AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

James Duckworth

Press Conference

J. DUCKWORTH/D. Stricker

6-2, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: James, congratulations on progressing through to the next round of your home Grand Slam. How does it feel right now?

JAMES DUCKWORTH: Thanks. Yeah, really happy to be through. It's a great crowd out on Show Court 3, I really enjoy playing on that court. I was really happy with how I was able to get it done, especially in straight sets, as well.

Yeah, looking forward to the next one.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. So you won your match in an hour and 35 minutes. Were you surprised how straightforward it was? I know Stricker had a bit of an injury, a lot of errors in that match. Were you surprised and happy to get through so quickly?

JAMES DUCKWORTH: Yeah (smiling). Yeah, obviously wasn't expecting to win in that scoreline. You know, I have seen him play some very good tennis. He's a young player, great serve. Yeah, I thought it was going to be, yeah, pretty tough.

But I was really happy with the way I was able to serve and then how I was able to return, as well. I think those two areas were pretty key today, and did both of those, yeah, quite well.

Q. Do you feel like it's the best you have played here at Melbourne Park? It seemed comprehensive.

JAMES DUCKWORTH: Jeez, I have played here a few times. I'm not sure. It was a great match. Like I said, I felt like I served and returned really well, and then I just thought I did a really good job mentally of staying composed and thinking clearly throughout the match.

Something I have been working on the last couple of weeks. So I was really happy with the way I was able to do that today.

Q. Making the second round, James, how important is that prize money for the rest of the year?

JAMES DUCKWORTH: I mean, it's great. I'm not really thinking about prize money when I'm out there. Just trying to focus on what I need to do to win.

You know, now the goal is just third round. Prize money is not something I'm really thinking about that much. It's obviously a great bonus, but yeah, I'm more just focused on trying to make third round of the Australian Open.

Q. You have had a few second-round outs here. Do you approach this one differently, or where do you think you're at with this one? Can you get over the hump?

JAMES DUCKWORTH: I hope so. Do I approach it differently? I don't think really. I mean, each match I play, whether it's a Grand Slam or not, I'm trying to approach it the same way, trying to prepare myself as well as I can physically, have a good game plan, good strategy when I go out there and trying to stick to that as much as possible.

Even through, yeah, difficult periods and difficult times, stick to a plan and try my best to execute that.

Q. Do you remember some of the early ones?

JAMES DUCKWORTH: Yeah, yeah, just yeah, talking about it the other day, my very first one. Yeah, winning my first round out on Show Court 3 in 2012. Then played a great match, lost in four tough sets to Janko Tipsarevic when he was top 10, when I was just a 19-year-old on Margaret Court.

Yeah, I've had, like you said, a few second rounds, and the goal now is to go out and prepare the best and try to make the third.

Q. A specific question on the Court 3. Do you feel special feelings on this court because of the noise?

JAMES DUCKWORTH: Yeah, it's awesome. Most of us Aussies try and get on Show Court 3 if we can. It's a great atmosphere. You know, you get a packed stadium, a lot of fans, you know, banging on the banners and, yeah, it's a lot of energy and a pretty special place.

Q. One of your favorite courts?

JAMES DUCKWORTH: Yeah, it's got to be close to one of my favorite courts in the world.

Q. Are you familiar who you're going to face in the second round?

JAMES DUCKWORTH: I have never played him. I'm not even sure if we've practiced together, but a tough competitor. He's obviously playing well to beat Alejandro today. It was a great win.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to the challenge. It's going to be difficult, but yeah, like I said, I'll try and prepare my best physically and get a game plan with my coach ready, go out there and try and execute.