ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 15, 2022

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Press Conference

A. DAVIDOVICH FOKINA/T. Fritz

2-6, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Well done. Taylor was playing very well at the beginning. How did you manage to turn it around?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, I had a lot of chances in the first set to break his serve, and, you know, he did very good first set. I went to the bathroom to reset my mind, to keep pushing myself, because I was believing in myself that I can do it, you know, and the last two games in the second set I just did it.

He had chances too for return the break in 5-4, but, you know, I make it and I'm happy for the win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Can I ask you how much of the confidence and strength comes from you defeating No. 1, the top-ranked player?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, after beating Nole, you know, I took a lot of confidence in myself. You don't win every day to No. 1.

Then after that match, you have to manage good the feelings and the emotions. It's not easy to play the day after against David. He was playing very good. He won last week in Marrakech.

And, you know, I just keep pushing my game to the limit, you know, and physically and mentally I'm stronger than last week. You know, then I'm with a lot of confidence and enjoying every moment.

Q. Can you describe a little bit what you feel when you are out there on this court with the crowd, on clay, and all the emotions you're talking about? Can you describe that a little bit?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Yes, you know, last year I did quarterfinals and I had to retire with no crowd, no nothing, you know, was like so sad.

This year I had my first match in the center court already with full crowd. You know, it's different. For me it's different to play here from the rest of tournaments, because I was watching TV every year, Rafa when he beat Ramos, and, you know, I was, like, I want to be there one day playing with the top players.

You know, I had a lot of emotions playing here, because since when I was kid I was watching this tournament. It's like just enjoying, and I'm so happy to be here and, you know, beating the strongest guys on tour right now, it's like, Wow, I can be there.

Q. I was talking yesterday with your coach, and he told me that you work on your mental aspect on the court, and you are probably more relaxed this season, more calm on the court than you were last year. Could you just talk about the mental work you do on that?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Yeah, well, from the beginning of this season it was not easy. I had a lot of matches that I had bad, I lost, then was not easy to manage that, but, you know, I was working harder and harder with my coach and with my team.

You know, they say, Believe in yourself more. Then, you know, I was, like, Okay, I will believe more in myself and just keep my game like in the flow and, you know, to be more passions and more calm and more faster. And that's it.

Q. You are the third Spaniard this year who hits the news big after Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz. What do you think about that?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: About what?

Q. The success you're having. First you're beating Novak and now you're in semifinal in Monte-Carlo.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: You know, I'm so happy, you know, to be -- I don't know what to answer, but I'm just happy to be here, to winning matches.

You know, of course Rafa and Alcaraz, they are big players. I don't know what to answer. You know, I'm so happy and that's it.