The Frenchman did not hide his joy after signing the best performance of his career by dropping the seed 2.
At the Accor Arena,
On the scenario of the match
“It’s pretty crazy. I had a tough match yesterday (against Ruud in the first round on Monday, editor’s note), physically it was not easy, I struggled to recover. Then I tensed up at the end of the second set as I finished. I tried to evacuate to restart. It was very hard during the second set, I was a little stressed and tired. I had to finish the game. I went through all the states, but I gave everything until the last point, I tried to serve well, and I took my chance, I was opportunist. Mentally, it’s a great victory, I was very strong and that’s what I’m proud of. The adventure goes on.”
On his physical condition
“Physically, I’m dead and without energy, but I’m delighted, very proud of myself. I started cramping at the start of the third set. But I’m super happy, super proud of the match I played against one of the best players in the world. During my match yesterday (1er turn against Ruud), I still drew on my reserves. I felt, from the start, that it was going to be hard physically. I didn’t know until when. I played without questioning myself and adding intensity. After 2 hours 40 minutes it was starting to get tough. I started cramping at the start of the third. ”
On the match point refused by the referee
“I was laughing out loud. Since the start of the third set, I was on one leg. I was like, ‘How long is this going to last?’ Then I said to myself that it was not serious and I refocused well. I’ve been laughing for a while. I said to myself “this is huge”. I took pleasure, I said to myself: I’m here. The point, I try my luck and I say to myself: it’s huge, until when will this match continue? But hey, I was ready very quickly to tell myself that it was possible that she was fault and to concentrate on the next point but, yes, I found that funny. “
About Tsitsipas
“He’s a player I’ve known for a very long time. We played each other once in junior. I may see it differently. I know where he came from. I know he has had very good results recently. He has been showing it for 2 or 3 years now. I’m glad I won against him. It had been a while since I wanted to play it again. We saw each other at the tournaments. I was not far from facing it. It didn’t happen. I’m glad I did it here and especially this way. ”
His almost invincibility in the tie-breaks
“For the ends of the set and the tie-breaks, I manage to mobilize myself, to increase my level of concentration, my level of requirement and then I try to play point by point each time, without thinking about the score. I got caught up a bit in the second set, when I was leading 6-3. It was hard at the end of the second, when I came back to the chair, but I wasn’t allowed to listen to myself, I wasn’t allowed to just lower my arms. Very quickly, I managed to re-mobilize myself on the third. Very quickly, I managed to be an opportunist, I said to myself: maybe now is the right time, maybe he will start to decline and think that he missed his chance, etc.
Herpre-match preparation
“I always listen to music before games. I also like reading a lot, it allows me to escape a bit, I do that and as soon as I have to get into the game more, I listen to music; I often listen to the same songs, rock, rock & roll, stuff that just motivates me. ”
