AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 23, 2026

Yulia Putintseva

Press Conference

Y. PUTINTSEVA/Z. Sonmez

6-3, 6-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Yulia.

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: What was the key to your victory today?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: I think just to stay focused and to keep my emotions down, because there were really too many things going on. Then it's tough already because she's playing, like, amazing tournament, amazing match.

The conditions are tough. It's very hot. From one side, it's very windy, and I have to, like, be really cool with your head. In these conditions it's very, very tough to do.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. It could be so tough when you're up against a crowd that's rooting for your opponent. How have you been able to channel that energy throughout the week?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: I mean, there is always, like, someone in favor and someone to cheer for. That's what's great about the sport.

But today I think was really a lot of disrespectful moments when they were screaming between my first and second serve. But screaming, not even. Like really loud, like, just to make me mistake.

In the game, I think it was 4-3, was a big point, and, like, I opened court very good. I take my forehand, the guy just started, like, coughing just for my shot. I was like, okay, now, I'm not going to lose. Like, really. I was ready to take it all, but I was ready to fight like until I die there.

And, I mean, what can I do? It's just some people have education of tennis and, unfortunately, some of them not.

Q. Do you think the crowd was disrespectful the last set in particular and in your interview after the match?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: I don't think they were, like, disrespectful. They were disrespectful in the moment when like it was, like, important, and they could see it's important. They start screaming, like, every time during my shots. Like when she was making a great shot, but I was still in the round, they were like, Yes.

When it was let and the ball was coming to my side, they were also, like, screaming to my shot, which was, like, honestly it's distracted to everyone, especially in this heat, in the condition.

But I'm very happy that I kept my calm, because Yulia last year would probably throw something at them at some moment (laughter).

Q. You probably know coming into these matches that you're not going to be the fan favorite, just based off how she brought a crowd earlier.

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: Yep.

Q. You talked about staying focused without losing your cool. How do you do that especially when they are, as you alluded to, coughing during serves, doing stuff to get into your head?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: Honestly today and in the first match, it's kind of funny, but I was singing a song. It's like a Russian song. It is very old-school, from old, old movies. The song is about rabbits. Like, it has nothing to do with anything. It's just about rabbits who eat the grass. I was like distracting myself with this (laughter).

Q. So I guess talking about even amongst all the Turkish crowd, you did have some Kazakhstan support in the crowd?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: Yeah. No, I was thankful for them. The guys was cheering, was trying to stay alive around the Turkish crowd. They were a small group, but they were very, very supportive.

Also, Australian guys was screaming in third set, like, Yulia. I could hear them, and it was bringing a good moment, you know, like I'm not against the world.

Q. The song you were talking about, about the rabbits, is that something that you always think about in these matches?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: No. Like I haven't seen this movie since my childhood. Like, it's very, very old movie, a Russian movie. I think I watched it last time when I was 14.

I don't know why it came out, this song about the rabbits, and about the unfortunate island. I was just singing those song in my head, and I didn't know why. Usually I'm like Taylor Swift, like some kind of Wipe song, and, I don't know, like The Weeknd, and here it comes like a rabbit song. I'm, like, I don't know why.

Q. Were you also dancing to the rabbit song?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: No, no. Dancing was just in the end because I was, like, too tired, and the guys was, like, whistling. I mean what can you do? You just have to dance through it.

Q. I know you've been with Kazakhstan for a lot of years now. I'm curious what you think of this new program that Uzbekistan is also doing, getting a lot of Russian players to switch. Do you think it could be successful?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: I mean, I don't know about situation in Uzbekistan. I heard a few players changed their nationality, but I don't know what's going on there. Honestly, I don't really care.

Q. How much switching to Kazakhstan helped your career?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: I think if not for the Kazakhstan Federation, I wouldn't be here, because, like, at some point we had to choose either to go to college and, like, to play for college, because I was very, very good junior, or to continue career.

But my parents, they had no financial support or any kind of support, because in Moscow it's very expensive. We used to not have any, like, good facilities there to train, and the only courts that I was going to practice, it was one hour and a half driving.

So I was doing my school in the morning. Then we would drive one hour and a half. I would spend, like, four hours on the court. Then we would drive one hour and a half back. Then between the practices, I had to do homework. So it was very, very tough (laughter), yeah.

The day was starting at 8, finishing at 10. There was no, like, time for anything. Like, TV was allowed for one hour before going to bed.

So it was like -- and then Kazakhstan came with support, ideas, how it should be. Like I said many times, when we came with my parents to the facilities of Astana, and we arrived, they give us balls, like new balls, a full box, and my father was like, Is it free (laughter)?

We're like, Of course, you need water, towels, anything, gym or whatever. My father was (indiscernible).

Like, for my parents, because I have also younger brother, it was tough to support all the family, like, in general.

Q. What does it mean to you now when you see Kazakh people and you have a long connection ...

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: No, I have like -- I feel like Kazakh in a way, because the Kazakhstan people were helping me to build my career. They are always behind me, supporting me.

Of course, I have Russian roots. I love also Russia as a town, as a city -- I mean, as a country. Not what's been going -- like, it's tough to say. I don't want to say anything.

Yeah, so I just want to say that in Kazakhstan I'm getting support like no tomorrow.

Q. How were you feeling in the pre-season because you were playing quite well?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: Honestly, it's first time I was doing my pre-season in Dubai, because usually I was doing it in Florida, but, again, Kazak Federation offered, like, not even top juniors and top players to come to Dubai. They were doing it for a few years. I was like, Okay, I want to join this year. Like, it's working well.

Q. Did Sonmez say anything to you after the match?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: No. She just say, Thank you.

Q. Your next opponent, you could play either Jovic or Paolini?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: I don't know which one I'm playing. Thank you for telling me. My coach will do the job. I'm chill about it. Yeah, I just want to enjoy this moment.

Q. I know I don't speak your language, but what's the name of the song or the movie that you were referencing?

YULIA PUTINTSEVA: (In Russian) It's on Russian. The song is (in Russian). The other one is (in Russian). So it's basically, yeah, unfortunate island, and the song about the rabbits.