NITTO ATP FINALS

November 16, 2021

Horia Tecau

Pala Alpitour, Torino

Press Conference

DODIG-POLASEK/Krawietz-Tecau

7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. So now it's official. In two days it's going to be your last match at the ATP Finals. If you look back to your career, what kind of moments go through your mind? Which event stands out for you?

HORIA TECAU: Yeah, there is still one match to play. Not making any plans for next year. I know at some point I will have to speak about this moment. I wanted to do it after the week because out of just the preparation and all the focus and attention that we need for these matches, because everything is so close here, so we just try to stay focused and play one more match.

Of course at the end of this week, I will speak about the subject a little more. I know the interest and I understand it, but I'm not ready to talk about it yet. I want to play one more match, I want to give it all, and then I'll be ready to answer and speak about what has been a long and very fulfilling career for me.

I hope you understand. Sorry I can't answer too much right now.

Q. I can also ask you about the match, the key moments. I mean, you were so close, really getting the break and going...

HORIA TECAU: We felt we started the match well and with good energy, good serves, aggressive volleys. Didn't have many chances returning. They were serving well, both of them.

Went to the tiebreak. They played a better tiebreak. But then in the second set, I thought their serving level went down a little bit. We got more second serves and got more looks. Kevin was returning well. Had two games there we got to deuce and created some chances.

Those are the mini chances you get in a match like this. A few second serves, and, yeah, little disappointment that we couldn't convert there and get a break and take this match to, you know, to a chance to maybe a third set and then see what happens.

Felt like their level dropped a little bit on the serve, so we finally felt like, okay, now it's our chance to produce some returns and get the break. Yeah, we didn't do that.

Then Polasek had a good returning game, connected on a few serves. Yeah, that's how it goes. Unfortunately you don't take your mini chances in the match with this level, then it's tough to get the win.

Overall, a good match but could have been just a little better if we were taking those chances in the second set to break.

Q. How hard is this for you to accept such losses? Is it easier when an opponent like Polasek, he played unbelievable, when he plays this high a level, is it easier for you and with all of your experience you have after all these years?

HORIA TECAU: Yeah, I mean, when an opponent plays like that, you try to get him off his rhythm and try to execute on the few chances that you get.

That's what we didn't do enough as a team in the second set. Felt like there was moments where I would hit some returns, Kevin would hit some returns, but never together to break them. Those are the moments that maybe a team like Polasek/Dodig can break down. But if they keep holding serves and then they can swing away on returns, then that's what happened today. If a guy like Filip plays like this and executes, I can only say, "Well done," and that's it.

I look more on our side of the court, and I feel some disappointment with just not connecting the right way on some returns on some second serves that we got in the second set. So we can only do that and look on our side of the court. If they can produce a good level on their side, it's good on them.