“How did you find the resources to impose yourself?
Physically it was a little harder today (Thursday). I knew it was going to be a little more complicated. My first two matches were not easy. I tried to find the resources, especially mentally. I believed in it from start to finish. Even when I lose the second, I tell myself that I have to trust myself: I can do it, I will try to find solutions.
I couldn’t turn back. I said to myself: if I want to break him, we must at least play so I stepped back a bit. I felt him at times a little more feverish. I took my chance, I managed to break at the right time. I did not doubt when concluding. I am very confident, I try to be relaxed in the service. I held on well with my service, it’s positive. And mentally I was still very good today.
You found a lot of looseness late in the game …
I couldn’t get through a strike. The head wanted but the legs did not follow. As he plays very low, long enough, I had a hard time relaxing, I was trying to control too much. On the third set, I stepped back a bit and trusted myself: go ahead, let go. I knew there were a few things that I could tell the difference.
“I don’t put myself under pressure on the result, I don’t have too many expectations on it. I just try to progress, to look for things in myself ”
You are in the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 for the first time in your career. What do you feel ?
It’s great, it’s great. In Rome, I was not that far away. I am very happy. After that, it is not an end in itself. I do not put pressure on the result, I do not have too many expectations on it. I just try to progress, to look for things in myself. I am really very happy.
You’ve pulled out a lot physically since the start of the week. Do you feel ready before you challenge Milos Raonic on Friday?
I am physically affected. I played long matches. We must recover. I don’t worry about that, it doesn’t really worry me, I know I’m able to recover pretty quickly. Already, I did not expect to be so good today. At the end of my match against Tsitsipas, I was really not well yesterday (Wednesday) either. And there it was already better. The energy was not there, but muscular it was better.
What does this tournament represent for you?
I have two great memories: the first time I came here I saw the Nalbandian-Nadal final (2007). It was one of my first tennis matches, I was very young (9 years old). And then of course the victory of Jo (Tsonga, in 2008) that I had followed all week on TV. “
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