ROLEX PARIS MASTERS

November 3, 2021

Hugo Gaston

Press Conference

H. GASTON/P. Carreno Busta

6-7, 6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. What is your favorite thing to do in Paris, in France, when you are off-court?

HUGO GASTON: Off-court? I don't know. I like to go out with my friends and have fun with them and with my family, with my girlfriend because she's here. So, yeah, I like to go out with my friends.

Q. What song comes to mind when you think of Paris, of France?

HUGO GASTON: I don't know. I don't have any song when I'm in Paris. I don't know.

Q. What makes Paris so unique playing here compared to any other city in the world?

HUGO GASTON: Well, I like to play in Paris. It's one of my favorite cities in the world. I like the place, so I feel good when I'm here, so that's why I'm able to play good here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. When you're down 6-7, 3-4 and break, how do you find the resources to overcome the situation?

HUGO GASTON: Well, it was a difficult start, but I relied on the great audience, the beautiful atmosphere that pushed me here all of the way to the end. It's thanks to them I was able to win this match. I always believed in my chances I never gave up and that's what enabled me to stay in the match and I'm very happy that the outcome was positive for me.

Q. Is it not as big as Roland Garros here? Because the game level is very high. How are you living this tournament? Does it remind you of Roland Garros or is it different?

HUGO GASTON: Well, of course it's beautiful tournament but the tournament is not over. Then compared to French Open, not really, because it's different conditions, not same surface. I have come up in the ranking, so I know that I'm at the right place. I know that I play very well.

Of course it's great to win Carreno on the hard court. It's never simple but I tried to remain calm. And comparing it to Roland Garros, I don't think so.

Q. How do you explain this ability you have each time or often to beat your opponents? Is it the variations in your game or something else?

HUGO GASTON: Well, it certainly plays a role for me to focus on my game. It's never easy to play on such a big court, but indeed my game is bothering a lot of players. They don't know me necessarily, so they don't know how to play against me. But I try to keep my game play and strategy, and for the time being it's been successful so I try to continue.

Q. We are obliged to come back to Roland Garros. Does it have the same feeling versus the win against Wawrinka in terms of atmosphere? How can you compare both games? Do they have the same ranking?

HUGO GASTON: Well, it must be a coincidence, but as I said earlier, I don't compare these two tournaments. These are two different tournaments. The conditions are different. It's just the city that is the same. I try to focus on this tournament. Roland Garros was last year, so it's kind of a long time ago. So for me it's not comparable.

Last year Roland Garros had the ranking which was beyond 200, now I'm just close to 100, so it's two different situations. I'm very happy to win against Pablo on the center court today.

Q. You don't want to compare with Roland Garros, but there is a Paris effect, with the audience which supports you, to surpass yourself. Do you feel that?

HUGO GASTON: Yes, I feel well here. The audience played a great role to help me in this match. They pushed me from the beginning to the end, and that's certainly why I was asking the support from the audience, because I need it, and I want to make them involved in the match. And it also helps me play well.

I will continue doing that. I will continue using them, because it's something that I love, and if it can make everyone proud, I'm very happy.

Q. I don't know if you remember, Saturday jokingly I said to you during your first qually you should do a round of 16, and a lot of things changed and you laughed, but here you are. What can change is your end of season, because as the NextGen Masters, maybe a place in the Davis Cup team that could happen, and now you're 80 in the ranking, virtual ranking. So a lot of things have changed. What does it inspire you?

HUGO GASTON: I remain the same person, so a lot of things have changed but not so much on my side. I have my end of season which is almost over. I know what I have to do. So first of all, before moving on to the next tournament, whatever happens, I will have to rest, be in good shape for my match of tomorrow.

Of course then I have beautiful possibilities with NextGen tournament next week, but I would like to remain focused on this tournament. I did a beautiful match today but I don't want to stop, so I will give it all and I will rest to be in good shape.

Q. And the possibility of being in the Davis Cup team? Do you start thinking about it?

HUGO GASTON: No, clearly no. There are players that are in front of me, so clearly no. Of course if they call me, I'll be present, but for the time being it's not in my head, in my mind. I'm not thinking about it. I would be very proud, of course, but I would like to remain focused on this tournament on what I have to do, and then we will see.