Honestly, it’s a day I won’t forget, that’s for sure. Today I followed Quentin (Halis, Ed.) match Kudos to him for the win as it allowed me to relax a bit for tonight’s match. But very happy with the performance. It was not an easy match. I’m pretty good on fast surfaces so I tried to stay focused, I took my chance in the tiebreak and it went my way.
ATP Finals: “Childhood Dream”
What does this ATP Finals qualification mean to you?
It’s a childhood dream. Master is a childhood dream. I am very, very happy to be able to participate this year. I hope to be able to compete often, every year, but I’m very, very happy to qualify this year and I’m just going to enjoy it.
This is a special tournament…
It’s true, it’s a tournament I’m not used to. But it’s a good experience. With the format, even if you lose the first game, nothing is decided. So I guess at least there’s less pressure.
Are you talking about a special day? Were you torn between a joy you couldn’t yet taste and focusing on your date?
Well, I still tasted it, I was quite happy, I celebrated well. I’m still in the draw here, but when I’m done, I think we’ll go out for a nice dinner. But I had to stay focused on my match tonight. It was an important appointment for me. And that was fine, I was fine with it.
You took off your headphones while walking in court…
I took my headphones off and I never do that. It was just to feel this atmosphere, this atmosphere. I got goose bumps. This greeting really made me happy.
How do you feel physically?
What do you think? Very good. Everything is fine, the body feels fine. There are still two tournaments left (Rolex Paris Masters and ATP Finals, Ed.)we push one last time and then the season will be over.
Taylor Fritz, “a very, very great test”
Taylor Fritz in the next round.
Not easy, really, really not easy. I looked at him today. He played very, very well against Molkan (6-7 (6), 7-5, 7-6 (5), Ed.)so it’s going to be a very, very big test for me. I am going to court, I think I have nothing to lose. I’m home, I’ll go for it.
Several players incl Novak Djokovicsaid it was the fastest surface of the season. How do you see your game on the fast courts, given that your best results came earlier on clay?
Admittedly, it really makes a difference to my game. Then, as we saw today, I served very, very well. I’m quite dynamic on my feet, I manage to move well, so that’s rather an advantage on a very fast surface like this. I have to come a little bit further, try to come back a little bit better, but so far it’s still pretty positive.
Many great seeds fell today. How did you see it and how does it change the rest of the tournament?
Not much changes, but admittedly, the day was pretty amazing. Many big names were lost today. We joked a bit with the team, we said it can’t go on with me. I was relieved to see Carlos (Alcaraz, who beat Alex Michelsen 7-6 (4), 6-3, Ed.) to win We said to ourselves. “Okay, no, it’s okay.”