“How do you analyze your defeat against Borna Coric (7-6 [9]4-6, 6-3) for your return to competition?
It’s obvious that I didn’t play my best game, which can happen. Historically, this tournament has often been difficult for me. I’m sorry to have lost entry, but it’s tennis. I come back from a complicated period so it’s easy to accept and easy to congratulate Borna who played better. Kudos to him. I faced a very good player who had already beaten me in the past, he knows how to do it. He’s brave, he’s a fighter. He too went through tough times with injuries. I’m happy to see him back at this level.
What can you learn from this match in view of the US Open in less than two weeks?
It’s hard to take a lot of good things out of this game. I have to improve, I have to train, I have to return better. I need time. I had chances at the start of the game. I had two set points in the tie-break and played two horrible points. Then a bad game in the third set. It’s tennis. Served him well. I had an opportunity at the start of the third set with an 0-30 and again I played several very bad points.
“I have ten days left to prepare New York. Mentally, I have to move on. In terms of training, I have to put myself in Grand Slam mode”
You will arrive in New York with only one match in the legs…
When you come back from injury, if you manage to win the first game, things improve. I didn’t manage to do it, but it will come. I have often come back well from injuries. Today (Wednesday), I was not ready enough to win this match. If you’re not able to be more aggressive and take chances, that’s what happens. You lose and move on. I know the process. The most important thing for me is to stay healthy. I have to go step by step.
Are you confident despite everything?
I am positive. I was able to train for a week here, I gave the maximum every day. I played much better in training than today, honestly. Of course, it’s better to win, but I have ten days left to prepare New York. Mentally, I have to move on. In terms of training, I have to put myself in Grand Slam mode, train properly to be competitive from the start of the tournament. I hope to achieve this. I have to move on and start thinking about the energy that the public gives me in New York. It is a very special place for me, I have lived unforgettable moments there. I will do my best every day to be ready. »
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