AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2023

Roberto Bautista Agut

Press Conference

R. BAUTISTA AGUT/B. Holt

4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining our press conference with Roberto Bautista Agut. Roberto, what a comeback. How are you feeling after today's game?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: Well, feeling good now. I think it was a good comeback. He really started playing unbelievable tennis. And I think was a bit unfair the score. I was 6-4, 2-0 down, and I felt that I was not doing bad things, but sometimes when the opponent plays good, you need to wait your time. I think I wanted to keep going. I fought until the end, and I could make a good comeback.

THE MODERATOR: Any questions.

Q. How would you assess your level coming into Melbourne? We saw you in Adelaide last week. How are you feeling?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: I'm feeling well, feeling strong, playing good tennis. The feelings I have on the court, it's good. Feeling well on the court and enjoying.

Q. It's not escaped our notice that you could play a potential Andy Murray in the next round. That will bring back a lot of memories from 2019. Can I just take you back to that incredible match?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: I will be happy for him if he is winning the match tonight and happy also to have another chance to play Andy on the third round.

Q. When you played him in 2019 in that amazing kind of atmosphere and match, did you imagine that you might play him again here four years later?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: No. Well, I don't understand why he did, but sometimes you do... I don't know what he wanted to do in that match, but I'm happy for him that he's in good shape, he is winning good matches, and he is enjoying the court again.

Q. I was just going to say did you see any of his match against Matteo Berrettini?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: Yes. Everybody watched this match.

Q. What did you think of the way that he played?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: As I said, he is playing well. He is enjoying again. He looks fit. He is a good fighter. He loves the game, and he is a good tennis player.

Q. You lost your first three matches to him, and you've won the last three against him. Is that more about the way you've worked out how to play him, would you say?

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: I think I improved my game during the years, and also I'm better player than when I played at the first times against him.

Well, to play him in a slam, it's always a tough match. But, first of all, he needs to win tonight against the one good player from Australia.

Q. When I've watched that match four years ago here, what struck me, Roberto, was that there was a lot of fuss around Andy and retirement and that you had to go out there and play your match. That must have been quite difficult for you to deal with all that retirement talk with your opponent across the net and his injury. That must have been difficult for you.

ROBERTO BAUTISTA AGUT: It was like Davis Cup atmosphere. It was very loud, very crowded. A lot of people supporting him. I think all the court was supporting him. I did a great job. I ended up winning that match, and it gave me a lot of confidence to play quarterfinal here in Australia.