DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 27, 2021

Zsombor Piros

Team Hungary

Press Conference

Z. PIROS/J. Millman

4-6, 6-4, 6-3

Hungary - 1

Australia - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you indicate what something like this means to you, your emotions at the moment.

ZSOMBOR PIROS: Yeah, sure. I was very excited before the match because I never played in this level of the Davis Cup. I played live three or four times a big stage like this.

It was quite hard and quite tough to manage the emotions, especially last night even it was hard to sleep for me. But I hope I will get used to that.

So, yes, but after the first set, in the middle of the second set, I was more relaxed. The fans and my team was helping me to win the match. So, yeah, we did it together.

Q. Was that what got you through for the win?

ZSOMBOR PIROS: Yes, actually. And also that I tried to make every energy, like I didn't say any positive or negative word, I was saving every energy to play the next point. Maybe it was the key for the win because I didn't cramped and I didn't get as tired.

Q. As far as talking about energy, what was happening with your arm? You said you weren't cramping?

ZSOMBOR PIROS: No, it was a ligament. Hopefully didn't break. I think I pulled a muscle there. It was very hard especially to serve with that injury. But hopefully is not that serious that I cannot play tomorrow.

I think I will be able to play tomorrow, as well. But, yeah, I needed the physio so much because without her I wasn't about to win this match.

Q. I read something about yourself. You made a great performance today.

ZSOMBOR PIROS: Thank you.

Q. I was looking for your junior results. You won Australian Open, then you do something in Wimbledon about pants. Then I read about Bratislava tournament this year. How can you explain the switch from juniors to professionals? What are the biggest differences or problems between the two worlds are?

ZSOMBOR PIROS: I got that question quite a lot times.

Yes, especially I thought that it's going to be little bit easier or a little bit not as long, like now. I won the Australian Open, like, five years ago. I was, I don't know, like second or third in the ITF rankings. Yeah, after that I beat some top-hundred guys. I thought is going to be a little bit shorter to get to the top of the players.

But, yes, some injuries and some other things happened. Actually it was not quite as planned. I think I am here, I'm going percent, percent, and percent. I'm going on my way. Now I think I'm on the road again. I feel like the same, like when I was a junior, the fire during the match, on and off the court. After those young years, it was a little bit disappointing, but now I think I'm on the road again. That's the most important.

Q. I remember your 2018 victory against Jiri Vesely in Davis Cup. How do the two matches compare? Where does this win rank for you?

ZSOMBOR PIROS: Yeah, after the match I almost felt the same. But it's a bigger event. I think John was a little bit better in the ranking. He's 70. At that time Vesely was, I don't know, like 94 or 95. Yeah, almost the same.

But, yes, it was best-of-five sets. I was two times tired than now, even if I'm very, very exhausted right now (smiling). At that time I was cramping all of my body. I had to be very, very tight mentally and very focused, even much better than now.

Yeah, emotionally I think I'm as happy now as I was that time because both matches, I think it's a great achievement for me especially with my ranking. I'm just top 300. I don't think that many people thought that I can make it. But I showed that I can play quite high level. Now I think my or our job with the team is to maintain this level not just for one match. Hopefully month and years like the top guys.