A first round of 16 in Masters 1000, a wild card for Roland-Garros and a return to the fight for a spot at Paris Olympic Games. Alexandre Müller had an intense week. Eighth finalist of the Masters 1000 de Rome, the Provençal offered himself his first Top 10 during his journey, Andrey Rublevbefore seeing his adventure end against the Chilean Nicolas Jarry. The performance is superb, especially considering that the 27-year-old is fighting against Crohn’s diseaseas he explained to Tennis Act end of 2023. Defeated Tuesday at Rome, Müller received a big consolation prize a few hours later: a wild card for Roland-Garros.
THE INTERVIEW Alexandre Muller with Tennis Actu
Best Frenchman outside the big picture cut, the current 109th in the world was in reality guaranteed to receive an invitation on merit. Back in the Top 100 on Monday, the warrior Müller gave an interview to Tennis Act this Thursday. The opportunity to discuss his desire to help young people suffering from the same illness, his ambitions for Roland-Garrosand the dream of Olympic Games… Eighth best Blue of the Olympic Race, the protégé of Jean-Christophe Faurel is in the running to be one of the four French people who will play the Olympic singles tournament. It will be necessary to shine Lyon next week but also at Roland-Garros. Nobody saw it coming but here he is a serious candidate for a place at Paris 2024. THE INTERVIEW Alexandre Müller.
“I will be in the final draw at Wimbledon and that puts me back in the running for the Olympics”
Alex, your superb run in Rome ended on Tuesday in eighth grade. How do you feel after this crazy week?
It was a great tournament. If you had told me before the tournament that I was going to make an eighth in Masters 1000, I would have signed straight away. Even if I’m still disappointed in the last match where I played a big server (Nicolas Jarry) and where I couldn’t express myself, it was a very good tournament. I’m back in the Top 100, I made the Wimbledon cut normally. I am very happy.
Is this a total surprise?
Totally no… I know that I play well and that I train well. Afterwards, I had never done better than second round in Masters 1000 and here I am eighth so it’s a little surprise but not a gigantic achievement.
Tell us a little about the victory against Rublev, your first success against a Top 10.
I knew there was potentially something I could do. He had been a little ill the days before. He had a big match against Giron. He is also one of the biggest warriors on the circuit. He gets angry at every point. I saw a gap but I knew it would be hard. I was stepped on at the start and I was able to correct little things and put up a big match to beat him.
Is this a milestone in your career?
It’s mostly a check box. Victory in a Top 10, it’s done. That’s great. It was mainly the points that mattered to me. Normally, I will be in the final draw at Wimbledon and that puts me back in the running for the Olympics.
Can there be a before and an after Rome?
Every week is new. That doesn’t mean I’ll play well in Lyon. I will have to stay the course and try to be in good shape over as many weeks as possible, like in Rome.
On Crohn’s disease: “I received lots of nice messages. I’m happy to talk about it, it helps”
The feat is also colossal, when we know that you have to deal with Crohn’s disease, as you explained to Tennis Actu in December. Does it reassure you to say that, even with this illness, you can really compete at the top of world tennis?
The extended Masters 1000 format gives me a day of rest and I can recover well. In Grand Slam, it’s more difficult. If in Australia I play five sets, my body has difficulty recovering with my hydration problems. There, in Masters 1000, I can recover and continue. I received lots of lovely messages. It was the week of World Inflammatory Bowel Disease Day, of which Crohn’s disease is one. It was timely. I’m happy to talk about it, it helps.
Is the symbol in the back of your mind? To show younger people who also have this disease that it is possible to experience great moments, to flourish, and to aim high?
When I stop, I plan to talk about it, give some kind of conference to help. This disease is mostly in the head. I was told at 13 to stop playing tennis. In the end, I’m doing well. All the young people who watch me and play tennis, it gives them hope and that’s great!
So you don’t regret talking about it at all?
No no, it’s part of me. It’s no excuse when I lose. It’s restrictive but I simply do my best.
Why is it important to you to get involved?
I know there are different grades. Children are in the hospital during a crisis. It’s quite touching to see young people who don’t know what’s happening to them. It’s close to my heart to help people and if I can give hope, it’s all good.
Have you been surprised by the kindness since you talked about it?
I’ve hardly seen any negative messages, it’s true. Only messages of encouragement. I’m not a star so it didn’t create a buzz either. The few people who saw the articles encouraged me.
Alexandre Müller with Tennis News at the end of 2023
2024-05-16 18:03:46
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