NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 3, 2026

Kayla Cross

Press Conference

K. CROSS/L. Boulter

7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Kayla, if you just want to give your initial thoughts on your match today.

KAYLA CROSS: Yeah, really happy with today's win. It was an amazing atmosphere, and, yeah, really excited to get a win here in Toronto.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Is it safe to say that's the biggest one to date?

KAYLA CROSS: Yeah, I think it is. Yeah, definitely a lot bigger than some of the other ones.

Q. Can you describe your reaction? You looked, when you turned to Rob in your box, you looked kind of in disbelief there.

KAYLA CROSS: Yeah, definitely in shock. I think I said, Oh, my gosh, a few times when I was walking up to the net. Yeah, still doesn't really feel real. So, yeah, just trying to soak it all in.

Q. What was your approach coming into today knowing you're on center court, big stage for the first time?

KAYLA CROSS: Yeah, I got a text message last night asking if I wanted to be on center court, obviously said yes right away. Yeah, I think just the game plan going in was try to play my game, trying to go for the shots, and, yeah, just live in the moment and be happy out there.

Q. For people that don't know you, you wear shades on the court. What's the reason for that?

KAYLA CROSS: I don't know, I started wearing them when I was younger. My brother bought me my first pair, so I wore them because it was a gift. After that I just got so used to them and it's just kind of become my thing and, yeah, I don't know (laughing).

Q. I don't know if you had much of a chance to really assess it and let it sink in yet, but what does a win like this do for you moving forward?

KAYLA CROSS: I think it just gives me a lot of confidence going into the future, knowing I can compete at this level. Yeah, to draw a crowd like that was unreal. But, yeah, just really looking forward to the next match.

Q. Doubles with Bianca in the tournament, can you speak about that partnership and what you can draw from playing with a player that's experienced some pretty big moments here in Toronto?

KAYLA CROSS: Yeah, I got to know her, obviously I've known her for a while, but got to know her a little bit better when we were at Billie Jean King Cup earlier this year. I got to play doubles with her there, so excited to get back on the court with her.

Yeah, I mean, just playing with her is an amazing experience, knowing how much she's accomplished already in tennis and will accomplish in the future as well.

She came to watch a few games today, I saw her on the side, so I think that gave me a lot of confidence just to keep swinging, and knowing that I have her support is really nice.

Q. You mentioned you got a text message last night. Have you checked your phone today, and if you received any messages, what's the reaction been like from your friends, family, and maybe random people?

KAYLA CROSS: Yeah, I checked my phone after the match, I think I had like a hundred notifications, so kind of a little overwhelmed, and kind of put it away, haven't really checked it since.

Yeah, I'm going to respond to everyone later today. And, yeah, just I kept seeing, Congrats, congrats, and then I was like, Okay, this is a lot, I'm just going to put it away for now.

But, yeah, I mean, just the crowd itself, I know a bunch of people texted me last night they were going to come. I ended up filling one of the suites. I was impressed I got so many people to come watch. Just walking out and seeing so many people cheer for me, and when they called my name during the warmup I was trying not to lose focus and stuff like that. But, yeah, it was really nice to have that much support.

Q. Speaking of the crowd, there was a few tight moments late in each set. How did the home fans get you through those tough moments and eventually across the finish line?

KAYLA CROSS: Yeah, I think them just chanting my name and cheering for me before points gave me a lot of confidence. Knowing that, you know, so many people were there to support me, no matter what the score was. Even when I had lost a few games at the end of the first set, they were still cheering for me just as much as when I was winning. I think that gave me a sense of calmness.

Yeah, even on the opposite side of, like, where my coaching box was, there was fans sitting right courtside, like, giving me energy, pumping me up and things like that. So, yeah, that was really good and gave me more energy.

Q. Can you share a word about Rob Steckley, the two of you have worked together for so long now, and he's worked with so many established players as well. What has he meant to you and your development as a player, and what was his reaction like afterwards when you met up with him?

KAYLA CROSS: Yeah, I think it was amazing having him there today, gave me a lot of comfort knowing that there was a lot of people in my box, even not just him but other people as well that had been with me through my whole career.

So having that kind of support and, yeah, towards when I was losing the first set a little bit, I think when I was down like 6-5 he was just like, You're 6-5 with such a high-level player, use it as a confidence, don't get down on yourself, just keep swinging. I think he said a few times, like, You belong there, keep going, and, yeah, that just helped me a lot today.