“Diana commented on the victory over Talia Gibson at the start of the WTA 500 in Brisbane”, — write: sport.ua
– Dayana, congratulations. It was an incredibly difficult match, almost two hours on the court. You must be very pleased that you managed to win this first match in 2026.
– Yes, I am very happy to win my first match this year, especially here in Brisbane. As far as I can remember, I’ve never managed to win here in the main draw before. Therefore, it is pleasant and exciting to start the season with a victory. I am really satisfied.
– An excellent start. You probably have very fond memories of the Australian Open a few years ago. But let’s analyze today’s match. In the first set you lost 5:6 and 0:30, in the second – 3:5, but in the ends of both sets you noticeably added, especially in the game on the back line. How satisfied are you with how your shots felt today?
– I started quite well. I think it was a normal match. For the first match of the season, it is natural that the game goes in waves – sometimes up, then down. I played my last match two months ago, so it was important to feel the rhythm of the game again. Today was a good experience: different accounts, different situations on the court. It was helpful.
– Your career best is 21st, and now you’re close to it again at 27th. What are your expectations for the Australian part of the season and the Australian Open?
– First of all, I think about being healthy – both physically and mentally. It is important for me to feel happy on the court and enjoy the game. I try not to focus on the rating or specific results, I don’t constantly think about victories. I focus on doing my job right on the court. If you do everything right, victories come by themselves. So my focus is to be happy on the court.
– It is summer in Australia, Brisbane is a very beautiful city. How are you here now?
– I have been to Brisbane many times, I like it here. A very nice city. If I’m not mistaken, for the last three or four years I’ve celebrated the New Year right here. But this time, my family and I were in Bali, and it was great to celebrate the New Year together. Besides, today is my sister’s birthday. So, Ivanka, happy birthday! It was especially nice to win today.