ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 17, 2022

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/A. Davidovich Fokina

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Bad luck, Alex, but you still look back at the week as your best week in your career?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Yeah, for sure (smiling). I cannot say no.

You know, was amazing experience. I enjoyed every day here, winning big, big -- I don't know the words. I'm so tired.

Yeah, what I was saying, you know, to beating Djoko, each player, that they are in high of their career. Then if... sorry. You know, was a tough week (smiling). A lot of emotions. My body now is going down. Maybe I need a beer or something (smiling).

But, you know, for me this week with my team was amazing. Was a dream came true to play here in Monte-Carlo, full crowd. You know, to hear the people supporting was amazing. I was at the bench thinking, wow, what a moment. I am enjoying real. That's it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Could you just talk about probably the strong and close relation you got with Aguirre, your coach, because it's your coach since eight or ten years, I don't know exactly. But you have a real close relation. When we watch him during your game, it's incredible. He is in the game like you. He live all your points with a big emotion. Talk about your relation with him.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Yeah, with Jorge, we start when I was 10, 11 years old. You know, from the beginning he teach me a lot of things. He keep me in the line every year. You know, I think, no, for sure without him I will not be a tennis player. You know, I was like not a good guy, and thanks to him I was like going to the professional line.

You know, he lives every match like me. He have a lot of emotions every match. You know, he's a lot of sentimental guy. Then I'm thankful that he give everything of the match because I feel it. We are like so connected out of the court and inside the court.

Q. Maybe you had a problem with the laundry, but you've got a white sock and a black sock.

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Is a tradition.

Q. Can you explain?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, is nothing to explain. It's like superstition, you know. If you see me one day with two black socks or two white socks, it's not me. It's my brother (smiling).

But, for example, for Wimbledon I have a little problem there. We are thinking what to do.

Q. Do your expectations in yourself and your future tournaments change after this amazing week?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: For sure. You know, how I manage this week, beating these guys and how much confidence I have now, you know, after this week I don't know if I will win another matches. You know, I will be focused like this week every point, every game.

Doesn't matter who is it. I will enjoy every moment now. Doesn't matter if I lose or if I win. You know, I'm like so happy with myself what I am doing and just to keeping in that line.

Q. You are normally I guess listed for Barcelona next Tuesday. You know if you will play there or you get to thinking about that?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Oh, for sure I will play Barcelona. You know, we have two or three tournaments in Spain. Then I have to play, because, you know, in front of my friends, in front of all my people.

It's like I will go with more confidence and with a lot more emotions than here.

Q. Can you just speak of Stefanos on clay, can you compare with Rafa? Maybe less spin but it's strong?

ALEJANDRO DAVIDOVICH FOKINA: Well, it's different. It's different ball, because at the end, Rafa is lefty and, you know, play against him we always play the backhand, then is tough to play against Rafa.

Finally, Stefanos has one backhand. One backhand? One-handed backhand. Then is not easier to play than Rafa but is different ball. You know, I cannot say is the same ball because it's not. Physically Rafa, he's a beast.