AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 15, 2024

Daria Saville

Press Conference

M. FRECH/D. Saville

6-7, 6-3, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Dasha, if you want to give us your overall thoughts on the match and the environment out there today.

DARIA SAVILLE: I'm disappointed with the result. Disappointed with my performance, as well.

I think the best thing that, like, I can be positive about is the way I fought in the third. So no regrets there. But overall I didn't play my best tennis. I didn't play as well as I was playing in Hobart or Brisbane.

But, you know, I'm in the way better position this time compared to this time last year when, you know, I was just a few months post my ACL, doing a bit of recovery in the gym while everyone was getting ready for their matches.

So I still, you know, had a pretty good Aussie summer, and, yeah, I look forward to some doubles with Ajla.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Is there something in particular you can pinpoint that didn't work for you today? You just said you didn't play as well as in Hobart and Brisbane.

DARIA SAVILLE: Yeah, maybe, you know, I haven't played Oz Open for, like, two years. Maybe a short turnaround after Hobart. But it's obviously different, slightly different conditions compared to Hobart (smiling).

But, I don't know, it's tough to say. It just sometimes you don't play well, and today was the day (smiling).

Q. Did you find the wind a bit swirly on John Cain? Was that part of the problem with your ball toss?

DARIA SAVILLE: Oh, no, it wasn't that swirly, especially compared to Hobart, how swirly it was in Hobart. But the sun was at one point in the way, so I was kind of overcorrecting it.

But, yeah, I wasn't too happy with my double faults. I don't know why I was hitting my second serve that big.

Q. Is it a feeling of frustration? You obviously did so well in Hobart, really promising in Brisbane, had the wild card here. Is it frustration? Where do you sit after this?

DARIA SAVILLE: Right now I guess I'm just tired and down, yeah. But I don't usually dwell on it for too long. I'll probably be sad for maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but I'll be fine.

Q. Last week Arina Rodionova was saying she was really disappointed with the wild card decision. She said it impacted you, as well, how late the decision came. Did you find there was an issue with not getting that clarity until late before the tournament or did you have an idea you'd be playing?

DARIA SAVILLE: I mean, I did quite well in Hobart, so I guess it didn't really affect me, no.

Q. How far do you feel like you've got to go to get back to your best? We know ACL, getting the power and explosiveness back, how far off do you feel getting back to your best you are?

DARIA SAVILLE: I think I'm close. I think there are glimpses of me being there already. There were glimpses of me playing really, really good tennis in Hobart. Even today I did play, there were moments where I played really well.

You know, the fact that I can play a three-hour match, it's all, you know, all promising.

Q. You have beaten three top-50 opponents in Hobart. Do you see yourself getting back into that top 50 again?

DARIA SAVILLE: Yeah. At least top 50, yeah. First there are a few milestones, like top 100, then top 50, then top 20.

Q. Where to next? Have you got your next move lined up?

DARIA SAVILLE: I think I'll play Hua Hin in Thailand. I think that's how you say it. I'm not using my protected ranking there. I'm just going to play quallies there.

Then I'm going to use my protected ranking for the American swing: Indian Wells and Miami. I've got three more tournaments I can use my protected ranking.

Q. You mentioned doubles. So often for Australians here, after maybe singles doesn't go as planned, there has been that upswing in doubles. Are you hoping that's something you can maybe pull out of this campaign?

DARIA SAVILLE: Yeah, we will for sure. Me and Ajla will, for sure, have fun out there. We don't have high expectations, but we'll definitely have fun and compete as hard as we can and see where it takes us.