CITI OPEN

August 4, 2022

Mikael Ymer

Press Conference

M. YMER/E. Ruusuvuori

6-3, 6-7, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: It's your third quarterfinal of the year. Such a long battle with Ruusuvuori. Actually never beat Emil before, and this is your first time you beat him on the tour level. How do you feel now?

MIKAEL YMER: Very tired but also happy at the same time.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Could you just describe the heat and humidity and the challenge that that added today to the opponent you had to face anyway?

MIKAEL YMER: Yeah, I think that he's very good. He has very good heart in terms of stamina too. So it was really intense out there.

I'm coming from Umag last week, which was hotter than this, so for me, it's really tough, of course, but it feels a little bit like acclimated for me coming from there.

On court I felt okay today, but conditions are very tough. I think we are playing one of the toughest sports on this planet, because besides dealing with the heat, you also have to constantly like make so many decisions. I run a lot, because my dad was a runner, so, you know, when I run in the heat, I can just, you know, focus, okay, the next step, grind it out. But here you are grinding, and at the same time you have this opponent that you have to beat.

I really would put tennis up there in one of the tougher sports. Besides that, I think it was a great battle.

Q. This is your first time here in D.C., and you're on quite a roll. This is your first ATP 500 quarterfinal, correct?

MIKAEL YMER: Yes.

Q. Can you just tell me what's inspiring you to do so well here? Because you profess to be a lover of clay courts.

MIKAEL YMER: I like the fall. I have a good momentum also from last year during this American swing. I enjoy playing on the hard court too, and I'm here with two very close friends too.

I enjoy being in America, because it's a very good tournament in general, like, in terms of the service, hotel, the food is very good. I have a lot of energy from the crowd here.

So in general, you know, for me it's a lot. If I'm having fun and I'm feeling good outside, I'm usually able to transfer that to on court. I am just enjoying a lot of things that Washington has to offer in general.

Q. How is your physical condition? Because as we watched some of these earlier matches, it looked at times as if you were having a problem and then you bounced back. Are you in good shape, or are you having some problems?

MIKAEL YMER: I'm getting there. I'm getting there. That's why I think it's really healthy for me to get these matches in. For me, I don't know why, but when I play one and I play one more longer, it feels like my body goes into this mode where it actually -- I wouldn't say feel fresher, but it learns. It gets used to -- what's the word I'm looking for?

Q. (Off mic.)

MIKAEL YMER: Exactly. It's a new word that I learned today.

I felt similar playing in Winston last year. I had a lot of matches, five matches to reach the final, and almost felt fresher and fresher to Frances, Alcaraz, and these players that I played. I feel the same this year.

Q. This is a little bit off match, but I hope it's all right. There are a lot of players who now support and advocate for other causes. Andy Murray was here, and he donated proceeds for people in Ukraine. I understand that during the COVID pandemic when it was at its height you also raised money for that. Is there any initiative that you advocate for? What is it? Do you feel any responsibility to use your platform as a professional player to raise the level of awareness for it?

MIKAEL YMER: Regarding the war?

Q. Not necessarily regarding the war. What organization or what initiative do you advocate for? Is it ending the war in Ukraine? Is it saving children from hunger? Something like that. And if you don't, it's fine.

MIKAEL YMER: It's fine. It's a very deep question, and I'd love to have a proper sitdown, because I find that it's a topic which is -- because obviously there are so many things, you know, from hunger to war to these things happening.

So I'd love to sit down with you and we have a proper chat for 20, 30 minutes where we go through it. But in these, to just point out one, I find that it leads, Oh, he said this but he doesn't care about this.

So for that reason, I'm just going to -- I can pray and I can hope for peace of the world, but for the deeper answer, we'll have to do a sitdown.

I hope that's an okay answer.