The last Australian Open champion, Madison Keys, who started defending the cup by beating Ukrainian Alexandra Oleynikova, held a press conference after a successful start in the major:

– Earning your first victory as a reigning champion is never easy. Please tell us about your match and performance today.

“I think I started a little slow today and of course I was nervous, but I have to give credit to my opponent. He has a rather unconventional style and that made the match a little more difficult to start. But at the end of the tiebreak I really found my game and managed to carry that into the second set.

– Congratulations on your victory. Can you tell me what it was like to play the last four rallies of the first set from your perspective?

“I think at that moment I felt that I was playing too passively and cautiously and not taking advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves. And when I play my best tennis, I shoot when I see an opportunity. When I lost it was 6:4, right? Yes, when it was 6-4 I felt that at least I was playing with the right balls and it’s okay if I’m losing points that way. From then on the momentum changed a little bit and then I decided to just play. I’m confident and I can handle the punches.”

– You mentioned his playing style. When was the last time you played against someone who used candles so efficiently and effectively?

– Probably in the under 12 category (laughs). And that’s no disrespect to him, of course, but it’s been a long time since he’s played against someone with that style, even though he plays really effectively. I wasn’t able to watch most of their matches beforehand; There wasn’t much information on the internet. The preparation turned out to be a little deceiving, but already in the match everything looked different. The balls were flying very high and very deep, it was very difficult. Immediately after the rebound I felt like I couldn’t volley or receive the ball because he shot it so well. So I had to wait for the right opportunities. But yeah, I was really impressed with how well he made those shots.

– You talked about the series of points you won in a row to take the first set. What was going on in your head at that moment? This is your first match as the reigning Grand Slam champion and also facing an opponent with an unconventional style can be confusing. What were you thinking?

– I felt like I played too cautiously in the beginning and didn’t trust my first impulses. I was constantly changing my mind about what I wanted to do and this slowed down my footwork. I felt like I was just reacting and not playing according to plan. When I won the first match – I think the score was 0:4 – I relaxed a bit and felt like I was thinking more clearly. Even when I surrendered, I realized what I had done and what needed to be fixed. From then on I slowly started to put everything together and the end of the tiebreaker finally sealed everything.

– Madison, you did a great job today. You didn’t play in the last months of last year. Was it more physical, more mental, or a combination of both? So what was the return process like?

“It was more of a physical thing.” At the end of the season, I felt like I wasn’t one hundred percent healthy and that something was constantly bothering me. When things get tough, it’s important for me to feel good physically. So I focused on recovery. Unfortunately, I also fell ill at the end of the year, but the opportunity to recuperate and prepare as physically as possible was crucial.

– Let me clarify: Was it more about rest or was it about working out in the gym and strengthening weak points?

“It’s more like this is the time to really get involved in rehab.” The season is so long and it’s hard to find windows to maintain strength, conditioning and keep everything working properly. At one point the season got out of control and I couldn’t find the right blocks of time.

– Despite all the mental and physical preparations to defend your first Slam title, how much does everything change when you step on the court? Or does everything disappear?

“I don’t think it’s all going to end.” No matter how you envisioned the moment, no matter how you prepared, you know you did your best. But when they say “get ready, play”, everything hits you in a way that is hard to explain. And no matter how frustrating and stressful it is, I still remind myself how few people get the chance to be in a moment like this. Going on the field today and feeling the support of the stands, I am always ready to accept this stress.

– Your serve used to seem very short, but not anymore. What was the process and rationale behind these changes?

“I tried to speed up my swing a little bit.” Because I served in the same way for so long, it was difficult for me to quickly move into a Cup position. The idea was to make the movement shorter and faster and then rebuild. However, the season does not allow much time for experiments. Before finals, I prepared for the presentation to be different, knowing that I would make changes later. The plan was always to lengthen it again and improve it.

– Madison, do you share other players’ concerns that prize money at Grand Slam tournaments should receive a larger share of the total revenue?

“From my perspective, I would be more concerned about Grand Slam tournaments investing in the welfare of the players. The tours are already doing that – health care, retirement, etc. At the end of the day, we are all partners and we need each other. So, first and foremost, I would like to see investment in the welfare of the players. Of course, I would like the money to go into prize money, but first and foremost to protect the players.”

– The question is less serious. Many women, including my wife, find it a nightmare to attend an event and see someone wearing the same dress. Does it bother tennis players that you often play in the same jersey in tournaments?

– I don’t. I think it’s different for everyone, but personally I always like to wear what I’m told to wear.

Ukrainian tennis player Alexandra Oleynikova He held a press conference after losing to Madison Keys in the round of 164 at the 2026 Australian Open:

– Alexandra, this was an incredible experience for you; You took to the field at Rod Laver Arena today. Can you tell us how you felt and how much you liked it?

– For me, this is the best experience of my entire career. I had never played at this level before – I did not even meet in the main draw of WTA 250 tournaments and, moreover, I never got into large arenas. Having an experience like this is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

– What were you thinking at that moment when you took a 4:0 lead in the first set?

“Actually, my mind was clearer then.” I think when the score was tied I started thinking more. But if you don’t have such experience, when there are so many people around, it is normal to hear someone shouting my name, someone shouting their opponent’s name. Of course, the atmosphere is amazing, but at moments like this, sometimes you start to think too much.

