french tennis player Elsa Jacquemot She commented on the victory over Marta Kostyuk in the first round of the Australian Open 2026:

– Elsa, congratulations on your victory today. How do you evaluate your encounter?

– I am very happy. Marta played very well, so I’m happy I could win this match. It wasn’t easy, so I’m really happy. I really like this. It wasn’t midfield but there were still plenty of people. These are the matches I played tennis. And for the sake of these feelings. There were a lot of them today, so I’m really happy.

– At the Australian Open, for the first time in the history of the Open era, all sets in women’s matches ended in tiebreaks. What are your thoughts on such a long match and what does it mean for you to lead this match to victory?

“It seems to me that I won this match based on my character, my heart and my endurance.

– Elsa, can we say that this match suddenly turned into the craziest match of your young career?

– Yes, you can really say that this was a huge match in terms of my career. It will definitely remain one of the matches I will never forget. I’m very happy because we played tiebreakers three times. Everything was decided on a psychological level, especially since the weather was so hot. We played in truly hellish conditions. The field was beautiful and there were lots of people. That’s why I’m really happy that I was able to get through this process and come out victorious in the match.

How did you manage to stay calm after Marta sprained her ankle but stayed in the game and the score was tied again? Did this affect you in the third set?

– At that moment, it seems like the match is almost over. This happened at a very important moment and I tried not to think about it as much as possible. I actually lost that raffle, but overall I’m very happy. I continued to focus on the game. Yes, it’s terrible because there is a pause. The score was 6:5, he served. And I know that he is not one of those who give up, that he will come back because there was very little left to the end. You understand that they are going to tape him right now. I tried to concentrate as much as possible because it was obvious that he was in real pain and applied ice. But I was warned that it could happen sometimes. So I tried to focus on myself and tell myself: the match is not over yet, you will have to go out again and finish it. This match needs to be won and deserved.

– What did you think in the last half hour of the match? We saw that he was talking to himself a lot, the tension was tremendous.

“Of course there was a lot of tension and there were a lot of thoughts. I try not to think about unnecessary things, but it is impossible to switch off completely. You see the time, you understand that the match is very long, the rallies are drawn out, literally a few goals decide everything. I tried to tell myself: focus on each game, play point by point. Because in such moments, if you divide your attention too thinly, you can very quickly lose control.

– How did you feel physically, especially considering the heat, since your opponent likes to run and drag rallies?

“The support from the stands really encouraged me. It was a great pleasure for me to play with the support of the crowd.

– A few days ago, you said that you wanted to be more of a boss on the field, play more actively and progress. Were these the things you implemented today and kept in mind before going out on the field?

– Yes, because I had no choice against Martha. I know he is a very aggressive tennis player. Relatively speaking, I’m lucky that there is variability in the game. I tried to follow his rhythm, but also varied a bit. And today I think I did very well, I really imposed my game on him. At some point you realize that just hitting balls doesn’t work anymore. When you play against top 20 players who have just reached the final of a 500 series tournament and are at the peak of confidence, if you start holding the ball you no longer have a chance. So I had no choice. It was necessary to go forward and take the initiative, especially in tiebreaks.

To be honest, I don’t remember all the games very well anymore, but it seems like at some point I started to stand out more often. I said to myself: “Come on, don’t be arrogant, but take risks.” At some point you have to make a decision. I may have lost that draw but it was good. Overall, I’m happy because it’s clear that I didn’t back down in this match. I really aimed for this victory and I’m proud of myself because it’s not easy. It’s great to win a match like this.

– Were you surprised by your mental stability in this match? After all, on paper you have less experience in such big matches, but even under maximum pressure you remained very calm when you were against the wall. Did you prove something important for yourself today?

“I can’t say I’m surprised, because I always knew that the mental component was my strong point. But to prove to yourself – yes, of course. After a match like this, you prove a lot to yourself. It’s not easy if you lose the first set 7:6 in the tiebreak when the weather is hot and you have to fight again. You know that if you want to win the match in two sets, you have to take the second 7:6 and then go to the tiebreak again. In the end, in such a match you prove to yourself your fighting ability, your character, that you do not give up.

But I also understand that according to the laws of this sport, I only completed the first round. I don’t say to myself: “Wow, this is incredible, I beat 20th seed Marta.” I just know that from the very beginning I believed that I could win this match. I’ve told you this before, that I’m ready. I won, I’m happy, but now we need to prepare for the next match.

– Your next opponent will be Yulia Putintseva, who also played a three-set match today. What can you say about the second round match?

– I am a coach [Симон Бланк] We have worked with him before. To be honest, I didn’t know exactly what I was supposed to play with it. I think I have a few days to prepare. The match took a long time but I know I will be ready.

– Do you see the progress you’ve made in the last year or two?

– Yes, of course. I believe that I am improving myself every year. This isn’t just a year or two. I have been playing tennis for many years. But in matches like this, you can see that mentally it’s very difficult. There is a lot of risk in the Grand Slam, there is a lot of pressure and you have to be able to stay calm. I knew I was playing against a top-seeded tennis player who showed very strong tennis, performed well in Brisbane, was mobile and confident. Relatively speaking, I didn’t start the season very well. That’s why I’m so glad I believed in myself and fought until the end, because emotionally it wasn’t easy at all.

Video review of the match Marta Kostyuk – Elsa Jacquemot