THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2026

Mananchaya Sawangkaew

Press Conference

M. SAWANGKAEW/M. Chwalinkska

2-6, 7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on your first Grand Slam win today. First question for Mananchaya.

Q. I saw your match out there, down match point, you came back and really were grinding. Try to tell us how you're feeling right now about this huge win for you at Wimbledon.

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: At first I just feel like I'm in the main draw. I surprise myself at first. I'm very happy to get in the main draw. And then when I realize I play with Maja, I feel like, okay, it's a good experience to play with her. I was so exciting to play.

And then today when I go on court, I just think, okay, I'm going to give as much as I can in this time. Then I get down match point, and was, like, okay, the match not done yet.

So I just have to fight until the end. So I just run every ball, catch every ball that I can, and then result is good.

Q. How do you think you were able to take advantage of her mobility issues after she had fallen actually at match point? How do you think that maybe you were able to take advantage of that?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: I feel like she have injury in second set. I saw, like, in her ankle. And then I was down 5-2. I tried to focus myself on that time mostly, because my coach always tell me, Just focus on yourself first.

Then just, like, I have to control a lot in my mind and a lot of what I have to do. So I just, like, mostly focus on myself, just like still fight every ball the same, yes.

Q. Congratulations for going through the quallies and making it here to the second round. Obviously you have made a lot of prize money coming into the second round, and it's almost more than what you have made in the first half of the year. What does that money mean to you? How does that help you become a better player? Did you have a coach to travel with? I don't know.

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: I didn't know about how much I get (smiling).

Q. 176,000 Pounds.

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: Oh, that's a lot. (Laughter.)

Because I didn't think yet. I just focus on the match. I didn't think about the point or the money that I get.

Yeah, it's nice to get. I can manage more what I have to do in the future. Yes, it's in the future. Let's see in the future, yes.

Q. Congratulations. You're well known among Japanese tennis fans because you play in Japan quite often. This year I saw you in Takahashi. I think you could have played qually of Roland Garros instead of that ITF. Why did you choose to play ITF tournament over Roland Garros?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: Because I wasn't ready for the clay court. And then I think I have to prepare a lot the body, and then I'm not ready because I get injury like last year from clay. Then I learn a lot, you have to have time to practice on clay.

Then I feel like the timing, at that time I don't have time a lot to prepare, like, clay court, and I feel like I want to prepare for the grass court because I have a lot of time to prepare.

Then I have confidence more than, like, clay. I feel like it's gonna save my body also in the future. That's why we decide to choose grass court and skip on clay.

Q. When Maja came through the qualifiers in Roland Garros, she hadn't booked her Airbnb long enough and didn't have the money to extend her booking. I wonder if you have any of those problems. Do you have any of those problems?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: Yes, right now I just extend the hotel, because I didn't know I'm gonna win. Just, like, just day by day, I didn't know what's gonna happen. If I win, maybe I can extend more the hotel, just day by day, yes.

Q. The top players have all been fighting for more prize money and all of that. Does it make sense to you or do you feel you have already earned a lot? 176,000 Pounds is a lot of money. Do you feel that way? Do you understand what the players are fighting for, more money, or can you tell me?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: Yeah, I understand that part, because when you get the money, you're gonna have to pay a lot of the coach or team, so you have to have the good manage also. It's not like just come in. You have to pay to manage to pay everything also.

So, I mean, it's, like, about the manage, yes.

Q. Who do you have here with you? I know your coach from Thailand, but who else is with you? Any of your family? Do you get any support from the government or just a private sponsor to play the tour?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: I have my local sponsor from Thailand. So two sponsor from association, then Singha sponsor. Then I have one of my coach, and then one fitness coach.

Q. Here with you? Coach and fitness coach?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: Yes. And my girlfriend, yes.

Q. I like the way you play. You have a lot of variety, and you come to the net quite often. How did it develop, that kind of play style? Do you always play that way? Do you have any, like, idol you look up to and try to imitate the way to play?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: Because actually I play like this, like this style, because I'm so small, so only way I have to take the ball early, and then finish the point, like, early. Because, like, I'm so small, I cannot have the big serve or something like that. The only thing I can do is take the ball early, and then fight every ball best I can.

Q. Any idol?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: I like Novak Djokovic. I try to copy him when I was young, to play like him. Yes, I watch a lot of video of him.

Q. Do you know your next opponent, Alycia Parks? What do you know about her?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: I didn't know that I play. I know the draw, but I didn't know that she finished already. I played against her before I think last three years. On hard court, yes. Yeah, I know her some.

Q. Of course your country has, like, a history of good players like Kumkhum and Tanasugarn. Do you have any relationship with these former top players?

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: Yes, yes, they text me also like congratulations. And Tamarine, she just text me, congratulations, and enjoy with the grass court, something like that. Yes, I was surprise that she text me because she's so kind to me.

Q. Have you been trained by them or...

MANANCHAYA SAWANGKAEW: In national team in the group. That's why we meet.