When I first entered the match I felt like everything was perfect. And then, at some point, I think not only the incredible play of my opponent, but also the fact that I outperformed myself in some places played a role. I had an advantage, but I didn’t always use it correctly. I don’t know if I could have won if I had more experience, but I’m sure I could have managed those moments better.

– Even though you lost this match, you really have a very, very unique style of play. I wonder if it’s easy for you to accept that and continue playing that way, even though a lot of people ask you, “Why do you play that way?” Even though I’m sure he said it.

– Oh yes, actually yes. Many people have told me this. From the very beginning of my professional career, I constantly heard that I would not be able to break into the top 1000, top 500, top 300, top 100 with this style of play. Everyone said it was impossible to progress with this type of tennis.

But my idea was always different: yes, to do your own “weird” things on the field, but at the same time to be the strongest possible player in this style. Being the best version of yourself in this type of tennis. And today I saw that even for one of the best tennis players in the world, this style can be very uncomfortable indeed. So yes, I will continue to work and get better at this style of play. It is possible.

– Despite the defeat, it was clear that you were truly happy, enjoying the experience, interacting with the crowd, showing your emotions. I wonder: Many players in your situation might be disappointed when you are an unseeded tennis player. Where do you get this sense of pride and joy?

– Because in my opinion, sports is not always about victory or defeat. It seems wrong to me that we put so much pressure on athletes in sports and evaluate them only based on their results. You should be able to enjoy it when you show good tennis, when your opponent is playing at a high level, when you have the respect of both sides on the court and the stands support both players.

I can’t be disappointed because for me sports is not just a score on the leaderboard. Moreover, it is this approach that motivates me. Because if I only thought about the outcome – if I didn’t think about anything else – I probably wouldn’t be at this level. For me, this whole journey, this whole experience is much more important than the final score.

– I also wanted to ask you about face tattoos. Is this a real tattoo? Is this paint? So does this make any sense?

– No, these are temporary tattoos. I remove it after the match using cleansing oil. They have no special meaning; Just an idea for fun.

I saw these face stickers and fake tattoos when I went shopping at the US Open. Then I started experimenting with them: first there were stars, then hearts, now flowers. So that’s part of my style. And maybe you noticed that they match the look and the court: blue dress, blue flowers, blue court (laughs).

– Congratulations on your performance today. Madison broke the tie at 6-4 at the end of the first set and achieved four incredible victories in a row. Do you think it’s a part where you could push it further at this point, or has it been played flawlessly?

– Yes, I have some thoughts about this. Maybe at the first set point I should have entered the rally more actively from the first serve because I think I took too much risk then. Maybe next time I’ll find a better solution. But on the other hand, when you play against Madison Keys, sometimes you have to take risks. I think everyone saw how powerful and stable his technique was. Now of course I’m trying to analyze whether it could be played differently, but I must also admit that a lot depends on it. He’s an amazing tennis player.

– Alexandra, did I understand correctly that you previously represented Croatia?

– Yes, I represented Croatia because I lived there for many years. When we moved there, I came as a political refugee, or rather, my mother and father were political refugees. And in junior tournaments there is such a system: if you do not compete in local tournaments, you do not have a national rating, and without it it is impossible to participate in international competitions. This is how this system works. Participating in tournaments is based on national rankings and therefore such a decision was made.

But I never identified myself as Croatian. Yes, I love Croatia, but it is very important for me to play for my country.

– I wanted to ask about your t-shirt – why did you decide to wear it? So what does it mean to you that your father is currently serving in Ukraine? How does it feel to go through such a period when your father is at the front?

– Yes, my father is a soldier. And for me, it’s… You know, I’m here alone now, but before, I was traveling with him a lot. My father has been my biggest support in everything since my childhood.

And I’m incredibly proud of him. Moreover, this motivates me even more. After joining the army, I moved up more than 200 places in the rankings because I know his dream was to see me on the field. I can’t fully describe these feelings, but when you find yourself in such a situation, you start to prioritize your life very clearly. And I will do anything to make him more proud of me.

When he texted me and said he was incredible… He just texted me and at that moment I realized: I made his dream come true. What could be more motivating in such a situation? I can’t imagine anything more powerful.

– Your t-shirt and the importance of communicating that message using your platform.

– Yes, I have a message. And this is very specific; We need your help. I want to talk about how people can help the Ukrainians, but if you want to ask me questions about it we will have to do it outside the official tournament press conference. This is a very important point.

I really know and can tell you how people can help protect our civilians, our children. Including protecting me personally because I was training in Ukraine. I prepared for this tournament there. During preparation, I heard explosions. There were several major attacks. On the last night I spent in Ukraine before flying here, an explosion occurred very close to my house; Shahed drone crashed into the house across the road. My apartment was literally shaken by the blast wave.

So I really know how people can help protect Ukrainians, including these drones. But we need to talk about this outside the tournament.

– You just mentioned an important message from Ukraine. Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in February. Do you think it is important for Olympians to use this platform and convey messages to the press during the Olympics? So, do you know any of the Ukrainian athletes who will represent Ukraine at the Winter Games?

– To be honest, I don’t watch much sports. I don’t even watch tennis that often. So yeah, I don’t know many Winter Olympians.

But of course it’s important. Every competition is important. Every opportunity to say something about Ukraine is important. Because unfortunately the war has been going on for so long, and over time I think people have started to lose interest in it. But now we have no electricity in Ukraine. There is no light, no water, no heating in my apartment. This is the truth. And I think every opportunity to talk about this is extremely important. And the Olympics are the Olympics. What else can I add here?