'I'm at peace': Around the pressers AO Media Day

(Getty/Brett Hemmings)

It was the traditional media day at Melbourne Park yesterday, a chance for journalists to ask the first questions of the new year to a bunch of players. There were numerous press conferences, and a great deal of information to digest.

The First Serve selects a bunch of highlights of what was said around the pressers in the lead-up to the Australian Open.

The One-Point Slam was front of mind, and the players seemed to embrace it unanimously.

Iga Swiatek: "It was great. I think it was so much fun. Honestly, like, everybody was watching. Also, off the court, everybody said they were so emotional about it. It's fun. It's something new, refreshing. I think this is what tennis sometimes needs: to put the events out like that. Half of the players, I think, took it seriously; half of them didn't."

Coco Gauff: “I thought that was cool because you got to hear stories that you would never hear. My only not ‘complaint’…but I watched the qualifying rounds, because my hitting partner was doing it. I think people had to make six rounds to make it to Rod Laver. I think that was a little bit much. There were a couple of cool stories that were from the qualifying rounds that I wish some people got to see on Rod Laver.”

Amanda Anisimova: “It was so much fun. I absolutely loved it. I would want to do it at every single Grand Slam. It was so funny because we were all, like, equally very, very nervous. We were just talking about how nervous we were. I think it was mostly because we didn't want to just miss on the first shot, because it would have been so embarrassing. I think we all shared that sentiment.”

Jannik Sinner: “Honestly, was a great experience. I was not a big fan in the beginning. But when you are there and playing and seeing other matches play, it was so fun. To be packed stadium before the main event, it's great. There was no better ending, I would say, especially for the first edition of this, that an amateur wins.”

Jasmine Paolini: “It was great. Great, great event. I think it's so good. It's good to have also one serve for us professionals, because you are shaking a little bit. You don't know how the other one is going to play, because if you play too slow, trying to put the ball in, the other one can attack you, and you lost a point.”

But there were plenty of serious questions, too. Iga Swiatek was asked about whether winning a career Grand Slam is at the forefront of her mind.

“I think you guys are thinking more about it. No, I mean, honestly, since the beginning of the year, there are many people coming to me and talking to me about it," the world No.2 said. "I'm really just focusing on day-by-day work. This is how it's always been for me. This is how I actually was able to achieve the success that I already have, just focusing really on grinding, match by match. This is not my clear goal that I wake up with.”

Coco Gauff spoke about how she copes with the pressure of a Grand Slam event.

“Every Grand Slam you want to perform and do your best, and you want to take advantage of the moment now, because tomorrow isn't promised," she said.

"It’s a fine line of playing like your life depends on it, but also not playing like your life depends on it. I try to give it my all, and when I leave the court, just knowing I gave it my all, and regardless of results, I still have things I can look forward to.

"I think at the beginning of my career I wrapped myself too much into the results of part of my identity. I no longer do that. I still get disappointed, but it doesn't change the way I view myself."

Of course, Madison Keys was asked about how it is to return as defending champion.

"It's really just incredible to walk around. It's really just kind of a pinch-me moment where you dream of being a Grand Slam champion when you're a little girl, then being able to come back," she explained.

"There's a really cool photo of me holding the trophy. Getting to see those, it's something you dream of in your career. Then being able to experience it is really fun."

But just because Keys has won a Slam, that doesn't mean she's going to rest on her laurels.

"One of my big goals this year is to kind of force myself to be a little bit uncomfortable on court and try to actually implement some of the things we're working on, as uncomfortable as those are in those big moments."

Stefanos Tsitsipas went deep when asked about his struggles physically with his back and mentally last year.

"It affects you always. Spinal injuries scientifically are proven that they affect the brain too. You can look it up," he said.

"I've done a lot of research on it. Spinal injuries are not funny at all. The spine in general is the most sensitive area of your body, so if that's affected, it can really have an effect on you mentally too.

"I feel like if you don't have a healthy mind, it affects your mind, and if you don't have a healthy mind, also physically you're struggling. Your body starts collapsing too when you are mentally not well. Especially when you're an athlete of that caliber, where you need to be consistent in your work day in and day out, and you have to show up on court every day fresh and with a willingness to, like, be ready to sacrifice a lot of things in order to make your dream come true, these types of things have a serious, massive effect on your everyday life.

"Seeing myself in a situation like that, honestly, I reached a point where I don't even prioritise results anymore. I don't even care about results. Results don't even matter to me. What matters is training properly and not feeling pain and not being bothered by anything."

Aryna Sabalenka spoke about her desire to be more than just someone who hits tennis balls for a living.

"I always wanted to be something bigger than just a tennis player. I always wanted to be inspiration for the next generation and be example of a great athlete who can balance things around."

One of the weirdest stats on tour, is Daniil Medvedev winning 22 titles in 22 cities. He now has a new goal:

"But now my goal is to win a second title somewhere in the city where I already won. It's a clear goal. I'm saying it out loud. I'm not sure how to achieve it, but I'm going to do my best to try to do it," the three-time Australian Open finalist said.

"Here we're in Melbourne, so I hope to get to 23 before I get a second somewhere."

Despite probing, Carlos Alcaraz wasn't giving much away regarding his coaching changes.

"Well, it is something we just decide. You know, I think chapter of life that is a time that has to be end. We decided like this," he said.

"I got to say that I'm really grateful for this seven years I've been with Juan Carlos. I learned a lot. Probably thanks to him I'm the player that I am right now."

Jannik Sinner may be arguably the best player in the world, but admitted he still needs to make changes to his game.

"We worked a lot on trying to make the transition to the net. The serve we change a couple of things. But all small details. When you are at the top level, there are the small details make the difference," shared Sinner, who is aiming for a three-peat in Melbourne.

Alex De Minaur feels right at home in Melbourne after 10 years of Australian Opens, despite not spending a lot of time in Australia generally.

"You do start to become a lot more familiar. It feels like home. The first couple years you're a little bit lost, not really knowing the kind of areas you like within the site, where you kind of feel comfortable.

"But it just feels great to be back. It feels like home. I've been here now 10 years. I've had the same locker since the first day I've been here. So all these types of things just make it a whole lot easier."

Stan Wawrinka was asked how hard it was to come to the conclusion this will be his last season.

"End of last year, between October, November, December, that I had things in my mind. I think during last year I didn't know. I wanted to keep going, that's for sure. I was happy playing. And I'm still," he said.

"But suddenly I find out that it was quite clear that next year should be my last year. It was not at all a hard decision. It was quite easy. I'm super happy with this decision. I'm at peace with that.

"I'm looking forward for the year. One year of tennis, it's a lot of tennis, it's really long, and not getting younger. I'm still passionate about the game. I'm still fully focused into it. That's the way I felt it was the right way."