AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2023

Lloyd Harris

Press Conference

L. HARRIS/L. Musetti

6-4, 6-1, 7-6, 6-2, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Lloyd, what was the key to that fifth set and getting over the line on Court 7?

LLOYD HARRIS: Thank you. I'm still trying to figure out myself. Yeah, it was -- obviously I played a really good tie-breaker at the end. I think that's what it came down to. The set was really dead even. We both broke each other once, and, yeah, I just said to myself am I going to miss a ball here? Give it my all, and that's what I did. I think maybe that's what got me over.

Q. Up the early advantage, what do you think happened there that he lifted, I guess, but that got him back into the match?

LLOYD HARRIS: Yeah, I mean, he is a good player, right? Obviously he is very talented, young player. Very good player.

And I think I was controlling the match really well, putting a lot of pressure, and until some point in the third set he was trying to find a way, and he was still missing. Then all of a sudden he got one or two opportunities, took it, and then he kind of found a way better level and rhythm. So it was a little bit hard for me.

But, yeah, I just had to step up and play a better level from there on out. It's as simple as that.

Q. When you think back to what you've been through, does this make this extra satisfying, the six months off the tour, the surgery and all that?

LLOYD HARRIS: Absolutely. Absolutely. It's been really hard. A lot of things, ups and downs. I mean, me and the team, family, everyone, we worked so hard for me to get back here. So, I mean, it feels amazing. It feels amazing to be back playing, enjoying the crowd, just enjoying the tennis. I mean, I had a blast out there.

I think win or lose, I mean, obviously, I would be very disappointed, but I was really just enjoying the moment, the crowd, the atmosphere. It was great.

Q. When was the last time you felt that way on a court?

LLOYD HARRIS: Gosh, I've had a lot of those moments, honestly. I think last year almost nothing. It was just the few tournaments I played, it was tough. I had actually a really fun match against Shapo in Miami with also the crowd. I was in a great mood like this.

Before that a ton of matches at US Open when I had that run. But it's been a minute, right? I haven't played for a while, so I feel very satisfied right now.

Q. Can you just sort of take us, before you had this injury and you had the surgery, you were playing amazing tennis. Towards the top of the game. How devastating was it that you went from the highest of highs to probably one of your lowest lows in a number of years?

LLOYD HARRIS: Yeah, not easy. Not easy. I think the hardest thing was to accept it mentally, you know. Physically there was a problem. I was limited. I couldn't. I was in a lot of pain and playing with a lot of pain.

I knew what had to be done, and it was hard for myself to, you know, to accept it. But as soon as I did the surgery, I think I went to a new page in the book. I actually felt happy. I was excited that we're going to get rid of that pain, and I could get back to playing and enjoying the game I love.

Actually I feel like I learned so much and could reflect so much. I think it just makes me better as a player and a person, like, through all the things I've been through in the last few months. It was really hard work, but, yeah, it's part of it.

Q. Did it take a while to make the decision that you were going to have the surgery?

LLOYD HARRIS: It did. It was inevitable that I had to, but it did take me maybe, you know, some time before I decided to eventually do it, yeah.

Q. And just now a match like tonight when you are having these highs and lows, I imagine it's not even coming into your mind at that point. How nice is it just to be able to open that new chapter in a way like this?

LLOYD HARRIS: It's very special, honestly. Obviously at some point in the match things weren't going my way, you know, from being up and then it started -- the momentum shifts completely. Just the way I battled and fought and enjoyed the moment.

Yeah, winning in the end felt super special. I was a bit emotional. Like, very excited, very happy along with the team because we know what we've done in the last couple of months, and it wasn't easy.

So we're super happy with it, yeah.

Q. What exactly was the injury that required the surgery on your right wrist?

LLOYD HARRIS: Yeah, I had a torn TFCC in my right wrist. Completely off. Just before going into the surgery we discovered, because I was playing with it for a little while, that I tore another tendon. I'm not sure of the name. Off the bone that runs across my wrist.

It was kind of two-in-one fix. The main one, obviously, being the TFCC, which is one of the two biggest tendons over there, yeah.

Q. Marton Fucsovics next. What are your thoughts?

LLOYD HARRIS: Yeah, good player, good player. Played him a few times. Had some tough matches with him. I know he has played pretty well here before also, but right now I'm just enjoying my win.

I think tomorrow I'll start looking and thinking about that. I think now it's just getting the body ready, getting the body recovered a little bit. He is a good player, and I'm looking forward to the match.

Thanks, guys.