ADELAIDE INTERNATIONAL

January 14, 2026

Aleksandar Vukic

Press Conference

A. VUKIC/A. Vavasorri

6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Aleksandar, after a tight second set you must be happy to get that win.

ALEKSANDAR VUKIC: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, faced a different type of opponent today. He's very tricky, plays mostly in the doubles, but is a very, very good singles player. He beat some very good players leading up to this. I knew it was going to be very tricky.

He mixes up his game play very well. He can kind of do a lot of things. He's not a typical like serve-volleyer. He actually didn't serve and volley that much today. So, yeah, very tricky and, yeah, very happy to get that done in straights.

THE MODERATOR: We'll go to questions in the room.

Q. How did you feel you went in that first set there? Looked like your first serve was virtually untouchable at times. Did it feel good out there?

ALEKSANDAR VUKIC: Yeah, first set was, yeah, probably couldn't have gone too much better. I was returning really well, was serving really well. I kind of played how I wanted to play in the beginning, making it a bit more physical, trying to move him around, don't shorten the points if I don't need to.

I think, kind of watching his match against Diallo a little bit, he kind of draws you in with his slice. He purposely kinds of baits you into coming in. But he's good when you come in. He likes the target.

So I tried to just extend the rallies a little bit more, make it more on my terms. Felt like I did a great job.

In the second I kind of continued with that. Played a sloppy game to get broken, being up 40-15. Then it kind of got into a dogfight after that.

Credit to him, every time he was kind of in the hole he found something within him, found a lot of good first serves, and yeah, after that it was very tight match.

Q. Is that one of those things when you're playing someone who plays more on the doubles circuit that you want to move 'em around more because they're not as used to as others about covering the full court?

ALEKSANDAR VUKIC: I think so, but he's also very, very different. He can stand a few meters behind the baseline, it looks like he's playing on clay half the time. So he's a little different.

But also just knowing that he hasn't played as much, and knowing that we both played three matches going into this, I knew that if I could keep him there for longer I think it would favor my chances than if one of us was at the net, let's say. I think that's kind of what he wanted. He probably wanted me to come to the net more. I don't mind coming to the net, but I felt like for the over three-set match I thought that would favor me.

Q. Coming off a win that went into the night last night did you feel fresh coming into today?

ALEKSANDAR VUKIC: Yeah, I felt pretty good. It's the fourth day in a row, but I was talking to my fitness coach, and we just kind of said it's a great way to prep for AO as well. Kind of challenge the body, get some physical matches, physical sets. And, yeah, whenever this is done, have a day or two, and then go in.

Q. You got Tommy Paul coming up who is a super consistent opponent, he's always up there in the rankings, and he challenges in the second week of Grand Slams. Are you looking forward to that challenge of taking him on in the quarters?

ALEKSANDAR VUKIC: For sure. I think I'm going to approach it like I did against Tsitsipas. You know, it will be a great test to see again where I'm at early this year.

I feel good. I feel like my game is progressing. There's things I can do better. But it will be a different type of opponent and, yeah, it will be a great match to play, especially during this week.

Q. Are you hoping the first set against him goes to another tiebreak? You seem to be having a bit of that now three of the last four sets and you've won?

ALEKSANDAR VUKIC: Yeah, I lost my first two in quallies, but kind of getting back to more than 50 percent, so right now it's good.

But tiebreaks are just, yeah, it's all about handling nerves, making a few good serves, making a few good returns. Anything can happen in tiebreaks, yeah.

Q. How is your confidence level at the moment just overall? Often here we see someone sort of break out and go on a really good run, and then they have a really strong Australian Open. Is that in the back of your mind as well that this could really set you up moving forward?

ALEKSANDAR VUKIC: It is, but I think right now, with where my ranking is, every week is really important. I'm not top 30 in the world, so I don't have the luxury of maybe taking it easier this weak, or really focusing on Aussie Open.

For me every week's important, every match is an opportunity to get better and improve my game, and this week is no different. Coming off a very slow start in Brisbane, it was nice to get some matches in quallies, I knew that would help me. Now that I got two very good matches as well in main draw, I just kind of want this to go on as long as possible, and I'll be ready for AO no matter what happens.