THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2021

Vasek Pospisil

Press Conference

V. POSPISIL/R. Carballes Baena

6-3, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You seemed really strong and efficient. Just how would you assess that first-round performance and victory? Yeah, how did you feel just being back on the courts at the All England Club?

VASEK POSPISIL: Yeah, thanks. Yeah, it was a great match. I'm happy to be back. I took a little bit of a three-month break or so from the tour for various reasons. I'm just excited to be back.

Yeah, I mean, it's always special playing here at Wimbledon. I mean, it's for sure the most special event of the year, you know, for me and I'm sure for many other players.

Yeah, so I'm just thrilled that I played well. I served really well. Played an opponent that fights to the end and puts a lot of balls back in the court. I had to be sharp. I was playing well, so I'm happy to get through.

Q. What are your thoughts on the type of player Frances is and the challenge of facing him?

VASEK POSPISIL: Yeah, he's a super-dangerous, athletic player. Obviously, you know, he had I think not the best period up until the last few weeks. I know he's been playing really well the last three, four weeks, coming off a challenger title. He's full of confidence obviously.

But he's, yeah, a super-dangerous guy, plays well on grass courts. Great backhand, can play everything really. We saw that today. He played a really solid match against Stefanos. I watched a little bit of it. Not too much because I was getting ready for my own match, but it was on the screen in the locker room and I was watching.

He's playing really well. He's a dangerous player. I'll have to play my best, for sure, if I want to win that one. I'll have to serve well, return well, and put a lot of pressure on him. I think it will be a fun match.

Q. Just wondering how you're finding things here at Wimbledon this year? Obviously quite a different environment, bubble, everything else. How is that affecting you? Or is it affecting you?

VASEK POSPISIL: I mean, I'm pretty fresh because I took some time off the tour, so, you know, it's not affecting -- obviously it's not the same as it, you know, Wimbledon is, you know, staying here in the Village, it's a very special time of the year for, I mean, most players.

But I think they have done an incredible job, to be honest. Even though we are bubbled up, I mean, they are still, I think, the most organized event of the year, the attention to detail and everything.

So it still has that Wimbledon feel, obviously, because of the facility and the courts and the grounds. But of course it would be better if it wasn't in a bubble. I'm sure next year hopefully when, you know, if the virus and all these protocols are behind us, then it will be back to the norm. But still, obviously nice to be here.

Q. It's been two years without any grass court tennis, and for a player like yourself who has had so much success both in singles and doubles here before, what place does grass court tennis occupy in the tennis landscape for you? What makes it special for you? Would you like to see the grass court season a little bit longer maybe with a Masters 1000, for example, down the road?

VASEK POSPISIL: Yeah, I mean, grass is extremely special. I mean, obviously for me personally it's special because my two best, you know, two of my career highlights came here, Wimbledon, you know, the doubles title and singles quarterfinal.

Obviously holds a really special place for me in my career and in my life. I think even in general, I mean, it's just tradition, right? There aren't that many weeks of the year that are on grass, so I think it makes it that much more special. Stepping out on the grass court with grass shoes, it feels, you know, really unique.

I think it would be nice if there was a Masters event, for sure. But, I mean, I also think that, you know, because there are so few weeks of the year, it's why it also feels so unique. So I think it's finding a balance between not having too many events where it feels like if you have three months of grass then suddenly it's not as special as it is now.

But at the same time, it would be nice, for sure, if there was another big event on this surface.

Q. What Wimbledon memories do you have growing up as a kid? Any sort of vivid finals or players that you remember getting behind on the grass here as you grew up?

VASEK POSPISIL: I mean, my two favorite players ever were Pat Rafter and Roger Federer obviously, so when I was young, I mean, it was always Pat Rafter, I was always watching him. And then when Roger came along, I mean, he became -- I mean, he's my idol. I mean, I watched every one of his matches.

I was a super fan, for sure, growing up. I mean, he was, yeah, from the age of, I guess when I was 12 years old is kind of when he came onto the scene in a big way.

Yeah, all of his matches, I mean, he was the main one. I think that's a pretty consistent answer with most players, I'm sure, or younger players, anyway. Not that I'm young, but, you know...