“Do you feel like you returned to your best level in this match against Etcheverry?
No, but I played better than in the first two rounds, so that’s positive. I’m starting to feel better in my game and physically too. But I haven’t played at my best yet.
You have a runny nose again this (Friday) evening. How much does this affect you? Have you taken a Covid test since being in Melbourne?
I did not take a Covid test. It’s a kind of ordinary viral infection. Today it is in its final stages. I still have secretions coming out. That’s all.
“I know Federer didn’t like the way I behaved at first. I think he didn’t like it. I don’t know about the others. »
At certain moments in the match, we could see you very frustrated with certain shots. What is the plan you have in mind to change this and stay focused?
It’s not always positive talk. There are a lot of negative things in my head. It’s part of my identity. I’m sure everyone goes through moments of crisis, especially during matches where you don’t feel at your best and have doubts. The question is how to overcome these doubts, focus on the present and try to get the best out of yourself for the next point. I have an outgoing personality. I show my emotions – not always – but it happens.
When I show the bad side of my emotions, it’s ugly and it’s not something I like. I’m trying to fight my demons, like everyone else. Sometimes it works better. Other times, it’s not great. You just have to accept the circumstances, depending on how you feel about a certain opponent on the given day. Sometimes you wake up not feeling good and you start to doubt your ability to win a match or play well. These are things that you have to deal with mentally during the match.
When you arrived on the circuit, you were very expressive. There have been older players who criticized you or gave you advice. Do you remember a time when someone else was able to change your behavior?
It’s a good question. I know Federer didn’t like the way I behaved at first. I think he didn’t like it. I don’t know about the others. I think I wasn’t the preferred type of guy for some of the top players because I wasn’t afraid to say I wanted to be the best player in the world. I was confident, and I felt like I had the game to back it up. But I have never been disrespectful. Obviously, on the pitch, a lot of things can happen in the heat of the moment.
Did you try to listen to those who criticized you, or did you ignore them to stay true to yourself?
It nourished me even more. If the criticism comes for no particular reason, I continue to follow the direction I had chosen. Not everyone can like who you are, how you play, how you behave, what you talk about. It’s normal. We’re all different. As for Shelton’s confidence level, it doesn’t bother me at all. I think it’s very good. We need to believe. I completely agree. I 100% support a young player, like Prizmic did the other night against me, or Shelton, who enter the field believing in their abilities to be able to challenge the best players in the world.
It’s just that there is a kind of line, not visible, of acceptable behavior towards the other player. If a player crosses this line, it starts to get annoying. That’s when we react or we don’t react, it doesn’t matter… But I’m in favor of young players showing confidence and speaking, always with respect, to older players who are on the circuit, while having confidence in themselves and their team. »
