AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 25, 2025

Yui Kamiji

Press Conference

Y. KAMIJI/A. Van Koot

6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on earning the women's wheelchair singles champion title. How do you reflect on your performance today and throughout the tournament?

YUI KAMIJI: Yeah, first of all, I'm really happy, of course. It's my third title at Australian Open. Today was 70 times against Aniek. We played a lot of matches, singles and doubles. So if we counting include doubles, it would be more.

Always she push me so well. She has passion and power, but I'm happy with my performance at the end today, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. This is your ninth Grand Slam title and your third at the AO. How does this win compare?

YUI KAMIJI: Yeah, every Grand Slam really special for me. Most of the time last few years I could make final, but couldn't win the title. I think was my last Grand Slam title was 2020. So, yeah, it's always challenging for me. Yeah, I'm really happy (smiling).

Q. Yui, as you mentioned, this is your 70th meeting with Aniek. How on earth do you prepare when you know somebody so well? Do you always look for new ways or do the same old thing or what?

YUI KAMIJI: Yes, I have some new idea against her, especially for today. I think I could manage a slice, backhand slice, more than usual. So it's a little bit different than other matches.

Also, as you said, we really know each other, and we both were left-handed. I'm always trying to change some things, which I can't tell you (smiling).

But, also, if I could see something really good against her, I bring also from the last match as well.

Q. She was very gracious at the net. You both were. What did you say to each other?

YUI KAMIJI: Yeah, she just said to me, Congratulations, and she gave me hug. Yeah, we are good relationship. We have good relationship. During the ceremony, she also say few things to me to celebrate, yeah.

Q. You went in with a quite good success rate against her. Did that ease your nerves? What does the rivalry mean to you?

YUI KAMIJI: We looked up each other because I think every Paralympics and also Grand Slam we are cross-ranked. So we have to play against each other, like, semifinal most of the time. One can make final, so always, like, looking each other and try to take something sometimes from practice or from the match.

So I'm really lucky that I can have some player like her. So I really appreciate, because she's been playing so long more than me, and I want her to continue few more years and looking forward to play against her more than that, yeah.