AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

Talia Gibson

Press Conference

T. GIBSON/Z. Sonmez

3-6, 7-6, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Talia, congratulations on progressing through to the second round of your home Grand Slam. How are you feeling right now?

TALIA GIBSON: Yeah, feeling really, really happy. Super exciting to get my first win here in the main draw.

Yeah, really looking forward to being in the next round and being able to go out again and play in front of a home crowd. It's always really amazing.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What do you put your first Grand Slam win down to?

TALIA GIBSON: Just a lot of hard work, a lot of hours. Yeah, no, really grateful to get the opportunity to play in the main draw here. So, yeah, super grateful to Tennis Australia and very happy with what I was able to bring to the court today.

You know, I don't think it was my best tennis, but that's okay. You know, keep working and hopefully get back out on the practice court and be able to bring some better tennis in the next round.

Q. You obviously finished off 2024 in such great form, finished off on a high. How rewarding is it to be able to then bring that up to Grand Slam level and get your first Grand Slam win?

TALIA GIBSON: Yeah, definitely. I think the last couple of months definitely got a lot of confidence from how I was doing in some tournaments.

But, you know, at this level, you know, on paper my level's probably, you know, a little bit, you know, still behind, you know, anyone in the draw.

So I think I was just trying to really enjoy the opportunity and just see where I'm at. Yeah, super happy to get the win today and, you know, really excited in the next round to just go out and give it a crack again.

Q. Obviously you came from a set down to ultimately win this match. How were you able, I suppose, to turn it around, not only get it back to, you know, to even in the second set, but then to come out so emphatically in the third set and take control of the match?

TALIA GIBSON: I think just keep believing in myself and believing in my tennis ability and what I can bring to the court. Like I said, definitely wasn't my best tennis for part of the match today, but yeah, really just kept committing to my game, just taking it point by point and competing as hard as I could. I think that got me through the match today.

Q. It was really hot out there during the second and third sets. Do you feel if you could stay in the match and kept it going to the tiebreak, you could win over in the end?

TALIA GIBSON: Honestly, that wasn't really something I was thinking about, you know. Like I said before, I was just taking it point by point, just trying to compete as hard as I could and not worry about the result of anything and just try and play to the best of my ability and, you know, for every match you go into, you know you've got to be prepared for a long match, hard battle. I knew it was going to be a battle. She's a quality player.

So yeah, but like I said, just happy with what I was able to bring today and looking forward to being able to play in the next round.

Q. You got the taste of the first round with the wildcard a couple years ago. What are the main differences, do you think, two years on?

TALIA GIBSON: I mean, I think I have certainly made a lot of huge developments in lots of different parts of my game. Physically, mentally, as well, just so much growth since then.

I think, yeah, it's been really great to see, you know, a couple years ago I was here, and now being able to get the wins, just very happy and super exciting.

Q. Is there a certain amount of relief attached to your Grand Slam win?

TALIA GIBSON: There's always a first for everything, and I think every player will say there is always going to some nerves in the first round, really wanting to get through that first round. Especially for me at a home slam, you know, it's always so exciting to play in front of everyone. You always want to do well.

Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, just trying to enjoy the moment.

Q. Do you think you'll have nerves up against the 11th seed in the second round?

TALIA GIBSON: Honestly, I really don't think so. I think it's such an amazing opportunity, it's not every day for me that I get the opportunity to play someone like her.

So I'm just really excited and looking forward to just giving it a crack and doing the best I can and hopefully bring some good tennis.

Q. You mentioned you're pretty close with the other young Aussie wildcards playing. What advice would you give to them, having gone through the first round yourself, given they have some difficult matchups?

TALIA GIBSON: Just have a lot of belief in yourself. I think everyone has their own journey. They're going to achieve things at different points in their career, but, you know, at the end of the day, just trust the work that you have done and, you know, if you keep working hard, the results will come with that.

Q. You mentioned that you are close. Are you going to be nervous watching them play those matches?

TALIA GIBSON: I wouldn't say nervous, but definitely super excited to see how they go and always hope for the best for them.

Q. Who did you text or call first and what did you say?

TALIA GIBSON: I haven't actually looked at my phone since the match. Yeah, I'm just going to leave that until later and do everything I need to do recovery-wise and prepare for the next match, and then, yeah, talk to the family members later on.

Q. How helpful was the home support today during the second set when things were getting tense? As exciting as this next matchup against Badosa will be, you'll probably need the crowd for the next one?

TALIA GIBSON: Yeah, the Aussie crowds are always so amazing. You're always able to get so much energy from them wherever you are.

So I think, yeah, that definitely played a huge part in helping me today, yeah, and really just trying to use the energy and really stay positive and, yeah, definitely need to get myself through that second set.