00:00Yeah, a tricky match. That's the least I can say. You live through everything. I mean,
00:14I lived through everything this match. I think it was a very challenging match for me on
00:20so many different levels. When I look from my physicality to the way that I felt after
00:28the first couple of sets, anything could have happened. I think the steal of that second
00:35set really helped me to keep on believing, to keep on trusting in my game and in my body.
00:43I think after the first couple of sets he started playing amazing. There's not much
00:48else I could have done, I felt, so I had to pull the reins back a little bit and wait
00:53for an opportunity. I knew eventually I might get one throughout the fourth and the fifth.
01:01It happened in the fifth, so I think that was the big difference today. After that I
01:06ran with the match, but it was very challenging. We both knew what was going to happen in a
01:14way on a few big points. In a way, it could have also gone either way, but I was just
01:21very happy how I stuck with my game and really also stepped up my game where I really needed
01:27the most.
01:28Thank you. Name and affiliation, one question each.
01:30Congratulations, it's Charlie Eccleshire from The Athletic. You've spoken about the importance
01:38of preparation and recovery and all of that. I just wondered how much confidence that gives
01:42you going into these matches, knowing you've done all of that so well, and also just how
01:47tough it is playing a good friend like Conte?
01:51I think I'll start with the good friend part. I think it's never easy. Whoever that I'm
01:57kind of close to on tour, it always adds up to the occasion. Of course, we're professionals
02:03and we know what's at stake, but today was, I think, a match where I knew I could count
02:14on a lot of things in my game. In a way, I knew what I had to do a little bit better
02:19than last time I played him. The past, I'd say, four weeks have been also a bit challenging
02:26for me physically because I wasn't really able to do certain things that I usually do
02:32before a slam. I put a question mark on myself. But leading up to the Open, I was kind of
02:45increasing the load of my body, the way I was practising, the hours I was putting in.
02:51I really had to pace myself in a very different way than I've ever paced myself. That's why
02:57I'm saying here's the experience of things for me that I think really pushed me over
03:03the line. Of course, I'm building my game even more. I still believe I can step up a
03:12notch and play a better game.
03:15You cracked the top 10 this year. You made the quarters in Paris and you're making the
03:23quarters here at the US Open. What's the secret behind this resurgence this year, particularly
03:28while you're in your 30s?
03:30There's no secret. I mean, there's no secret, there's no shortcuts either, let me tell you
03:36that much, even if I've tried. But no, I don't know. I think consistency over the course
03:42of one's career. The one thing is that I never quit. I never stopped working. I never
03:51stopped believing. Of course, I had my doubtful moments on so many levels. But I think once
03:57you win those little battles with yourself, it kind of propels you to do something better,
04:04to be aware of the opportunities that come around. That's why I always say you always
04:08got to be ready for whatever comes on your way. In a way, it's not just tennis. I think
04:15it's everything. I never shied away of that, of the work that I had to put in. I always
04:20wanted to improve. Then I never looked also on age, anyway. I keep on playing. I'm here
04:33and the body is holding up. The game, I think, is improving. I still feel like there's quite
04:39a bit more to squeeze out of myself in order to maybe not only play better, but win bigger
04:45events and keep the dream alive.
04:48Reem.
04:49Hi, Gregor. Reem from The National, congrats. Gregor, in the last couple of years, any conversations
04:55we've had with you, you say a lot that enjoying tennis more, enjoying the whole experience
05:00and you're very appreciative. It's easier said than done for so many people. I'm wondering
05:05for you, is there anything that's helped you shift your perspective to go from maybe seeing
05:12the pressures and things to being able to enjoy it more?
05:15Yeah, life experience. Yeah, life experience. I don't know. I think it's also not easy.
05:27I still have my bad days, but now I kind of let them in. I don't force things as I used
05:37to force before. Maybe that's, I think, one of the part of growing up, I think, on so
05:45many different levels, not just for the sport, but I think for yourself. There were some
05:50very difficult decisions I had to make for myself because I wanted to not only to be
05:55better on the court, but also off the court. So I started, I mean, I've always been very
06:00accountable of my own actions, but then I had to find a different way to handle certain
06:08things. Let me just put it that way. I mean, there's no point for me to elaborate more
06:12on that, but it's just you live and learn. I think that's also the maturity that I have
06:21had on and off the court that really, I think, helped me. I also have a great team, great
06:29family, great close people, and they don't shy away to tell me the truth. So I think
06:35that helps as well. I mean, I just want to live my dream. That's all I'm doing right
06:42now. I think tennis, overall, it's just a moment. We have a window. I mean, I'm 15 years
06:49on tour and it feels like it just went very quick, and it still goes. It goes quicker
06:53and quicker every single year because, let's face it, I'm more closer to the end than the
06:58beginning. So that makes you appreciate even more the times that you get to do that and
07:03winning those matches at that point now, and all the mental battles that you need to win
07:08first within yourself, and then things are easier outside.
07:16We don't know for sure, of course, who you're playing next, but if you could take each one
07:20individually, maybe starting with Francis, somebody you've played a few times, but mostly
07:25long ago, how would you describe what Francis is like right now and what your expectations
07:31are for that match?
07:36For me, it's another match. I mean, clearly he's been playing a great tennis here, built
07:41off, I think, a great confidence the past, I think, three weeks, playing well in Cincinnati,
07:48winning some great matches out here. So, of course, I mean, either one of them is very
07:52dangerous players. That's just how it is. I actually lost to Popper three weeks ago,
07:58had a couple of match points. He comes off from winning Montreal, beating Novak here.
08:06So there's just, I think, both players are on a very high level right now, just however
08:11I look at it. But so am I. I'm just going to focus on my side of the net and look to
08:22increase my game. I feel like I also can play better. So, on that sense, I mean, it's another
08:34tough match ahead.
08:36We have time for one more, Bill.
08:40Congratulations. Obviously, we have such an incredible sport, incredible game, and a few
08:47people have the blessing, the opportunity of having a 15-year career. Could you take
08:53a minute and just what would you say the two or three things in tennis that have changed
09:00over your career?
09:01In tennis?
09:02In the sport of tennis, yes.
09:04The players?
09:05For a start.
09:08That's a good question. Never thought about that. I think tennis overall has changed.
09:17I think I'll start probably with this because, I mean, the game that used to be played back
09:22then, it was just different. Maybe like, let's say, a little bit more slower times. The players
09:31were... You had a different diversity of players overall. Yeah, I mean, I would say
09:42that's, for me personally, that's going to be the biggest difference. I mean, I think
09:49when you're in it, when you're still in it, it's very difficult to be objective, to kind
09:53of see what... Have an overview on that. The only thing I can be extremely judgmental
10:01with is the players. I mean, I've seen quite a few generations of players. Everything is
10:08such a fast pace nowadays and everyone is doing their thing, bigger, stronger. So yeah,
10:19I mean, overall tennis has changed. I cannot pinpoint the other two. Maybe ask me this
10:25question in five, six years, maybe I'll be able to answer it better.
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