Pavlyuchenkova: "This year, I'm having fun with the idea of being too old".

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova qualified for the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday, defeating Donna Vekic in straight sets (7-6, 6-0).

The 33-year-old Russian will be playing for the fourth time in her career at this stage of the competition in Melbourne, and it will be against world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

In the press conference, she was asked about her signature on the camera after her victory, where she had written 'Too old but still here!': "This year, I'm having fun with signatures and the idea of being 'too old'. Some of that is true.

But the question should be put to the younger players, because I'm still here and in the quarter-finals. It would be better to ask them why I'm still here and why I keep winning."

Pavlyuchenkova will therefore be full of confidence for her quarter-final against Sabalenka, a player against whom she leads in head-to-head meetings (2 wins to 1), although their last match dates back to 2021 :

"I'm not thinking about my record against her, I wasn't even aware of it. That was a while ago, she's a completely different player now.

I hope I can play great tennis and match her power. Whatever happens, I have no pressure in this tournament."