“A year after your success here (in five sets against Novak Djokovic in the final), you are now in a position to aim for the Roland-Garros title-Wimbledon title sequence, which few players have been able to achieve. How do you imagine this mission?
Winning a Grand Slam is difficult of course, but so is the transition from clay to grass, two totally different surfaces, two totally different styles of play; but I will try to put my name on that list. It is a big challenge for me. I have done a lot of work in the last few weeks to feel comfortable and to commit to this Wimbledon 100%.
“The day after my defeat at Queen’s, I started to practice my movements, my shots, in order to feel comfortable moving on grass”
Your elimination in your second match at Queen’s, against the British Jack Draper (7-6 [3]6-3), has it changed your approach?
This failure showed me that it was difficult to adapt, to move well, to realize how to play, because anything can happen on grass. The day after my defeat at Queen’s, I started to train my movements, my shots, in order to feel comfortable moving on grass. Now, after great sessions with great players, in order to gauge my level, I think I am ready to launch the tournament.
What does it change, mainly, for you, to play on grass? Is it mainly technical?
No, technically, it doesn’t change much in the way I play. On the move, on the other hand, a lot. I’m a player who usually slides a lot and that’s the big change. I have to be focused differently on every step I take. Details to think about on each movement. But the last training sessions have given me a lot of confidence. »
