00:00Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30Happy to be in the next round
00:31What were you most pleased with, apart from the consistency?
00:34Yeah, I think just, you know, the mindset
00:40The serving I thought was quite good
00:42Something that definitely helped me out
00:44I knew, you know, he was playing with a lot of confidence
00:47Coming through qualifying and winning some great matches
00:51So I was ready for a battle
00:53And it was quite a quick turnaround from Hamburg
00:56Which was kind of cold and rainy to coming here
01:00Where it's very hot and lively
01:03So I'm very happy with the way I adapted
01:07I did what I needed to do
01:08And on to the next one
01:12Alex, there was some big news overnight
01:14About Australian tennis with a new boss
01:19Who is apparently, you know better than I
01:23Has been revolutionised rugby league in Australia
01:27What do you think about him coming on board
01:31With Tennis Australia?
01:35Yeah, look, as you said
01:37It's new news, right?
01:39It's something that's come overnight
01:42I don't know him personally
01:44I'm sure I would love to, you know, get to know him
01:49And kind of learn a little bit more about what he's keen to do
01:57Or what his vision is for Tennis Australia
01:59Of course, we've had Craig for a long time
02:05Who I thought did an incredible job
02:07And yeah, I think, you know, Tennis Australia
02:12Is a really strong federation
02:15And, you know, we've got capabilities to do a lot
02:21And I think in the whole performance space
02:24We've done a pretty good job over the last couple of years
02:29About, you know, showing strength in numbers
02:31Especially in the men's side, in the top 100
02:34And yeah, I think there's definitely places we can grow
02:39And I'm excited to see what's, yeah
02:44Well, what the vision is going to be
02:46Hi Alex
02:47How does these conditions
02:50How do these conditions change the way you see your game on the surface?
02:54Is it, I'm guessing it's pretty helpful for you
02:56Yeah, look, it's quite funny
02:59Because last week Hamburg was slow, heavy, rainy
03:05The ball was not moving anywhere
03:07And that's exactly the week that got me out of the slump, right?
03:11In theory, my toughest conditions
03:14And so last week gave me a heap of confidence
03:19I felt like I got my mojo back
03:21It was a critical week for me
03:25Obviously going now into these conditions
03:28It is a little bit to adapt
03:30Because I haven't had as much time as I would like
03:32But I've always preferred hot and lively conditions
03:36Especially on a clay court
03:38Because I feel like I can bring a little bit more of
03:41You know, my all-court tennis on this type of surface
03:45I can, it's easier to be a little bit more aggressive
03:49To, you know, the ball's jumping
03:52I don't necessarily have to use as much, you know, spin or heaviness
03:57And I can let the conditions do the job for me
04:02So, yeah
04:04And also it's quite physical, right?
04:06So I don't mind the heat
04:09Alex, I'm curious how you found it to face Toby
04:11I don't think he'd ever even played someone in the top 100 before
04:14And I'm sure you can remember your first slam appearance
04:16So how did it feel on the court against him?
04:19Yeah, look, I think he, you know, wanted to give him credit for
04:25Obviously qualifying here at the French Open
04:28Which is one of the toughest tasks, I would say, on tour
04:32And he obviously played some incredible tennis
04:35And, yeah, he, it was a battle
04:38It was a physical battle
04:39The first two sets was just a break here and there
04:43He got up to an early break in the second set
04:46And I really had to dig deep
04:48And, look, I'm sure there's going to be many more opportunities for him
04:53But he's, yeah, he's got lots of weapons
04:59And I think he can be a dangerous spy
05:04Hi Alex
05:05I'm trying to understand more about the movement of sliding
05:09Do you remember as a child, like, learning the mechanics of it?
05:13And, obviously, it may now be natural to you
05:16But can you kind of break that down for us?
05:19Yeah, I think on a clay court
05:23It's, you probably, yeah, you learn the mechanics a little bit more
05:29And as a kid, I generally, when I grew up, I had big feet, right?
05:37And I was quite uncoordinated
05:39So I did a lot of hours on footwork technique
05:44And, you know, whether it was movement or kind of sliding technique
05:49And just doing my best to make sure that I was balanced
05:53So I did a lot of hours on that
05:55And, you know, thankfully, as I got a little bit older
05:58I grew into my body and it all kind of clicked together
06:01And I think it's probably the reason why I'm able to move the way that I do now
06:08Sliding on a clay court and a hard court is quite different
06:11I feel like on a hard court, you've just got to trust yourself
06:16And, ultimately, just if you go with enough speed
06:20I'm sure you'll put in a proper slide
06:23Next round, you've got a guy who you had quite a tussle with last time
06:31He's one of the rising stars, really
06:34Can you run us through your thoughts on what you're going to face?
06:38Yeah, Alexander Block, he's, as you said, one of the young talents
06:43He's been playing some really good tennis
06:45We had a battle in Monaco where, before that, he beat some quality players
06:52And he backed it up week after week
06:55In Madrid and in Rome, had some really good tournaments
06:59Playing some good tennis
07:01So he's a big kid, big serve, big forehand
07:05Dangerous player
07:08And, yeah, it's going to be a battle, right?
07:11In this heat, my goal is going to be to make it physical
07:15Extend rallies
07:16I think we both learned a lot from the first match
07:19And we'll see who gets on top
07:22But, as I said, I feel good
07:25I feel happy with the way I'm playing
07:28And I'm excited for the challenge
07:33Alex, what is your mindset when you go into majors these days?
07:39Are you targeting something in particular?
07:43Confidence levels, et cetera
07:45And how has it differed from the early days when you're still new
07:51And you still, you know, haven't had the full experience of playing majors?
07:57Yeah, I think it's kind of natural
08:00I've been, in a way, fortunate that
08:04Now, I guess my goals and expectations
08:07Kind of are different to what they were
08:10When I first started
08:11At the start of my career
08:15It was all about, you know, trying to win a match
08:18And, you know, you'd be over the moon for getting through your first round
08:22And that would be almost like
08:24You get to the next round and a little bit of a letdown
08:28And I feel like over the years
08:30I've understood that
08:33My goal as a tennis player
08:37And, you know, in these types of events
08:41Is to do my best to keep my head down
08:43And get through matches, right?
08:48Doesn't need to be pretty
08:50Doesn't need to be the most amazing matches
08:52As long as I can keep getting through these types of matches and rounds
08:56They all accumulate
08:58And they all add incredible kind of confidence
09:02And I feel like I'm a player that plays better as the tournament goes on
09:06So I become, at the same time, more dangerous as the tournament kind of goes along
09:13So for me, that's the goal
09:16Nothing about looking ahead
09:19I'm focused on day by day
09:21And, you know, the match in front of me
09:23And just finding a way to get through
09:26Thank you
09:27Thank you guys
09:28Thank you
Commentaires