ROLAND GARROS

June 4, 2021

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Press Conference

A. DAVIDOVICH FOKINA/C. Ruud

7-6, 2-6, 7-6, 0-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What are your thoughts on this four-and-a-half-hour spectacular showing of tennis?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, I think this match represents Roland Garros. This match was very tough. He played unbelievable. In the fifth set, we were in the battle every game. Every game we want to win, to break the serve of the other guy.

Then was, with all emotions inside, with all the crowd singing your name, was unbelievable.

Q. A question non-tennis related, but Roland Garros related. I want to know your opinion on the fashion, the way people are dressed in Roland Garros. Do you find people are elegant when you see them walking around, the fans? Are they more elegant than in Australia or New York, for example?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Elegant?

Q. Yes.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, we know that France or Paris is the city of moda?

Q. Fashion.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Fashion. For sure they will dress more elegant than Australia. I don't know. I don't know how to answer that. But for sure, yes.

Q. I have to ask about the underarm serve in the final game. What was going through your mind when you did that?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Nothing (laughter). I didn't think. I didn't know that I will do the underarm serve. I didn't think that I will do. I think I make the point. That's important for me.

Q. On your next opponent, Delbonis, how do you see that match? I don't think you've ever played him. How will you rest up from this and prepare for your next round?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, I didn't play against him. I practice with him one time I think in Buenos Aires. He is playing very good. Every match that he's playing, he's improving his game.

It will be a tough match because, well, he's lefty. I didn't play here against lefty. Today I will rest. Tomorrow I will practice half an hour to relax my muscles because today was a tough match and I'm tired today, yeah.

Q. You obviously deservedly were excited at the end, very happy. Can you explain that in words? Can you put into words the feeling you had when you were sort of dancing around the court at the end and the people around you, coach, manager, agent, et cetera? What has been the discussion with all of them and who are they?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, when I won the match, was a lot of feelings, a lot of emotions. What I been through every week or every day, how I practice to improve my game, to improve myself.

You know, I can describe in words how I feel in that moment: was like I was in shock. I was now eating and I didn't know how I won the match. I didn't know if I serve and he miss the point. I didn't know. I had to see the video, how I finish.

Q. Can you tell us about your pet adoption platform. What was the inspiration for it? How is it going?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Yeah, it's going very well. Every week we have more shelters that they are putting their dogs and cats. In Spain, we had the number one in Europe that are abandons. We have more than 300,000 abandon per year.

Was like an inspiration to help them to have another opportunity to the animals, you know. For me, they are not toys. When I see a video that they are abandon, I almost crying when I see the video. That was the inspiration.