AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 10, 2025

Katie Boulter

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Katie, welcome to Melbourne. Strong United Cup. How are you feeling about your preparations since then?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, feeling pretty relaxed actually. Looking forward to starting a new season. I feel like I've put so much work in this last year, last couple of years. Going into this one, I'm excited for what's to come. I feel like I'm building something.

I think the start of my year has shown that already. Hopefully I can keep that momentum going. Yeah, it will be a good year.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. On the United Cup, you didn't quite get over the line against Iga, but how important a match was that for you in terms of your belief in what you can achieve?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I feel like my belief is growing every single day. I think the more matches that I play like that, then I believe I'm at that level and I know I can be there every day.

I think now it's about making it each week that I'm playing at that level. I feel like with the physicality that I've tried to bring to my game, I think that's going to become more and more consistent rather than having it for one week, then not having it for a couple weeks. I think it's going to help me be kind of steady all year round. Ultimately I'm going to be training through tournaments more and more. Hopefully that will become more steady as we go along.

Look, Iga is one of the best in the game. I really felt like I could have gotten over that line. I felt like I was quite calm in that situation, as well, which is something that I've not always felt when playing massive players.

I think that kind of mindset is going to help me win those matches. I truly believe I can do it.

Q. Was there anything extra or different you did off-season? You did look very strong, like you were moving well, in United Cup.

KATIE BOULTER: I think I have been trying to obviously build more over the last year with Matt. Obviously it's the first real year that we went into full details, into things that I really want to improve on the tennis court.

I think the first pre-season that I did with him was more about getting myself to a base level of where I want to be, and then this one was more about targeting areas that I felt like were weaknesses.

As my game improves, I think there are obviously less and less weaknesses, but there are specific details that are important to get better when beating the top players.

I felt like I have worked out what those are more and more, having had more chances to play top-10 players. Obviously if I want to reach top 10, then I have to be that much better in those areas.

Yeah, I think probably the experience that I've gained over the last year playing a lot of different people has helped me realize what those are and how to improve them.

Q. Congratulations on your engagement.

KATIE BOULTER: Thanks.

Q. You've always enjoyed good support down here. Alex says he feels likes an honorary Brit at Wimbledon. Are you hoping for even more support this year at the Open?

KATIE BOULTER: I mean, I feel like I've already felt the love so much more here, just more than last year. Being in Sydney, which is obviously his hometown, where he was born, it was probably my first proper time playing tennis there. Just walking out onto the court and hearing the crowd for me really did help me.

I felt very much at home and comfortable. Normally I'm actually the kind of person that dislikes going to new places, playing on a court for the first time. I actually felt very comfortable from the word 'go' when I was there. I think that was completely because of them and how they've been treating me.

Yeah, it makes a world of difference.

Q. Is there anything, being with an Aussie, Vegemite, whatever, do you feel part of the Australian culture?

KATIE BOULTER: It's definitely not Vegemite (smiling). I don't know about you guys, but I'm not sure that's my thing. You can say Tim Tams. Tim Tams, love a Tim Tam.

But no, I'm terrible with accents as well. I'm always picking up accents. I don't know if I have a bit of an Aussie twang here or there.

I just love the culture. I really enjoy coming here every single year. I have done as a junior as well. Obviously being around someone like Alex, such a hard worker. He loves his country, lives and dies by his Davis Cup number. I think that's definitely rubbed off on me.

Like I am for my own country, I take great pride in playing for my country. It's been a fun ride. I love coming to Australia. It's just a great place.

Q. Do you feel any extra pressure to perform well and have a deep run?

KATIE BOULTER: I mean, I don't know. I feel like I've come such a long way. It probably might get quite boring sitting in a press conference every single year and saying the same thing.

Honestly, my goal this year is to stay healthy, to make sure I get through a whole year of tennis. That's my number one priority.

I think the second priority that I have tried to increase is the value that I do put on slams and big tournaments. That's something that I've not fully prioritized before. I think it's something I've tried to perform at but not peak at.

I think now, going into this year, that will be more of me learning what I should and shouldn't do before slams, whether I play the week before, whether I don't, what my buildup looks like going into a slam.

I mean, there's a little bit more emphasis on it, for sure. But I think you've got to be quite smart with it. I'm not trying to put pressure on these weeks. I'm not trying to increase my feelings with trying to perform and the anxiety of that.

I think it's more about trusting the play, making sure that the preparation is going to be right going into those tournaments. That's the side of thing I'm probably going to be focusing more on.

Q. Back to pre-season, it seems like Matt really sort of put you through the wringer. He said on Instagram he took you to some dark places. How difficult was that? How satisfying was it to come through? Was it a different level of training than you've ever done before?

KATIE BOULTER: I think it's different. Working with different people is unique to them. I feel like my values and the things that I want to improve in myself align very well with his.

I feel like with Billy, as well, we all kind of know what we want to work towards. He helps facilitate that and put me in those places because of experience that he has.

I mean, I would be lying if I didn't say that there were dark places in every pre-season. I think it's a tough place to be in, working day in, day out, doing things you're not normally doing.

I really feel like I thrive in those situations. I'm always doing everything that I'm asked of and more. I take pride in that. Hopefully the results this year are going to show that.

I don't take for granted that sometimes they don't. I'm just enjoying the moment, seeing the tennis that I can play. In practice I've been playing great, as well. Hopefully I can continue that.

Q. You spoke about how much you love coming to Australia, playing here. Do you have a favorite memory at the Australian Open?

KATIE BOULTER: I've got quite a few. Trying to think which one would be best.

No, I'll just go with the first time I came here. I think the first time I came here as a junior, it was my first slam that I'd played outside of Wimbledon. I didn't really know what to expect.

I think you hear what people talk about with Australian Open, that it's fun, very vibrant, a lot going on. You don't really feel it till you walk on-site.

I remember the first day I did that. Going into NTC, the other side, seeing the pictures on the wall, dreaming of having that myself one day.

I remember they used to bring the animals into the site. Obviously as a young kid, that was a dream come true because you'd heard about all the koalas, kangaroos, all the amazing animals over here. I'd never seen any before.

Yeah, that was a cool experience as well. Maybe not so much seeing the snakes. Everything else was great (smiling).

Q. What is it like being a seed at a slam? Does it feel different? Feel like you've got a bit more of a target on your back?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think that's something I've accustomed to more and more over the last year. It's not something that I really understood until you're in that position, that ultimately players that are ranked beneath you are fighting for your position. They're going to come out swinging and probably elevate their level even more so than their own level.

I'm a lot more prepared for it this year than I was. Obviously it's never going to be easy, and there's going to be a lot of players because of the depth of women's tennis right now.

You have to be prepared for what they're going to bring. It does feel great going into a slam knowing that I am seeded and that that number by my name has been worked for. It gives me immense pride to showcase that number.

At the same time I'm also very well aware I have to back that up. I'm excited to show that. I think that's something that I've never really had that much opportunity to do. Last year was great. I learnt a lot from it.

I believe that number is by my name for a reason. I want to move it higher and higher.