DAVIS CUP FINALS

September 17, 2022

Borna Gojo

Team Croatia

Press Conference

B. GOJO/S. Baez

6-1, 3-6, 6-3

Croatia - 1

Argentina - 0

THE MODERATOR: Borna, how did it feel on court today?

BORNA GOJO: Yeah, happy finally won one. Would have been really depressed if I left here without a win.

Also important match for us today, try to pass the group, try to win. So, yeah, I'm so happy for this point that I managed to finally bring to the team. I hope this can be a little help to Borna also, maybe play a bit looser, easier, knowing we're up 1-0.

Still I think he's a favorite in this match. I think he's going to win. I think we can win 3-0. That's what I'm hoping for.

THE MODERATOR: You started the first set with a very difficult position, Love-40, three amazing serves. Is today the day you were serving better, was a good weapon for you?

BORNA GOJO: Yeah, you know, my game is based a lot on my serve. Here it was tougher because it doesn't really go off the court.

I think I was hitting my spots better today. I was feeling the court a bit better. Adjusted my game. Yeah, it was a good day for me.

THE MODERATOR: Were you expecting probably Cerundolo for this match? Or did you know you were going to face Baez?

BORNA GOJO: I didn't really know. My guess was Baez and Cerundolo, while other team members thought it was going to be Schwartzman and Cerundolo ow. I thought that was going to be their team. I was ready to play forever.

I thought it was going to be Baez.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How do you explain you always play so well in Davis Cup, apart from one match?

BORNA GOJO: This is why I play tennis, to play for my country. It's probably the only thing that matters to me in the year.

I mean, I try to try hard all the time, but it's not that easy. When I'm here, I really thrive and I enjoy and I feel very proud and responsible. I give 180%.

All the guys from the team this week, they know how much I struggled, at times I wasn't feeling my best. So happy that I managed to pull this one, bring the point to the team.

Yeah, just enjoying Davis Cup a lot. Unfortunately it's always someone doesn't come when I play. Last year unfortunately Borna was hurt. This year Marin couldn't come, so I step in and play, which makes me very happy.

Hopefully if we pass the group, Marin can join us also.

Q. Do you think Croatia has a particular national pride that brings the best, not just on you, but water polo, basketball, volleyball? For some reason Croatia, even if you have only four million Croatians, apparently you take out the best of you. I would like to also know why you cannot find the strength on yourself to be a better player so when there is a single tournament where you don't represent Croatia but yourself?

BORNA GOJO: Yeah, definitely big national pride, at least in my case. I know the history of our country. A lot of people sacrificed a lot to give us the country that we have. When I hear the anthem, when I see my flag, I'm ready to go and do whatever I have to.

If I had to, I don't know, eat this court inch by inch, I would eat it, no problem. I do whatever.

Yeah, in other sports also. This is very important for me. Yeah, very important competition.

As to why I can't do it for myself? I would like to know the answer. I don't know. I try hard. When you're going through these challengers and stuff, it's not always crowd around, not always people. There's you and your coach. You're, like, just trying to battle around. It's not a big stage.

Some weeks you just struggle to find the motivation. You're just kind of losing money every week. You're like, Why am I doing this? I'm like 160 in the world. I cannot make any money if I don't play Davis Cup or Grand Slams. If you don't do well in Grand Slams, you're going to lose money. It's very tough.

But I think I'm improving. I think I'm going to get there and I'm going to be able to play even better for my country.

Q. You played against Italy. That day you didn't play so well against Musetti. You didn't get any break points. It's not that Musetti serves like Opelka or Isner. How do you explain that in so many games you took only seven points in the first set on his serve and four points on his serve in the second set? That is a bit unreal.

BORNA GOJO: Yeah, some days you come out and you just play shit. You got to accept it. I try to play better.

That day honestly was just very bad. I think they really did a good job of preparing his game plan for me, whereas he played a lot of stuff I do not like.

Yeah, just some days I play terrible. That was one. I was trying. Trust me, I was trying. I was trying to do better. I was trying to mix some things up.

Yeah, just took me a bit more to adjust to here. Yeah, just a bad match for me.

I always say credit to the opponent, but I played terrible.