THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2021

Hubert Hurkacz

Press Conference

H. HURKACZ/R. Federer

6-3, 7-6, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You looked so calm out there. Did you feel calm or not?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I mean, thank you so much. Obviously I was a little bit nervous. I mean, playing against Roger in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, it's a very big thing for me.

But I was trying to stay as calm as I could.

Q. As the match progressed, what was it feeling like? You were down 1-4 in the second set, you came back. Was it at that stage that you felt you could really go ahead and close the match out, move into your first semifinal?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yeah, I mean, I was trying always to believe myself during the match and just trust my game and stay as aggressive as I could. That what I was trying to focus on throughout the match.

Q. What was your discussion with Roger at the net? What were your thoughts as you left the court realizing you had beaten Roger Federer?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yes, I mean, so Roger was congratulating me and wishing good luck for the next matches. So that was the discussion after.

I mean, obviously walking off the court realizing that I won against Roger, I mean, just kind of dream come true, especially here on grass in Wimbledon. Felt so special with the crowd around as well.

Q. I want to get an idea, did you approach this match any different than what you otherwise would, given the occasion?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I was trying to approach this match, obviously I knew it's a quarterfinal against Roger, but I was trying to focus with my coach, C.B., on the game plan on what should I do today to be able to compete against Roger.

Q. How do you explain that you lost in Stuttgart against a Swiss called Dominic Stricker and come to Wimbledon and beat the Swiss called Roger Federer?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yeah, in Stuttgart, actually Dominic played good match. Obviously was my first match on grass. Didn't play on grass in a while. So coming into that match, didn't have, like, much confidence, much grass court game.

Here, after winning couple of matches, I really gained confidence, gained momentum. I believed in myself a lot before that game today.

Q. Sometime ago your coach said that your game was similar to Andy Murray. Now you're achieving your best performance in a Grand Slam on grass. Do you consider Andy as a reference in your game? Would you say your coach was some kind of guru?

HUBERT HURKACZ: Yeah, I mean, Andy is unbelievable player, like what he has achieved. I mean, he was No. 1 in the world, winning many Grand Slams. So obviously being compared to such a great player is special.

But yeah, I mean, I'm trying also, like, to develop little bit of my style. The way I play is a bit different. But obviously Andy is amazing player and it's nice to be compared to such a great player.

Q. You talked about this a little bit yesterday, but how much do you think having played on Centre Court yesterday helped you today?

HUBERT HURKACZ: I think it helped me a lot actually, feeling the atmosphere, feeling the court there. Obviously playing against Roger here in Wimbledon is always special with the crowd cheering so much. So that I haven't experienced yesterday, but playing on the court, feeling the court helped a lot.