ROLAND GARROS

June 2, 2022

Gustavo Fernandez

Press Conference

G. FERNANDEZ/A. Hewett

6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. You're aiming for your third Roland Garros title. Tell us how you're feeling right now.

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: I'm feeling great. I'm feeling great, actually. I played an amazing match, probably one of the best in my career, and I execute perfectly the plan, and I was very accurate in that execution, so overall I think I played an amazing match.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you. Questions in English, please.

Q. You said you played one of the best matches. I mean, that second set was pretty much perfection from you. I don't think you put a foot wrong. How do you play a set like that without making errors?

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: Well, actually, normally I practice really hard to try to play every match like that, but of course sports is sports and, you know, the other player always tries to get you in complicated situations.

But I think I was focused on myself today. I was focused on trying to always take the lead and take the opportunity and take the shots, and I did that amazingly. I played great the percentage in every way, in serve and forehand, backhand, errors and winners was great. I think I was very consistent with the idea and the execution and I think I saw him frustrated a little bit because of that, so that encouraged me more to go more and more forward to get that. So I think I played a great match today.

Q. And that celebration at the end, there was so much emotion in there, wasn't there?

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: Yes. I mean, it's always tough. It's been awhile since I'm in a Grand Slam final. I was very emotional because I worked really, really hard. I don't know that people really understand how much I work every day to try to be in these kind of matches and these kind of situation and try to perform like that.

So when you actually do that and perform, it's a kind of happiness that I can't explain. So, I was really, really happy. I'm still, I'm enjoying that for the moment, and I want to get that in my body and then get my mind in the Saturday match.

Q. I saw you took a fairly hard fall in the first set. I just wondered because, and I think, watching your matches in the past, I think I've seen you do that before. I just wondered, how, well, firstly, physically, does that have an impact; and then secondly, sort of how do you respond to that?

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: Well, actually, the falls are quite normal for me. I do that a lot. I play really intense and I always focus on the match and normally I don't pay much attention about the surrounds.

So, I mean, it wasn't a big fall, but I'm physically fit to take it, but it wasn't that bad. It's okay.

Q. Lastly, obviously Shingo in the final next. I know you've played many times, but your thoughts on facing one of the all-time greats in the game.

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: It's going to be a really tough match, for sure, I'll tell you that. I know that he's going to, he has something else, something special, especially in these kind of situations, and he's going to be really ready to try to play his best and get the opportunity to try to win it.

He did amazingly in the Australian final against Alfie. He played the best match I've seen in a while. And I'm expecting that, so I have to be ready for that. We know each other very much so we know what we're going to see on court. He knows what he's going to see from me and I know what he's going to bring to court.

So I'm trying to get focused, get ready, and try to play my game and try to dominate as I did today and try to have the intentionality to do that the entire match. So we can expect a big battle.