DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 28, 2021

Daniel Elahi Galan

Team Colombia

Press Conference

J. SINNER/D. Elahi Galan

7-6, 6-0

Italy - 2

Colombia - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Really good fight in the first set. How do you reflect on the match as a whole?

DANIEL ELAHI GALAN: Yeah, it was good first set. Was playing good. But I had chances. I had many 30-Alls on my serve, but he was returning very well, especially on my first serve in the second set.

First break was four first serves, I think. He returned all of them on the line. Yeah, he played very well. Yeah, in the first set I had to go more with my forehand, but I didn't. In some moments I had chances a little bit more, but I didn't.

He did took his chances. In the 5-All he had a couple forehands there in the middle of the court and he went for it. Yeah, I think it was more or less big difference in the return especially, so...

Q. Can you see how much progress he's made? Was it a challenge to play somebody in that form?

DANIEL ELAHI GALAN: Yeah, I mean, definitely he had a amazing year. I didn't play him before. Saw him many times in the last years. I really don't know how he was when he was even younger than right now.

But definitely he's playing amazing. I don't know, something special in his game that even if I was playing well he was doing even better. Definitely deserves everything he did this year.

Q. What seems to be a feature of this Colombian team is you wear your heart on your sleeve. How much confidence does that give you going into the next tie?

DANIEL ELAHI GALAN: Yeah, definitely we play very well in Davis Cup. Nicolas I think was second match. He played very well against Lorenzo. It was tough match. You never know how he was going to react. I mean, in big stadium, the crowd against him, a guy who is 25 or 20 in the world. It was definitely not an easy situation.

He really did well. He did what he did at the beginning of the second set, he missed couple shots, especially when he was 40-15 in the first game of serve. I don't know, it was what Lorenzo needed, a break at the very beginning. He took it. He took more confidence with it.

Nothing to complain. He played very well. Hopefully tomorrow. Right now hopefully our doubles players can take the point, and tomorrow one of the singles players take one and give them, I don't know, support to the team.

Q. Your experience of being a part of the Finals so far, how special of an event is it?

DANIEL ELAHI GALAN: Oh, definitely is special. Always is special to play Davis Cup even if it's away, with the crowd against you. It's definitely special. Just different atmosphere, different everything. The team is there to support you and just feeling completely different. We just clearly enjoy playing Davis Cup. Hopefully tomorrow we'll continue and we will extend the life here in Turin.