“What do you assume of your match in opposition to Stefano Travaglia on Monday in Rome?
I received the vaccine two days in the past and requested to play as late as attainable as a result of I might solely arrive final night time (Sunday at 10 p.m.). In the finish, they put me at this time (Monday) at ten in the morning I could not even hit the ball as soon as right here, I could not apply the previous few days. It’s okay, however I nonetheless have slightly ache from my shot from the vaccine, it is a bit heavy to elevate my arm. I knew it. I did what I might. The outcome is just not the most necessary, the necessary factor is to have spent slightly time on the courtroom. As I’ve all the time stated, with an empty stadium, I take it as a exercise. When the ambiance in Rome, seeing the stadium empty is a bit arduous. It’s week after week, it does not matter. I’m going to Geneva with my dad and mom subsequent week, afterwards to Parma then Roland. I’ll attempt to do my finest when it will get crowded. I’m not too frightened about my tennis, I discovered that I used to be hitting the ball fairly nicely after virtually per week of stoppage after Madrid. It was coaching and it stays optimistic.
Are you fully out of the recreation for model historical past?
I went to see the model as I might have laughed with my pal. Maybe I caught on the mark as I might have accomplished in coaching. That’s not what bothers me the most. I did not count on to play loopy matches. I do what I can on a tennis courtroom.
“I am still very well classified even though I have won two matches in two years”
Are you not frightened?
We should not overlook that I’m thirty fifth and I’ll maintain my last in Marrakech as a result of I maintain half the factors and I gained there (in 2019. The match was canceled in 2020). I had a fourth spherical at Roland and I’ll maintain a 3rd spherical it doesn’t matter what, I’ll maintain a 3rd spherical at Wimbledon, I’ll maintain my last in Lyon. I’m not frightened. Even if I’m going down, I’ll go down fiftieth in the world. Just when issues get higher and the pandemic has handed, we must rediscover the pleasure of being on a courtroom. I had discovered him a bit in Madrid with all the supporters however there, behind closed doorways, alone, it is a bit tough. For me, the Race means nothing, apart from the Masters. I’m nonetheless very nicely ranked after having gained two matches in two years. I do not take my head an excessive amount of with tennis anymore. Everyone can see that it is difficult for me on the courtroom. I get pleasure from. I do not know if we’re allowed to depart the resort right here in Rome. I’ll keep a day or two after the match to get pleasure from, the eating places are open, I’ll have time.
At Roland Garros, there ought to be audiences. Are you not afraid of arriving fully in disrepair with folks?
I’ll practice myself. I’m looking for a coach, to search out assistance on the bodily degree. I’m not saying I’m giving up. I don’t surrender. I’m simply saying it is powerful at the closed-door tournaments proper now. I’m fairly delicate and after I see that I’m making good pictures and that nothing is going on on the courtroom, there isn’t any noise. Whether I do a double fault or a profitable stroke, it is precisely the identical. In Roland, there might be a number of folks, I’ll attempt to discover slightly enjoyable even with buddies of mine and attempt to be prepared. And if I’m not prepared for Roland, it will likely be for the subsequent tournaments. As lengthy because it’s like that, I will not be capable of. I’m going from metropolis to metropolis each week. There was a not essential match in Estoril, I went to the Maldives. What I like are the atmospheres even on smaller tournaments. I’m not too scared as a result of I really feel that tennis remains to be there. It’s in the head that it is tough.
This rating system doesn’t assist to compensate in your lack of motivation …
I’ll all the time be in the tables. I must win one or two matches to be in the Masters 1000 this summer time. I discovered that Canada would absolutely be canceled. You know very nicely that factors are necessary to me. There, they’re much much less.
“I just know that when the legs and the motivation return, it will be easy”
Maybe the rating carrot would do you good?
Maybe if there was this carrot, I might be motivated. At the identical time, I’m motivated after I depart however after I arrive in a abandoned stadium, it’s arduous. I do know I’m nonetheless thirty fifth, I take advantage of the system. Next week, if I lose in the first spherical, it is as if I had made the last, we should not overlook that. So whether or not I do the first spherical or the last subsequent week, it is the identical factor. There, it is as if I had gained a 250 in 4 weeks as a result of I’ve Lyon (last in 2019), Marrakech. I took 45 factors in Madrid and it matches in my rating. During the Olympic Games, there might be relatively weak tournaments, I must attempt to take advantage of them as a result of it can rely the identical as a Masters 1000. The rating is particular. I’m not frightened. I simply know that when the legs and the motivation come again, it will likely be simple as a result of I really feel like I’ve tennis. I’m not frightened and in a rush to search out my finest degree. “
