LINZ, January 30, 2024 (Press Release)
With the main draw first-round matches already in full swing at the 33rd Upper Austria Ladies Linz, the top players sat down with the media representatives at the WTA’s All-Access Hour on Monday to talk about their tennis, hopes for the tournament and being a working mum. First to meet the media was Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. Next up was the three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber from Germany and she was followed by last year’s Upper Austria Ladies Linz winner Anastasia Potapova.All-Access Hour with Dayana YastremskaAfter receiving a wild card into the main draw, the 2024 Australian Open semifinalist, Dayana Yastremska will face qualifier Erika Andreeva in the first round of the long-standing tournament. Ahead of her first match, the 23-year-old world No. 29 spoke about:……her winning run to the last four at the Australian Open“The Australian Open was a very long trip and really emotional. I think it will be one of the tournaments I will remember for a really long time. It was a very nice experience. There’s actually so many things I can say about the tournament.”…being back in Linz“The jet lag is good and now I’m looking forward to my first match. I’m very excited to be back in Linz even though I didn’t play well here before. Now I am now focussed for this tournament, and I’m going to try to keep the same level, keep the emotions and keep the same routine which worked really well in Australia.”…now being ranked No. 29“It’s not something new for me being back in the Top 30. In the previous three years I couldn’t even get into the Top 60, the Top 70. It now feels like new history for me, like an upgrade.”All-Access Hour with Angelique KerberPlaying her third tournament since making her comeback to the Tour after giving birth, Angelique Kerber is aiming to move back up the WTA rankings after her 18-month break. Making her third appearance at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz, the 2013 champion has been drawn against Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in the first round. The winner of 14 WTA titles spoke about:… her return to Linz“We arrived here Sunday morning and up to now I have to say it’s great being back here in Linz. It’s the third time for me but the venue is new for me. But the air in Linz is the same as before.”…her comeback on the Tour“It’s good to be back but everything is naturally new territory for me. I’ll need a bit of time to find a routine that fits me. Right from the start, I said I’d have to be very patient. I have to give myself a few months to get back to match fitness, and to get the feeling of playing matches. I also told myself to take a more relaxed approach to everything. However tournament defeats still hurt, and it’s good the way it is. It’d be terrible if it wasn’t that way. I can definitely still feel the fire within me.”…being a working mum“I don’t have too many expectations as I don’t know what I’m going to have to cope with. I have to say the little one is actually very relaxed. I’m very lucky. Travelling doesn’t seem to worry her. Naturally the daily schedule is different. On the one hand, I have to concentrate on my job and on the other, the focus is totally different. It’s not like I am alone on the Tour anymore as there’s somebody else at my side. The focus is no longer completely on me. It’s on my daughter. And it’s a nice situation to be in.”
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“Baby” Potapova joined the press conference! 🎤 🎥 @WTA | #AnastasiaPotapova #WTALinz pic.twitter.com/ZIM0yXn2yT— #WTALinz (@WTALinz) January 29, 2024
All-Access Hour with Anastasia PotapovaThe title-holder Anastasia Potapova will be looking to repeat her 2023 performance at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz. Seeded No 5, she will meet Sara Errani (Italy) at her second appearance at the time-honoured event. The 22-year-old rising star spoke about:……her form in comparison to last year“I hope my shape is better than last year as I try to improve all the time. It’s always tough at the start of the year and this year’s was not as good as I expected. But that’s tennis and I just try to do my best every day.” …the new trophy“The trophy is very motivating cos when I saw it, I really liked it, you know, all girls like diamonds and crystals. It’s very unique and I’ve never seen anything like it before. Swarovski made a trophy for a tournament! It’s really beautiful and great motivation to fight for it.”
