I said, That's it, that's the key. So I can win with another players, with top players like this. I don't want to just be defender, like defend every point. I just want to win, and it cost me less energy, of course. So that's why I recover so fast.