AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2025

Amanda Anisimova

Press Conference

A. ANISIMOVA/M.L. Carle

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Amanda, really solid performance today. Your thoughts out there?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I'm really happy with this win. It was a very tough match. She was playing very well. So yeah, I'm just happy to get through the first round, get rid of those nerves a little bit, and I'm happy with my tennis so far.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. People have been talking a little bit about the sun. I don't know why the sun is different here and why it's hard serving in the middle of the day. Did you find any problems with it? What did you have to do to counter it when it's in your eye line or ball toss?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I feel like in the middle of the day at most tournaments the sun is going to kind of be in your way. I don't think it's any different here than any other tournament. I always struggle with, like, the sun being right there.

Normally I just adjust my toss. That's what I do personally. I don't think I served great today at all, so that's definitely something I'll be doing on the practice court tomorrow, improve my serve, again, ahead of the next round.

Yeah, hopefully that will be better the next time I play.

Q. A year ago you were kind of coming back to a slam for the first time since taking the break. I'm curious how, I guess, different do you feel after a year being back on tour? How different do you feel as a person and, yeah, how the past year has changed you, I guess?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I think last year had a lot of ups, for sure, and some downs. I was struggling with some injuries and just getting used to playing the first circuit again.

Overall I think last year was really positive for me. I jumped in the rankings again. So I think that I did a lot of progress last year, especially taking after a considerable amount of time off.

Yeah, I feel a lot more confident in myself now as opposed to last year when I was playing here. I still did pretty well last year, but I was kind of going into the tournament without any expectations. Just grateful to be playing.

Yeah, I feel like I have a bit more confidence on my back going into the slam. Regardless of the result, I feel like I'm just building blocks up every single week and just working on, you know, the physicality and my skills every week.

Yeah, I'm excited for this year. Hopefully I'll be playing a lot of tournaments.

Q. Going back to the first question sort of. I'm just wondering are you more of a morning person or a night owl in general? Do you like playing at 11:00 a.m.? Would you rather play at night?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: We were just talking about that because I've been waking up around 6:00 a.m. the last four days to get in some early hits. So that kind of surprised me today that I was first on. I was, like, Okay, another 6:00 a.m. wake-up.

Yeah, I like getting up early in the morning and finishing off my day pretty early, but I also enjoy playing at night. I feel like the energy at night is kind of unmatched. It's more of, you know, like a performance and playing under the lights. There's nothing like it.

I enjoy both of them honestly. They're both a bit different.

Q. You and Emma both came through at big breakthroughs young. I wonder if you could talk about some of the challenges having a big result like that when you are a teenager.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I think that performing well at a young age definitely comes with its perks and also some challenges. I feel like you learn a lot of things along the way.

Yeah, I think there are a lot of lessons that I had to learn. You grow up very quickly, but at the same time I feel like that really prepares you for your career.

Like we both have so much ahead of us. At the same time we're very young and we have so much experience, so I feel like that serves us with a lot of positives.

Yeah, I feel like when I play these slams, I handle the nerves better because I've been on so many big stages at a young age that comes with a lot of experience. Yeah, I wouldn't trade all the memories I had from when I was younger.

Q. What challenges will Emma bring in the next round? What are some of the ways that she's difficult to play against and what will you have to do well to beat her?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, I've never played her before, but she's obviously a great player, a very intelligent player. I'm sure it will be a very tough match. I'm looking forward to it.

She's a friend of mine, so it will be a bit interesting. But I'm sure that we will both give it our all. I'm looking forward to the battle.

Q. You just said she's a friend of yours. Kind of how do you know each other? How much time have you spent together?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, we've both been around the tour. We're the same age. We also have a mutual friend, Priscilla Hon. We've hung out a few times all together. She's a nice girl.

She's always bringing a good energy into the room. Yeah, also an amazing competitor. I'm looking forward to the match. I'm sure it will be a good one.

Q. In terms of just how, I guess, equipped you feel as the season starts, not just from the tennis side but just mentally, emotionally going into a new season after last year, kind of going through all the steps and stuff, how are you feeling with all of that as the year begins? And if I can also ask about the artwork, whether or not that continues, or are you like a full-time tennis player?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah. Yeah, I think I'm going into the season very confident because I had a great preseason. I feel like I put in a lot of good work, and I'm feeling good. I'm feeling healthy. So I'm just looking forward to playing week in and week out.

I have a full schedule ahead of me. Yeah, I'm excited for what's in store. Hopefully I can make some good memories and experiences this year.

Then when it comes to my artwork, honestly I was so busy and exhausted every single week during the preseason, and it was on my agenda a lot of the time to pick that back up, but I just didn't get a chance to.

Hopefully when I'm back home at some point I will because that's definitely been something that I've been kind of itching to get back to.

Q. Have you ever thought about building yourself a little travel set of whatevers to be able to have something with you?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Kind of, but I already travel with probably 250 pounds of luggage, so I try to pick and choose my battles when it comes to that with what I'm bringing.

That would definitely be a fun activity. It's something I'll think about for sure.

Q. Just on playing friends, it's something that happens from time to time on tour. How do you go about it? Do you think you'll just avoid each other in the locker room for the next two days? I think for people like us, we can't imagine having to compete against a good friend in such a high level. How do you kind of deal with the personal relationship side of it?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: We definitely don't avoid each other. We'll still say hi and talk to each other as normal. I think it's up until the actual match that we start to get more serious.

But I personally don't take it so seriously. It's not like we're going to war with each other. There's no need to kind of avoid each other at the end of the day. But once we're on the court, we just try and put our best tennis out there and just enjoy it.

Q. Last year you talked quite a bit about being kinder to yourself in good and bad moments. I'm curious, how did you kind of I guess come to that conclusion? Was that just something you thought through yourself or did you speak to other people and kind of change your perspective?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: Yeah, it's definitely something that is ongoing type of work that I do because I feel like most of us are extreme perfectionists in the tennis world.

It's kind of hard to validate ourselves when we don't do the best in each day and perform to the best of our abilities. But at the same time we have to pat ourselves on the back with all the effort we give. Some days it's 30 percent. Some days it's 100 percent. Every day is different.

Yeah, I think when I'm able to have a more positive mindset towards myself I get better outcomes. It's kind of just, you know, looking at it dialectically from both sides and not so black and white. That's something I try to do.

Q. How often or ever do you and Emma practice together or just sort of generally? Is that something that you will seek to do with other players who you're friends with? Does that affect at all who you decide to practice with?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: For sure I practice with people who I'm more friendly with or just friends on tour. I think that makes it more enjoyable, the training process.

I definitely have practiced with her quite a few times. So that's really the only times I've seen her play or play against her because I've never played her in a match.

Yeah, for sure I think that a lot of us go through trainings. I sign up for just plus one on the practice court and see who wants to hit. So, yeah, it's kind of random.

Q. Can that ever be helpful in a match, like now you're going to play her for the first time, but you have spent time with her on court practicing?

AMANDA ANISIMOVA: I don't think that changes so much. I think that if I've never practiced with her, that wouldn't really change much of the outcome.

But, yeah, I think that having practiced with her a few times, that gives me more of an idea how she plays, but yeah.