AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 19, 2023

Jeremy Chardy

Press Conference

D. EVANS/J. Chardy

6-4, 6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: We'll begin questions in English. Jeremy, first, sorry for the loss. Just talk us through how you saw your game out there today.

JEREMY CHARDY: I mean, I think I played a good match. Gave everything I could today. I start the match already really tired, so after two sets was even more difficult.

But, yeah, I'm happy to play, to compete, and it's really positive for me.

THE MODERATOR: Now begin questions to floor.

Q. The incident in the first set with the umpire and the ball falling out of your pocket, I mean, you were obviously pretty angry about it. Can you just sort of explain what happened and your feelings about it?

JEREMY CHARDY: I mean, it's a big mistake from the umpire. I hit the forehand, and the ball dropped from my pocket. He hit the backhand, and I hit another forehand before she realized the ball fall from my pocket. I still lose a point.

So, yeah, I was angry because she should stop straightaway, and she says she didn't even see the ball. I don't know what she's doing because she doesn't call in or out. She just called the score, and if she doesn't watch the point, I don't know why she's on the chair. That's it.

So I was pissed, and I was even more pissed when she didn't tell me she made the mistake.

Q. Did it affect you for some time after that?

JEREMY CHARDY: No, no. No, I tried to focus straight after, but, I mean, I know for me the first set was really important. I mean, I was already tired (laughing), so if I don't win the first or second set, I know my chances will be really low.

Q. Did your opponent have an obligation to say something or to stop play in that moment?

JEREMY CHARDY: No, I mean, it's nothing against him. It's the umpire to stop. He could say something, but it's not his job to stop the point. We already tried to play the point. So the umpire has only one thing to do.

So, no, it's a big mistake from her. Nothing with Dan.

Q. Should umpires who make mistakes, should they be punished? Should they be fined? Should there be some sort of fallout for the person that makes the mistake?

JEREMY CHARDY: I mean, yeah (laughing). I mean, like, it's what I said to her. If I miss a point, then break my racquet, I will get fined. You can do a huge mistake, and nothing will happen to you.

So, yeah, I think this is not fair, you know, because she can do mistake, but we can do a mistake. Has to be the same for both, no? If I break my racquet because I'm pissed, why I should have a sanction and not her? For me it's not fair.

Q. Jeremy, I understand you had some problems with COVID over the last 15 months or so. Can you explain a little bit about what that's been like and how you're feeling now in your physical kind of state now?

JEREMY CHARDY: I feel good. I mean, it's the Australian Open, so I feel really good. I had the surgery with my knee in between too. A lot of things happen to me. But this was a really difficult period for me, physical and mentally.

Now I'm just happy to be on court again, feel good, and try to enjoy every single moment I can spend on the court. Even if I lost today, for me it's a big win to be here and enjoy play tennis again.

Q. Was it long COVID, or do you know exactly what happened with your health?

JEREMY CHARDY: It was tough. This I know (laughing).

Q. What does the future look like for you now? Have you got a time and date in mind, or are you just going to carry on playing singles and doubles as much as you can?

JEREMY CHARDY: First I have my player playing next (laughing), so I need to go because I start to coach Ugo Humbert during this period. And for the moment he still has no coach, so I'm still his coach.

But, yeah, my goal is to play. I feel good. I'm not at my best level yet, but it will take time. I know that, but I want to do everything to try to finish the best way I can in my career, so I will give it everything.

Yeah, I will play double and single. I have only 12 protect ranking, so I have to choose well my tournament, try to be ready when I'm playing. So between the single tournament, I will try to play a lot of double to keep competing and try to feel good.

Q. What is it like being a player coach, and how do you like -- because it's not normal in tennis. How do you manage your career and then helping Ugo?

JEREMY CHARDY: Yeah, I don't know if it happened many times in the past, but it's just because I stop for one year. That's why I start to coach him, and it helped me a lot to coach him during that period, so that's why I want to continue to help him.

Especially now because he has nobody, but I will try to find someone good for him. I'm happy. He play a good match. So when he lose and I lose, it's tough (laughing). He won yesterday, so it give me happiness. I hope he will win today like this and my day is a good day.

Q. Over the year and a half did you have any doubts that you would be able to come back and come back to a high level?

JEREMY CHARDY: Yeah, for sure because especially when I had my surgery for my knee, the doctor told me, like, I will have 60% chance to play again tennis at high level, so it was really tough. Before to do the surgery I wait, like, six weeks because I was not really mentally to accept that maybe I had a chance to never play tennis again.

When I did the process and I was ready for the surgery, I did it, and after it was long because it was eight months before to be in Australia. I mean, it's difficult because you have to do a lot of small thing every day, and you don't improve much for a long time (laughing).

But to be here today is just a gift for me. I love tennis. It's my passion, and I enjoy to be on court. I enjoy to practice, so I want to continue as much as I can.