AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

Tristan Schoolkate

Press Conference

T. SCHOOLKATE/T. Daniel

6-7, 7-6, 6-1, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Through to the next round. Tough match against Taro Daniel. How did you see the match from your side?

TRISTAN SCHOOLKATE: Yeah, I played him twice and it's been pretty tough both times. Pretty crazy. I played him in my first two singles main draws of Grand Slams.

I always know it's going to be a tough match with him. Yeah, not easy to lose that first set after serving for it and having some set points. But very happy with the way I turned that around and found my way in the second set. Obviously very crucial to win that breaker. Went really well for the third set and played a great fourth set, I thought.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You mentioned a second time in a row at Grand Slam level you have played Taro Daniel. Would you say playing him last year gave you a bit of an idea what to expect this time around?

TRISTAN SCHOOLKATE: Yeah, definitely. I'm sure he would have done his homework as did I. Yeah, you can't really script that, that you are going to play that same player. We organized a practice on Saturday. I just thought the chances were that I couldn't play him again, but sure enough I did.

Yeah, it's never easy then, because he's got a pretty good idea of how I might play and I've got a good idea how he played. Obviously glad I won that second set and didn't have to come back from two sets down.

Q. Congrats on your win today. Just how special is it to win your first Aussie Open match with support from Aussie fans?

TRISTAN SCHOOLKATE: Oh, it's unbelievable. Pretty cool. Different feeling for sure. Winning that first round, first main draw match of the US Open last year was an unbelievable feeling.

But yeah, it's a bit different. Court 15, few people came to watch towards the end. Obviously, two sets down and came back and won in five. They understood the situation.

I think it's a bit different here. Obviously I have played juniors here, like, the Nationals from age 11 until now. I'm 23. Yeah, pretty crazy obviously to win in front of a crowd like that. I have had some, yeah, really, I don't know, different memories on that court, as well.

I have won my, like, first round of AO Playoff in five sets when I was 18. I lost first round of juniors there. I have played a lot of matches out on these courts and here in Melbourne.

Obviously, yeah, stoked to get that win today.

Q. Both you and James McCabe got your first wins at the Oz Open today. Outside courts, as you mentioned. What is the atmosphere like? The strong crop of Aussies, 14 that are playing in the main draw on the men's side, is that sort of something that spurs you on? Just take us through, like, playing on the outside courts with the crowd, interaction, things like that.

TRISTAN SCHOOLKATE: It's awesome. Great that James got a win too. Pumped for him.

You can obviously see the scores flashing. Like it's hard to look, and anyone that says they don't see it, I don't believe it. But yeah, the scores flash up on the TV. People are walking everywhere. Noises coming from all different courts. The chants coming from maybe the French or other people in the crowd.

Obviously to have the Aussie support out on those courts is pretty amazing. You have typically a lot of people paying for the ground pass. I had a lot of friends there and family.

It's pretty cool. It's a special place to play. I think it's great that you see a lot of those matches out there. I watched plenty of highlights. I watched Bolty when he won against Ramos-Villanos on Court 7. The atmosphere there was probably pretty similar to my match today.

I was, like, oh, yeah I want to have my first match or win, I want to be like that. Yeah, pretty happy with that.

Q. Any goals or expectations now? How do you feel going into the rest of the year?

TRISTAN SCHOOLKATE: Just going to give my best. This year I think I have had a better year in terms of my tennis last year. Jumped a fair few spots in the rankings. I'm sitting now at close to a career high. I will probably go to a career high after this week.

Just want to keep building, really. There is no easy way about it. Got to do my best in every match. This year I have had some great opportunities with wildcards. Adelaide last week I played a guy 30 or 40 in the rankings. Lost a close match there. Brisbane I played quallies and played two guys around 100, one inside and one just outside. There is no easy matches.

Obviously everyone is getting better as you go up the rankings. Margins are so small. I just want to keep giving myself the best chance every time I step out there. If it's good enough on the day, that's great, and if not I will work at getting it better. Yeah.