00:03Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30She's played semis here so she knows what she's doing on the courts and although her form maybe isn't at
00:37her best at the moment, I feel like that first set, she really didn't miss a forehand.
00:42She played excellent tennis and of course I wasn't on my best but we're talking about two players that maybe
00:47aren't on the best form generally speaking so it is difficult to find that when I'm experiencing my first main
00:54draw here.
00:56I think I'm not one to take my own trumpet but I do say that I am a mentality monster
01:03in many ways and I think in these moments I either find that or you're done and dusted against these
01:11players, you've got no chance to get back in.
01:13So I just tried to make it very uncomfortable for her and every point mattered.
01:22Fran, there was a lovely moment where you celebrated with your mum and dad. Can you just give us an
01:26insight into the sacrifices they've made for you and the time you spent away from them?
01:31Because it looked like a real family team moment that you celebrate.
01:36Yeah, normally I'm one to say you shouldn't cry until the tournament's over but I think everything I've been through
01:43this year, it's really been challenging and I think really tough for my parents throughout the whole concussion process and
01:52all of that, they've been on the other side of the world.
01:56Obviously I can't speak much about it but it was in the US so it's tough for them, different time
02:00zones, calling from hospitals and not understanding bloody American medical insurance shite.
02:10So it was a real challenge and I think they've suffered with me, even from a distance.
02:17Of course, you can look at the bigger picture but truly the emotion for me isn't about the bigger picture,
02:23it's much more about how tough this year has been.
02:27So yeah, I lost a bad match in Rabat this week as well so to find a way back today
02:35in the same week, that's not an easy ask and I'm just glad that I dug deep.
02:44Fran, first of all just, you had quite a long hug with Beatrice at the net and I'm wondering what
02:48was maybe being said in that embrace and whether there was a particular relationship between you two and I also
02:52just want to ask you about having lost six first round Grand Slams before to get over the line, were
02:57you conscious of that at all, that you've been here before and there was a grit to not let it
03:01slip again?
03:02Has it been six, has it?
03:04I think that's six.
03:05Yeah, that's seven.
03:08Yeah, I retired in Australia, we don't count that one.
03:10Okay.
03:10It was a bad injury.
03:11Five.
03:11Five, let's stay to five.
03:13Clearly it wasn't on your mind.
03:14No.
03:17No, I mean, first the question around Bia, Bia's probably one of my biggest fans so she's one of the
03:27players that texts me when I do well and there's no secret I've spent a lot of time in South
03:32America and she's actually coached now by someone who I will refer to as kind of like my uncle.
03:40He was with me at my second Wimbledon and throughout that 24 grass season and I speak to him every
03:49week.
03:50And so, yeah, there's a good relationship there with Bia, but especially with her, you know, her box in that
03:56sense.
03:58And she's a great example for everyone on tour, you know, she's a huge fighter, she gives everything she can
04:06on the match course, completely and utterly the definition of being a professional tennis player.
04:10So there's a lot of, I guess, mutual respect and, yeah, like a sort of big sister figure for me
04:19on the tour.
04:20Well, when it comes to the rest of it, was it on my mind?
04:26I think what was more on my mind wasn't necessarily the past and, you know, there's a lot of context
04:30to previous losses and first round, as I said, the injury.
04:33And then, you know, if you count 2021 Australia all the way back, it was my first ever a long
04:38time ago.
04:38So I think for me, it was more about doing it here on the clay, you know, it is my
04:45surface and I've had a tough clay season, which is, you know, difficult for me to swallow because of all
04:53of the above that we don't need to go back and talk about.
04:55So I think just to try and at least compensate a little bit means a lot from that side of
05:02things.
05:02Yeah. Fran, congrats. I know it's only the first round, but obviously seeing your emotions on the court, I just
05:09wondered how does this win rank for you in terms of looking back over the last few years?
05:15Is it one of kind of your top moments on court?
