AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 29, 2022

Petra Marcinko

Press Conference

P. MARCINKO/S. Costoulas

7-5, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Petra, congratulations. It's great to have you here. Talk us through the match, what it's like to have that trophy.

PETRA MARCINKO: Yeah, thank you.

Well, the match has been really tough, like playing on Rod Laver has been a great experience. I was, like, kind of nervous at the beginning because it was like big stadium, first time playing a Grand Slam final.

I kept calm in important moments. I kept my game through all the time. I didn't, like, have big drops. Yeah, having this trophy, winning a Grand Slam, for me it's so big.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. When you stood there with the trophy, what goes through your mind?

PETRA MARCINKO: Well, I was like no way I just did this. I had no words. I was, like, did I just win Australian Open, like a Grand Slam?

Yeah, it felt amazing.

Q. You join a fantastic list of players who have won junior Grand Slams. Do you think this is the moment and a memory that will last forever?

PETRA MARCINKO: Yeah, this is for sure. First Grand Slam, I hope not the only one. This is going to be, like, one of my best memories that I have for sure.

Q. Has anyone reached out this week to congratulate you?

PETRA MARCINKO: Yeah, a lot of people like my friends, my family, some of my teachers, some of my coaches went and congratulate me, supporting me through all the rounds. That has been, like, really nice. Some of them watch my matches really late at night. That was really nice of them helping me through these rounds, giving me some encouragement, yeah.

Q. How excited are you about the future?

PETRA MARCINKO: Well, really excited because now I'm feeling good, feeling confident. Really excited to see how it's going to be like on this pro level, what I'm going to play this year, to see how I'll do on this stronger ITF tournaments, maybe some WTA. Really excited about it.

Q. Have you had chance to look at some of the names on that trophy? At least three of your countrywomen are there. Have you had a chance to look at the names?

PETRA MARCINKO: Yeah, see like a lot of pictures on the wall when we were eating. There was a lot of good players. All of them, I knew all of them. I was like, Oh, my God, imagine my name being there, my picture. That would be amazing.

Q. How does it feel now imagining that picture alongside those others?

PETRA MARCINKO: I just want to see it. Next year I just want to see my picture there. I cannot wait for that.