Player press at Australian Open: Day 1

Angelique kerber cast back to her own 2016 first round victory over Misaki Doi during Monday night’s epic win over Tsurenko…

“There was one moment when I was sitting on the bench. I remember the match from last year. It was the opposite actually. I was down the match point. Here I was up the match point. I came to the third set.

“But it was just really a short moment that I was thinking about the match.”

Home favourite Nick Kyrgios cruised into the second round where he will meet Andreas Seppi, most likely on his beloved Hisense.

“Seppi is one of the guys I always liked to watch when I was a younger kid. I don’t really care where we play. I don’t think it will be Court 19. I think people will want to watch that match. At the end of the day, I kind of bring the crowds. It will be Hisense.”

16-year-old teenager Destanee Aiava is adamant she’ll be back at Melbourne Park after her promising debut.

“This isn’t the first and the last time I’m going to be here. There’s plenty more to come.”

Roger Federer relished being back on Rod Laver Arena after his injury lay-off.

“It was a special moment walking out on the court. Match point, when you get to match point, when you win the match point. I think those three components make it special when you’re coming back.”

27th seed and Aussie Bernard Tomic insists the best is yet to come having dispatched Thomaz Bellucci in straight sets.

“Didn’t play that well. I played probably 60, 70%. But just shows you how capable I am of playing well.”

Venus Williams isn’t messing around…

“My own mentality is that I don’t play for second. Just like every player here, I have put in a ton of work. I’m not coming all the way to Australia for kicks and giggles. I’m here as a competitor.”

Alex De Minaur is an Aussie teen sensation having saved match point to prevail past Gerald Melzer.

“Words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now. Definitely the happiest moment of my life.”

Andy Murray claims life as No.1 “sunk in” after clinching the ATP World Tour Finals in London back in November.

“I spent a lot of time at home with friends and family, you know, catching up with the people that have obviously been friends with me for a long time. You know, when you chat to them about it, that’s kind of when it starts to sink in.

“But now it doesn’t feel too much different. But I definitely really, really enjoyed my time off at the end of last year because it took a lot out of me, but it was worth it.”