Saturday, March 15, 2025

Asia Muhammad

Demi Schuurs

Press Conference

MUHAMMAD-SCHUURS/Mihalikova-Nicholls

6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Ladies, congratulations. Can you each give your thoughts on your performance here?

DEMI SCHUURS: Yeah, I think after the match, it shows us how emotional we were. It's a big win, it's a big event. A final is a final, so I think you saw that all of us were quite nervous. The level was maybe not as great as the other matches, but at the end we won.

I think we were very happy. We had an unbelievable tournament. If you see who we beat in all of those matches, I think that's a great sign. We lost just one set against the best team in the world.

Yeah, I think this is a big win for us.

ASIA MUHAMMAD: Yeah, I agree what Demi said. I think today was tough. We obviously really wanted to win, and I think we did a really good job trying to stay positive and keep up our communication, because that's what we have been doing really well this week.

I think in the end that helped us a lot today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations to you both. Demi, how did Asia finally help you play better at Indian Wells?

DEMI SCHUURS: I think it's just a vibe. I think in general we have a great vibe. Chemistry was very well this week, good energy. I know she always played well here, and I think she showed that from the first match.

I start playing better and better, and at one point of course you get confidence if you beat those teams, so I think that's the big thing that helped me a lot.

Q. What was the origin of your partnership? Who asked who when? How did you guys get together?

DEMI SCHUURS: That was actually last year. Of course you see a lot of switches, especially the end of the year. Yeah, you see like, okay, with your team you're going to see, okay, who is going to match me? Personality-wise, tennis-wise?

Asia was on my list, so I think I wrote her last year, and she told me that she's gonna talk with her team. At one point we decided to start the season.

Of course usually you have the plan to finish the season, as well. Unfortunately you see a lot of switches already this year, which I don't mind at all (smiling).

But, yeah, I think that's how it was. Since last year, we talked, and we committed for this season, at least.

Q. What's your niece's name?

DEMI SCHUURS: Oh, her name is Pippa. Yeah, so I was saying in my speech, I call her my lucky charm, but we call every day. Of course she cannot talk, but I tell myself that she's saying things to me. (Laughter.)

Q. Second 1000 you guys have played and you already have a title. How do you explain what's actually clicking on the court that makes you play so well?

ASIA MUHAMMAD: You know, I think we're just starting to play a lot better. We know what we want to do on court, and we're making sure we play our game. We're making sure we have really good energy and just communicating.

I mean, in doubles it's so important to communicate. I feel like I keep saying that, but I think we are doing a really good job with that and it's helping us get over the hurdles at difficult times in the match.

Q. Asia, what did it mean for you to break the top 10?

ASIA MUHAMMAD: It was emotional. Last year I decided to stop playing singles and just give it my all in doubles. Obviously you want to see some kind of proof on paper that, you know, you made the right decision.

So it was really nice when that happened, because I felt good about my decision to stop playing tennis and just focus on doubles.

Yeah, I want to keep moving up in the rankings, but it made me really happy.

Q. Can you guys take me through the last two points? Demi, your volley that made it 6-4, and then how did it feel to seal it with an ace like that?

DEMI SCHUURS: Yeah, actually, I don't know what happened there. I remember the point. It was like unbelievable point, and I think we just poached on the second serve?

ASIA MUHAMMAD: You did, yeah.

DEMI SCHUURS: We decided to poach on the second serve. It's tricky, I know, but I think we have learned also from the past if you're not aggressive enough, you're going to lose those points.

It actually happened already a few times in the second set where we could be 5-3 up, and we were playing not that aggressive, at least I was not.

So, yeah, I think that was a really good play. Then Asia finished it with the ace, which she also did in the semis. Yeah, that was just too good, I guess (smiling).

Yeah, we took it in our hands, and I think that's when you deserve it.

ASIA MUHAMMAD: Yeah, I think too, like, your volley, it helped me going into the serve too. We were up a few more points, but, I mean, it's a really tough moment. For her to be really brave on a second serve and poach, I think that's what helped. That's what paid off.

Then for my serve, I went up there and just really wanted to hit my spot and set her up at the net, and it ended up not coming back. It worked out.