US OPEN

September 9, 2022

Neal Skupski

Wesley Koolhof

Press Conference

RAM-SALISBURY/Koolhof-Skupski

7-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It was a really close, high-quality match. Your thoughts on it as a contest?

NEAL SKUPSKI: Yeah, I mean, I think it was really close, fine margins. I don't think the tennis was amazing. I think you get that in finals anyway. There was also a bit more nerves.

But I feel like on my side I didn't perform on my best or maybe the team didn't perform the way we can, like we did over the two weeks.

But like Joe and Rajeev, they play well and they don't kind of let you play well. That's why they're the champions and also have been at the top of the rankings for some time now.

On a personal note, very disappointing, but also great to make my first Grand Slam doubles final on the men's side, and then a mixed title. Yeah, very disappointing. But we will take our positives from it and hopefully rebound the rest of the year and then again in Australia.

Q. I suppose you were one of the few British athletes who was actually in action today, with everything going on at home. I guess you wore the black ribbon for the sign of respect. Can you just talk about being in action on the day when everyone back home is...

NEAL SKUPSKI: Yeah, it is a bit strange. I mean, I haven't really watched too much of it from the TV because I saw a lot of it yesterday when it actually happened, when Joe was playing, because it was on the TV next to us.

When we finished yesterday, we grabbed dinner straightaway, and then went to the hotel and spoke about today's match. It was quite a quick turnaround. Obviously went to sleep and woke up early this morning. Haven't had time to kind of fully see all of the news.

I have seen like some of the football's called off for this weekend, I think it is, maybe other sporting events.

I mean, we still don't know, I don't know what's happened about Davis Cup.

It is going ahead?

Q. Yes.

NEAL SKUPSKI: Yeah, I mean, that's next week. I haven't really... I don't know what was happening. I haven't really seen much of the news. But incredibly sad for obviously the country and obviously the world for what she did.

Yeah, it was a bit strange, us playing when obviously the country is in mourning. She was a great servant and we will obviously remember that she was an incredible woman.

Q. It's kind of strange, isn't it, that the four of you having played here and all in the same Davis Cup group and potentially all going to play against each other? How strange is that?

WESLEY KOOLHOF: Yeah, it's going to be -- well, the level is extremely high in our group, obviously. Top four doubles players are all in the same group in Glasgow. Going to be a strange one. Let's see if all four of us are going to play or let's see what the captains have in mind.

No, Davis Cup is always a nice event. So hopefully with all the things going on it's still going to be a great event in Glasgow. Yeah, looking forward to play against Neal for a change hopefully.

NEAL SKUPSKI: You never know...

WESLEY KOOLHOF: If Leon picks him for our clash on Friday, I think it is.

Looking forward to it. Flying home tomorrow and then going to Glasgow. See what we can do there.