05:18Yeah, it will be a top moment on court, but there's absolutely no reason why I'll be living in the
05:23shadows in my next match at all, right?
05:25Like, I know I'm dangerous on this surface. I know I've not been in my best form, but it gives
05:30you belief.
05:33I think, of course, if we go back to the fact that I was told I couldn't play tennis, you
05:37know, when you're winning matches in the main draws of slams and beating someone that was 10 in the world,
05:44that's, you know, it kind of nips it in the bud a bit.
05:49So, of course, it's a monumental moment, but don't get me wrong, like, I'll be going after the next match.
05:59Forgive me if this sounds a bit of a Billy Elliot question, but from 2-1 down in the final
06:03set, you played five games where you barely made a mistake.
06:07What's it like? What does it feel like in your mind and your body to be able to play tennis
06:12like that at that moment?
06:17You know, I think I've often found the seesaw of how my brain works difficult to understand.
06:29I know that I have a high IQ on and off the court, and so sometimes it's difficult for me
06:35to understand that.
06:37And in those moments, it's either make or break, whether I use it to my advantage or sometimes you can
06:42see everything that I need to improve.
06:46And, you know, that can be overwhelming sort of diagrams in my head, seeing how it's all going wrong or
06:52the pathway to making it right.
06:54So I think today, thankfully, I chose the right pathway.
06:58But, you know, of course, there's moments where it's difficult to choose the right ball to hit, to accept the
07:07mistakes you're making that are the right ones as well.
07:11But, yeah, I didn't realise I barely missed a shot, to be honest.
07:14I think I was just taking it very much point by point and irrespective of the score.
07:19I found it was a pretty long match. It was really hot out there.
07:21I just wondered how pleased are you with the physical side and how well you held up?
07:26Yeah, no, definitely. I think, you know, it's, again, no secret that previously I've struggled with three sets.
07:34But, to be honest, last year and coming into this year as well, I started the year winning two back
07:40-to-back three sets against, you know, a top ten player or whatever she was ranked at that time.
07:44And then, so I think I'm gaining more confidence as three sets are happening.
07:49But, yeah, of course, with the heat, like, it's tough on us both, right?
07:53I could see how red-faced she was. I didn't even want to look at myself in the mirror if
07:58she was that red.
07:59So, yeah, of course, a huge challenge and I know a lot of the players will be finding it tough
08:04today.
08:05But it's part of tennis. You've got to find a way to deal with the conditions.
08:11So, it is what it is.
08:13Well done, Fran. You mentioned how tough you are mentally.
08:16Just wondered where you thought that came from.
08:17Is that something you've always had? Has that strengthened kind of the more adversity you faced?
08:21Yeah, of course. I mean, it's as simple as it looks, really.
08:26You go through a lot. You deal with a lot. You know how to tolerate a lot.
08:32So, it's really as black and white as that.
08:36I'd like to give you a better answer, but it is really that black and white.
08:42Fran, you're quite a positive person, but when years ago...
08:45Am I?
08:46Well, you're in terms of when you're told years ago you're never going to play tennis.
08:50Doctors are telling you you're never going to make it.
08:52And you become a tennis player and you now win a slam match.
08:55Is there a part of you that thinks, I wouldn't mind having a word with them or hope they were
08:59watching?
09:00Is there a part of you in that? I know you're probably looking forward, but...
09:02No, it speaks for itself, honestly. It speaks for itself.
09:08I hope I can do this more often and keep getting the message across more.
09:13because I know that whilst the tour respects me a lot and do a lot for me,
09:18I think that I'd like to reach more angles of the world.
09:21So, I'll keep giving it my everything to keep pushing the story ahead.
09:25But, yeah, it's...
09:27I guess I'd refer to it as a story, but ultimately it's a reality.
09:31I like to know, but one thing I'll be racetrasing, but one thing I'll be happy with the
09:34Right now I'll be surprised if you put a deck on your list.
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