NITTO ATP FINALS

November 21, 2021

Nicolas Mahut

Pierre-Hugues Herbert

Pala Alpitour, Torino

Press Conference

HERBERT-MAHUT/Ram-Salisbury

6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference with the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals doubles champions, Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

Questions, please.

Q. Nico, I want to follow up with what you said on court. You said your team is always pushing you really hard to be able to compete at this level. Can you talk about what it takes for a 39-year-old to be competing this well at this level.

NICOLAS MAHUT: Well, it's everyday work. I cannot stop for more than two days, I would say. It's every day have to do gym, stretch, practice. Sometimes it's not easy. I have a family, too. Sometimes I'm tired.

But they're still around me, pushing me to, I mean, to do it. If I don't, I know my level will drop. I still want to play. If I keep playing at my age, it's because I still have some big goals and want to be competitive.

Maybe I need to work maybe harder than before.

PIERRE-HUGUES HERBERT: If I can say something about that.

Nico is becoming a Yoga master. He was one of the guys that had no flexibility at all. Actually he's becoming -- his goal is to Djokovic. He's still on the path. But, yeah, he's kind of Benjamin Button.

Q. It's obviously not easy traveling with family and COVID and everything. You have a young, new family. How tricky has it been for you the past couple of seasons?

PIERRE-HUGUES HERBERT: Yeah, it's been a challenging year. I mean, they always say how a little boy or little girl can change your life. But you cannot actually understand it until you just live it.

It's been a challenging year because I become a dad. Especially also with COVID because they couldn't travel everywhere, I had a lot of weeks alone. It's a pretty strange feeling because, yeah, when you're away, you just miss them so much. You're kind of depressed. When they're here, you have to find the balance to be competitive on court.

It's been quite a challenging year, but I think we've learned a lot with Julia and also with Harper. I'm just so happy to share this moment with them.

NICOLAS MAHUT: I'm happy he became a dad this year because he understands better. Sometimes, like he said, it's not easy to leave the family just after Christmas when we're going to Australia. Now he understands what it takes to travel without the family. So it's good also for me.

Q. Nico, you wrote about Peng Shuai on the camera. Is this trophy dedicated to her? What else needs to be done now to address this situation?

NICOLAS MAHUT: Well, I think I said everything I was feeling like two days ago. I'm really behind the WTA and ATP. I think we need more. We need to get news from her personally.

Of course, I couldn't say anything on court when I have the camera. Yeah, I was thinking about her. I hope she's safe. We need more, definitely.