ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 12, 2022

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Press Conference

A. DAVIDOVICH FOKINA/N. Djokovic

6-3, 6-7, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Congratulations, first of all. Beating the World No. 1 is not something that happens every day. Are you happy with the way you played today?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, I'm not so sad (smiling). Of course I'm so happy for the win today, you know. Nole, I miss him on the tour, you know. He didn't play a lot this year. Then today playing Monte-Carlo in the center court and full crowd, it's amazing, because you always watch it on TV. Then to play today and beat him, you know, like so, so happy for me and for the team.

Q. I like the attitude you have on the court, the way you also dive sometimes to chase some balls. But I think that in the second set you could have won the match already in the second set. Do you think this too?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, yeah. I like fall down, I don't know, like many times, but I just want to be focused for the next point. I didn't care if I was bleeding or, you know, or hurting my hip or doesn't matter.

Well, I was playing against the No. 1. You never know if you can beat him two sets or in three sets. Doesn't matter. I lost the second set. I went to the bathroom to reset my mind and just to play from the beginning the third set harder.

Q. Congratulations on your win. During the sit-down in the second set, we saw that you were really thinking a lot. What was going on in your head during that time?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: When?

Q. During the sit-down in the second set, like you were really focused. What was going on in your head when Nole took the break back?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: When in the second set?

Q. 4-2 when you got broken back.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Oh, okay.

Well, a lot of things. But I just wanted to stay focused on the game, to be ready for the next point. I knew that he can break every time, and I could break every time too, but, you know, this is clay. We can break the serve so many times.

You know, I didn't care if when I was like 4-2 or 4-1 the third set. Doesn't matter. I was like focused on every point.

Q. On the subject of clay, would you say that this is the surface that you perform the best on?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Yeah, could be (smiling), because I have more time for my game. I have more -- I'm more passion, more passion. I was like focused and doesn't matter what was happening on court. Just to be ready for the next point.