E. JONES/Wang Xinyu
6-4, 6-0
THE MODERATOR: Emerson, first win here in Adelaide. Can you give us your thoughts on the match and your performance today.
EMERSON JONES: I thought I performed really well. I competed really hard. That's really all I can ask from myself for that match. So I'm pretty happy, yeah.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. When you compare your game and your mindset from a year ago getting the wild card at the Australian Open to now, how great is the difference between not just on court but off court and growing as an athlete?
EMERSON JONES: I think mentally I've improved a lot from last year and this year. Just tell myself I've got no expectation playing these higher-level tournaments. I just play every game, like, as hard as I can, yeah.
Q. No expectations. Is that hard when Aussies latch onto your achievements of last year?
EMERSON JONES: Yeah, well, I'm coming from juniors and all that. Obviously every match I just play as hard as I can, so yeah.
Q. Was that your mum in the crowd you gave a hug to at the end?
EMERSON JONES: No, my mum's at home. That was my best friend's mom. My best friend came to watch me because she lives here.
Q. At what point in the second set did you believe you were going to win it?
EMERSON JONES: Well, at the start of the match, because I never played a top-50 player before, I was a bit wary of how good she was. I wasn't quite sure.
But as the match went on, I was kind of like, I've got this. If I really play well and focus, I've got a chance. I was never really like, I was going to win this. Even at 5-Love, I was still, I just have to keep focusing on every point.
Obviously she's a top-50 player, so she's very mentally good and could come back at any time.
Q. Was it as tough playing a highly-ranked player as you thought?
EMERSON JONES: I was expecting that. I just had to prepare well. But obviously I wasn't expecting to play like a Sabalenka or something. I wasn't quite sure on the level. That was a great level to see, yeah.
Q. You're saying you have developed mentally over the last year. What have you done to achieve that? How much of a factor was the Australian juniors, Wimbledon juniors in maturing a bit more mentally?
EMERSON JONES: Well, I think just playing more matches and trying to tell myself before every single match that I need to be mentally good 'cause that's probably what mostly tennis is about. Whoever is the most headstrong will probably be, like, the greatest. I just try to, like, hold myself high and just be mentally good every match, yeah.
Q. Are you headstrong?
EMERSON JONES: I would say I've come a long way to what I was, yeah (smiling). But I've still got lots of improving to do, yeah.
Q. When you go out for a match at tour level, is there such a level of excitement because it's so new? Do you have to try and hold some of that excitement in?
EMERSON JONES: Well, I'm excited for every match basically. Every big tournament I play, I always get really excited to get out on court and give it my best.
I do have to, like, probably tell myself just to focus just on the match, not what's going on outside of it. I do like it when I get excited for matches 'cause it means I really want to play, yeah.
Q. Obviously we know how Aussies love their young up-and-coming sports starts. Are you sort of prepared for the buzz you might create if you continue playing like this? How do you manage to stay focused?
EMERSON JONES: Obviously I'm going to be coming up against a higher-ranked player next round. That's exciting. I just think if I try to be mentally good, as best as I can, just play the way I want to play, then I think I'll be pretty proud of myself, yeah.
Q. Obviously you were doing great at a young age. People look forward to seeing you do better. They hope you will fill in probably Ash Barty's shoes. Does that add any pressure, especially when you play in front of the local crowd?
EMERSON JONES: Well, I actually had this question last week. But how I answered it was, like, it's great to be compared to Ash Barty. It's exciting to know she's done all of this and everything. Even with juniors, I find it exciting that people say she did this, and that I'm following in her footsteps.
I just think we're all on our different journeys. I just want to see how I go and just focus on myself. Obviously Ash Barty was amazing. It would be very hard to keep up with that.
I just want to see how I go, yeah.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports