AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2024

Paula Badosa

Press Conference

P. BADOSA/A. Pavlyuchenkova

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Paula, congrats on the win. That must be another confidence builder for you. Nastia is a difficult opponent.

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I'm really happy. I knew it was a tough match. She's been playing very well. She's been winning top players. So I knew it was a tough one.

So, yeah, really happy how I managed everything and how I played today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can I ask you about the court conditions? I know Stefanos played on it yesterday. Curious whether you guys talked about it and what you thought of the experience?

PAULA BADOSA: Yeah, I played the day before also there. My two matches I played there. It's very noisy, very loud. It's a little bit tough to concentrate there.

Especially also the court is pretty fast. But I'm feeling well there, so I'm not going to complain (smiling). Yeah, but I know it's pretty loud. It's not very comfortable for the players to play there.

Q. Would you have a problem if tennis had more atmospheres like that? How would you feel that?

PAULA BADOSA: In my opinion, I don't really like it because there's a lot of noise, as I said. I mean, my opponent in the first round and now also complained. It's not very comfortable.

I cannot listen to my team either if they want to say something or if I want to, like, talk to them. Even during the points, it's quite noisy. I don't know if it's going to work in the future.

Q. Did you expect to be playing this well this early in the season?

PAULA BADOSA: No, not really (smiling). Honestly, I lost in Adelaide. I felt pretty well. The thing is that my body was a little bit rusty.

Talking about tennis, I felt pretty well in that match. But I didn't expect playing this well maybe this early after seven months' break, but I'm pretty happy. Let's see how my body - as I always say - reacts tomorrow. But I'm feeling pretty well, so I'm happy with that.

Q. Do you have any explanations as to why you're playing so well so quickly if you didn't expect it?

PAULA BADOSA: Maybe my talent (smiling). No, I don't know.

I think mentally I'm working very hard, and I'm doing a hard work there. As I said in the first press conference, it's not easy for me to see me to accept where I am right now, my ranking. I'm pretty proud. I want to get on top as fast as possible. I'm working very hard.

I worked very hard in the pre-season, as well. I think in this case, it's how my body reacts. I hope my back, it's okay for the next months. I think my level will talk.