ROLAND GARROS

May 24, 2022

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

H. GASTON/A. de Minaur

4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 0-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Tough luck. What do you think made the difference at the end?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, tough match. I mean, at the end of the day when you lose 7-6 in the fifth, it's about details here and there. I think in the important moments he played better than I did. That's probably the difference today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Take us through that fourth set. Take us through what happened. How would you describe it?

ALEX de MINAUR: Just staying in the moment. I did everything in my power and I knew going in it was going to be a battle, and I told myself that I was going to be positive all the way through. Keep trying to find a way. You know, led me to being on top in the fifth set, and I gave it all I had. I couldn't have done much more attitude-wise.

So, you know, it sucks, because, you know, tennis at the end of the day, a lot of it is defined by results. Probably don't feel the best after losing a match like that.

Q. What was the experience of the crowd for you? We saw at the end of the match it was very huge. What do you think?

ALEX de MINAUR: Well, I think there is a difference between a great atmosphere and supporting your fellow countrymen, which is completely fine and it's great. You know, I'm sure for him was an amazing atmosphere. You know, he enjoyed every second of it.

But there is a line that, you know, when I'm getting told things by people in the crowd, making eye contact with me after I hit a double fault, I think there is a certain line that needs to be kind of looked at.

But, look, you know, good on him for playing a great match in front of his home crowd and being able to feed off that, and you know, having a moment that I'm sure he won't forget.

Q. What was being said to you? Also, obviously there is no doubt that this is very dejecting. Will this sit with you for a little while now?

ALEX de MINAUR: I'd rather not get into what was being said.

Look, I don't know. Ideally I will sleep tonight and I will forget all about it, but I have a feeling that won't be the case.

So, yeah, it's disappointing, as everything is, it is what it is. It's a sport that we are playing. You have your good days, your bad days. You win absolute battles; you lose absolute battles.

What I have got to do now is put this behind me. I mean, easier said than done but I will do my best to do that.

Q. Were you aware that he was cramping towards the end?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah. I think it was a bit of a catch-22 because he was able to free up a little bit and go for broke. He ended up, you know, making those shots.

I didn't play my best in that last kind of the tiebreak. But yeah, I mean, it's the sport.

Q. Talking about the crowd at the end, ultimately do you feel as though it did get to you, though? Couple of doubles thrown in, it was an absolute cacophony at the end. Did you find it at all intimidating?

ALEX de MINAUR: No, look, I'm pretty sure I dealt with it pretty well, all things considering. You know, I was in the moment. I was in the heat of the moment battling out there against, you know, it felt like kind of an away Davis Cup match, and I thrive on that.

It was a lot sometimes, and sometimes, you know, you do your best to focus on playing a tennis match. There is outside factors that you do your best to control. Hey, maybe it did; maybe it didn't. I don't know.

What I know is I didn't play my best tennis when I needed to in the super-buster. It's a shame.

But all props to him.

Q. The crowd, is it something you have ever experienced here before, Roland Garros, Paris?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I'm pretty sure it's first time I have played that I can recall a French guy here at Roland Garros. Yeah, it was a new experience. I played on a massive court, packed. You know, we ended up playing five sets, 7-6 in the fifth. Atmosphere was always going to be amazing. Crowd was always going to support their home player, and that's completely fine.

Q. (Question off microphone.)

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, there is still a lot of question marks on the grass season for everyone, so it's part of the year that I thoroughly enjoy. And, yeah, I have had my best clay court season to date. Shame it ended the way it ended, but now I have got one of my favorite parts of the year, so that's exciting.