AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2026

Taylah Preston

Press Conference

T. PRESTON/Z. Shuai

6-3, 2-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Taylah, just describe that atmosphere out on Kia Arena today.

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, the atmosphere was unbelievable. Obviously it's so nice playing in front of a home crowd and having the majority of the support.

So, yeah, it was crazy, and yeah, I had a lot of fun.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Your first Grand Slam win. What's it like to, first of all, do that in Australia and just tick that off in general?

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, I think it makes it more special, having done it here at home in Australia. But obviously first Grand Slam win at any Grand Slam is special. You know, it takes a lot of hard work, and I have been working really, really hard. Yeah, it's nice to see it somewhat pay off.

Q. It seems like you have been building up to this moment. Obviously you had that run in Hobart and then now going out and doing it today. What's been the catalyst for that sort of shift in improvement in your game and being able to challenge at this level?

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, I mean, towards the end of last year I played a lot of matches. I dropped down a couple levels just to get my match count up because I wasn't playing a lot, and I think that really helped.

I had a really good preseason in Brisbane. Then, yeah, starting the year off in Brisbane, as well, and then last week in Hobart, to be able to get a couple of really good wins under my belt I think really helped with my confidence leading into this week.

Q. It seems like we've got a lot of young Aussie women coming through at the same time. Yourself, Maya, everyone else. Is it a really impressive group? Are you guys close? Seems like we've got more than more than ever.

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, on the younger said, there's probably me, Talia, Maya, Emerson. We all get along really well. We all train together up in Brisbane, as well, so it's a really nice environment up there.

Yeah, we're all really good friends. We want each other to do well. If we have a result, we always send each other a message or, you know, go say, Well done.

It's a really great group of girls. Also with the older girls, as well. It's someone to look up to, as well, and they can kind of guide us. They have probably had more experience. So yeah, it's a great group.

Q. You got a wildcard obviously for the tournament this year. Can you just take us through how significant getting that wildcard is? And also, I suppose you must feel a little pressure being given it ahead of some other players also, similar level.

TAYLAH PRESTON: I mean, obviously I'm extremely grateful for the wildcard. To be honest with you, I wasn't really expecting it, because I have had kind of a rough last 12 months.

But I was just super grateful. And obviously, to be given the opportunity, means that they believe in me and what I can do. I'm just really happy that so far I have, you know, used the opportunity as best I can, and I plan to keep going.

Q. You played your opponent two weeks ago in Brisbane and lost in three. Today you obviously reversed the result. What did you do differently to make sure you're on the receiving end of the win today?

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, obviously I didn't play her that long ago, so we had the whole match replay that me and my coach went through. Just changing up a few things here and there to kind of obviously try and reverse the result, and I think I executed that pretty well. Then obviously during the match, changing things up when I need to when she kind of started figuring out a little bit.

Yeah, it was nice to flip the result.

Q. I understand you've changed coaches recently, as well. Who is now in your corner, and how have they helped your game to get to this?

TAYLAH PRESTON: So coaching me now is Brett Hunter at the National Tennis Academy. Craig Tyzzer helped me out a lot the end of last year, and he was still helping me out where he can, kind of him and Brett together.

It's a really good team. We have a lot of fun on and off the court, and just a nice environment to be in.

Q. What are your goals now for the rest of the year after the AO?

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, I mean, obviously hopefully just focus on this week still, but just to keep on improving, you know, keep trying to win more matches at a higher level, get my confidence up. You know, keep playing hopefully the bigger tournaments.

But I don't know. We'll see after this week.

Q. How rewarding is it to have gone back down a couple levels and having this result today? Might not be the most common road, but to see the result today, it must be kind of rewarding.

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, obviously dropped down to 35s and went to some tournaments where there is not really that much going on. There's no crowds.

It's kind of a little bit of a grind to get through the two weeks at those tournaments, but I think it set me up really well. You know, I did put in a lot of hard work throughout those tournaments. I think it set me up really well, yeah.

Q. Obviously being able to play on the stage today and get your first Grand Slam win, what memories do you have coming here as a fan to the AO and obviously dreaming of being here one day?

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, I'm from Perth, so I didn't come too many times as a fan. I did play Super 10s here two years in a row when I was 9 and 10. Obviously I was here then. And we got to meet some players like Dasha and Luke when I was younger. I thought that was pretty cool (smiling).

But yeah, obviously just to be able to come back here playing is really special. Yeah, I look forward to it every year.

Q. I think your next opponent is Linda Noskova. Just your initial thoughts? Obviously you probably haven't had too much time to think about that match, but...

TAYLAH PRESTON: Yeah, honestly, I haven't really thought about it. I haven't really watched her play a lot. I played her here six years ago actually in juniors, but I don't think that means much anymore.

But, yeah, I'll go over it with my team at some point and see, yeah.