THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 9, 2022

Gustavo Fernandez

Shingo Kunieda

Press Conference

FERNANDEZ-KUNIEDA/Hewett-Reid

6-3, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Wimbledon champions. Tell us how you're feeling.

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: Do you want me to go?

SHINGO KUNIEDA: Okay.

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: I feel happy about today's win, of course. It's kind of bittersweet feeling for me after yesterday. It was a good comeback for me mentally. I enjoyed playing with Shingo very much.

For me is a very happy day. Maybe with some time to get past from yesterday, I will realize what we just achieved.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You've done what many doubles partnerships have wanted to do over the last couple of years, beating Gordon and Alfie in a slam final. What was it about your game today, how you've approached this tournament, that you managed to turn that result around?

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: I think we come quite close with them a lot of times. To be honest, we let some opportunities pass by to beat them in the past.

They are the best couple, for sure. But together I think we managed over the years to give him some good battles and some good matches.

I think we did have opportunities to win more than we had. But today we were more consistent. We wanted it more. We knew how special for them this is.

Also for us. He's feeling great, he's playing great, he's the best at the moment. I'm trying to get there. It was a big challenge for me to come over from yesterday.

Today we knew that we were going to leave it all and get focused on doubles today. It was tough, but I think we played an amazing match.

Q. I was going to ask about the mental side. You came from a tough battle on Court 1 yesterday. Shingo, you had a good win yesterday. There was a point where it was a set and 5-1 today. How did Shingo help you get through?

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: Well, I mean, of course, I think there's going to be some work to do about that kind of situations. But every match is different 'cause I was a set and 5-1 in Roland Garros a month ago. It's a daily thing.

Hopefully in the future I get to manage better those situations. But it is what it is. Today we did great. Shingo, of course, as a great champion he is, he helps you in that kind of situation.

Q. Is this the start of you guys going on your own kind of undefeated run?

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: I don't know. We both push hard for singles. We know that singles is the priority for us. Well, we will see.

SHINGO KUNIEDA: Yeah, yeah, right.

Q. Gustavo, as Japanese media, we want to find out why Shingo is still hungry at the age of 38.

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: I don't know, maybe he should answer that (smiling).

I think, well, as a champion, as a big champion, as a super champion, you always want to win. When you see a challenge, you take it.

I think he get challenged by Alfie. He get challenged by maybe me or maybe other players. That drive you to go further and further.

Of course, it's really tough because one thing is wanting it, but then you have to work every day really hard to get it. He showed that he has no problem with that. He still had the mentally strength and motivation to do it.

Well, for us it's great to have him here still because I take that challenge from him. He make me improve and get better and better. Hopefully we get more and more years from him out of it.

Q. Come back next year, are you ready for that, as well?

GUSTAVO FERNANDEZ: Yes, of course. Now is no point watching to the past. Just go forward.