MIAMI OPEN PRESENTED BY ITAú

March 27, 2023

Francisco Cerundolo

Mixed Zone

F. CERUNDOLO/F. Auger-Aliassime

6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Another big win at the Miami Open. How much did you enjoy the atmosphere out there on the Grandstand?

FRANCISCO CERUNDOLO: Yeah, super happy to get another top-10 win, another important win for me. I think I played really good from beginning to end.

Super nice to play here. A lot of Argentinian, Latin people. I really enjoyed here. Happy to play really good here again. Last year was amazing. So I'm really excited to be in the round of 16 again and try to keep winning.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You played each other recently. Obviously a different story today. How much of a factor was it being a faster court? Did that play well to your game?

FRANCISCO CERUNDOLO: Yeah, maybe, yes. I don't know. I think I play much better today than the other two matches that I play him.

I don't know. I serve much better today than in Indian Wells. In Indian Wells I couldn't serve well. I return better than I served last week. Today I return well, serve pretty good.

I think mostly was my game than him. I think, of course, he didn't play a great match, but I think I play really good compared to the other two matches.

Q. You mentioned how you had a great run to the semis here last year. What is it about the site or surface that works well with your game?

FRANCISCO CERUNDOLO: Yeah, last year, well, was much slower than this year. Everything, two different tournaments. I don't know. I like Miami. I feel really comfortable here playing. I don't know. A lot of friends, a lot of Argentinian people that support me. It's super nice to play here. I don't know, it's just good vibes.

I think my game is really good here. Hopefully I can play well or better tomorrow.

Q. Possibly Tiafoe again. How confident do you feel to get further into the tournament?

FRANCISCO CERUNDOLO: Yeah, I don't know, Tiafoe is playing Sonego tonight. Is going to be a fun match I think. Whoever wins is going to be a tough match. Both are really good players.

Tiafoe is having a great year. Last year he did amazing. I play him here last year in round of 16, so it's going to be a rematch if he wins. If Sonego wins, is going to be a new match. I never play him.

Both are really good players. Yeah, looking forward to my game, to try to play as well as today. If I play like this, I think I can beat any of them.

Q. After this match and getting ready for the next one, how do you cool down? What's the process?

FRANCISCO CERUNDOLO: Yeah, I just already stretch. Now I'm going to chill a little bit, eat something, then do some massage. I don't know. Yeah, massage to relax my body. Yeah, just rest for tomorrow 'cause I'm going to watch the match they're playing at 7 p.m. Probably analyze that a little bit, how they play, and that's all.

Q. You mentioned your return. Your second serve return points, you really returned well. Were you reading his serve? What happened that you were able to pick his serve that well?

FRANCISCO CERUNDOLO: Yeah, I think I read pretty well. He's a great server. Probably one of his biggest strokes. Yeah, I return unbelievable today from both sides, backhand, forehand.

I think the return is one of the key in my game. If I return well, also I win the matches. I really focus on the return.

Yeah, I think the key was that I read his serve pretty well.