For questions of regulation, the information won't be formalized till Monday by the FFT however the participant of the Stade Toulousain (sixty fourth) will certainly be from this Friday February 25 in Pau with the group of Davis Cup referred to as to problem Ecuador, the March 4 and 5 subsequent (arduous, indoor). Exclusive interview with Benjamin Bonzi, in no way certain to play (Mannarino and Rinderknech are favorites in singles, the duo Mahut-Herbert will likely be aligned in doubles) however already rewarded for his unbelievable progress and his latest half at the Open 13 (ATP 250) after notably a hit over Aslan Karatsev (fifteenth).
Benjamin, how do you are feeling about this choice?
I'm very completely happy. It's a contest that I watched as a baby. The method has modified just a little however, in Pau, it'll appear like a gathering of the outdated method, it'll actually be the Davis Cup, with a full home, a basic residence match, it is going to be very good. After that, it is nonetheless the France crew. Whether it is anyplace, anytime and with any method, it is a supply of pride to wear the “France” jersey.
For you, every thing has gone in a short time for six months together with your entry into the Top 100, then the Top 60 and this semi-last in Marseille beneath the eyes of Sébastien Grosjean, the Davis Cup captain…
It goes very quick, it is cool. This is sweet information to reap the benefits of. So, I'm going to go away just a little later for the American tour (Indian Wells, Miami) however it's for an excellent trigger.
What are your reminiscences of the Davis Cup?
I by no means had the likelihood to attend a gathering on web site. Watching TV, I particularly bear in mind a marketing campaign the place Gaël Monfils beat David Ferrer (Spain) and David Nalbandian (Argentina) in 2010 (word: Benjamin Bonzi was 14). These are the photos that marked me, the ambiance too. I additionally clearly vibrated throughout the final title in 2017 with Lucas (Puglia) as chief.
“Hugo Gaston warned me about hazing!”
What hyperlinks do you've got with the members of the workers and the group?
I do know Sébastien (Grosjean) just a little. We had mentioned final week in Marseille. He referred to as me again to inform me his selection. I'm not too fearful about good communication with the group, I do know the gamers (Mannarino, Rinderknech, Mahut, Herbert), I hit it off with everybody, it is going to be wonderful. Afterwards, it is nonetheless a bit obscure, I do not actually know the way it's going to match collectively, I'm going to discover out all about it. I'll meet up with Arthur (Rinderknech), with whom I've spent lots of time in the final two years in tournaments. We skilled the similar issues, the similar climb nearly at the similar time. As for the France crew, he's nonetheless a step forward of me (word: he was in the 2021 finals in Innsbruck).
Did Hugo Gaston let you know about his expertise in the Davis Cup, particularly throughout the Interclub last (victory of Stade Toulousain in Créteil), when he had simply returned from Austria?
Yes not dangerous. We had videotaped one another whereas he was with the Blues, by the method. Hugo had been delighted along with his expertise. I hope there will likely be others and even that we are able to share the subsequent ones. I might have appreciated to be with him this time, it could have been enjoyable. He warned me about hazing. I do not know what the band has in retailer for me (laughs).
What do you count on from this expertise?
See you this Friday in Pau, the place the “Challenger” is being held this week. There will likely be few matches on the weekend so we could have slots to hit the ball on the web site of the Davis Cup match fairly early and fairly simply. Already, it is going to be an enormous week of coaching with very robust guys. So that will likely be a plus. There will likely be loads of issues to take away from all this with one goal: every thing for the crew! Experiencing all of this from the inside goes to be magnificent. Afterwards, for me, it is not an finish in itself, both. It's a reward however I do not need to cease there. I do know that by persevering with to work, there's a method to progress and go even larger.