“What do you think was missing in the tie-break of the third set to win this match (defeat 6-4, 6-7 [3]7-6 [5]) ?
It came down to next to nothing. I’ll have to wait a little longer, be patient a little longer. But I believe in the process, I have to continue what I do well, continue in the same state of mind, and I’m sure that will smile on me one day or another. It really came down to nothing, I have nothing to regret, it was a fabulous match, I had a crazy time. Honestly, it’s one of the best atmospheres I’ve experienced. And so, it was fantastic. What makes me saddest is not being able to give victory to everyone who supported me. They pushed me to the end and that’s the regret I have.
What do you think this match was about?
Already, I’m exhausted after an hour and a half. I went out on the court and felt unwell. I really pushed through my effort, I have nothing to regret. When you finish in that state, it’s just that I gave the best of myself, it didn’t come down to much so congratulations to him. I came off the court, my breath was completely gone and my eyes were starting to close. I told Jérémy: “I have to lie down and lift my legs because I’m going to leave. » Then the doctor came, I drank some coke and had to lie down for 10 minutes. It happens to me from time to time. Everything came down suddenly, I was in a bit of a trance-like state during the match, I gave a lot of myself, I experienced it a bit to the fullest so I think it’s normal.
“I feel like I have the level to win this kind of event”
How did you feel after eleven missed break points, then when the twelfth finally proved to be the right one?
I had chances, maybe sometimes I lacked a little aggression. He served well. There are a few from memory where I didn’t play well, where I lacked intention, aggression, that’s what I lacked. And then when I made the break at 5-4, I entered a kind of bubble, a sphere and I felt really good. Jérémy (Chardy, his coach) gave me a lot of strength. And then I managed to stay quite calm until the end, playing really point by point. I felt a lot more comfortable, I felt like I needed to do one to feel better.
We can imagine the disappointment, but we don’t feel that touched. Is it precisely because you manage to retain the pleasure of this match?
It was a great match, I would have preferred to win of course. But the only regret is that I couldn’t offer victory to the public. In terms of how I played, I still did more good things than bad. For a year, I’ve been giving my all every day, I have nothing to regret, I have to continue and one day it will pass, I will be able to win this kind of match. I feel like I have the level to win these kinds of events.
At the start of the week, you talked about your desire to play in Metz next week. Do you have any energy left to go there (he arrived in the press room in a sock)?
It’s easier when it’s at home, that’s for sure. That’s the only thing I miss this year, not having won a title. This will be my last challenge, I will give my all to try to achieve it.
Do you feel that you are getting closer to these players, perhaps to a top 15, a top 10?
I’m not that far away. Already, I’m going to be at my best ranking, I think, next week (22nd in the race currently, when his best ranking was 25th in 2021). What makes me feel good is being able to play these players regularly for a few weeks. I’m starting to get used to the intensity, the level of play, what I have to produce on the pitch to beat this type of player. So yes, I feel like I’m getting closer. I haven’t been playing at this level for so long, putting this investment into matches, this commitment. But I tell myself that if I continue, at some point, it will pass. »
