ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 10, 2023

Stan Wawrinka

Press Conference

S. WAWRINKA/T. Griekspoor

5-7, 6-3, 6-4

(In French.)

THE MODERATOR: The first round was not easy. What made the difference in the last set?

STAN WAWRINKA: It was a complicated match for me for a first round. I am happy with what I did. I was able to fight back, and I stayed calm. I did what I could with my level today, and I'm happy that I was able to pull out that match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What was the most enjoyable today?

STAN WAWRINKA: The victory. Playing here with such a big crowd on a Monday is just pure joy. It's one of the most beautiful tournaments in the world, and yeah, I'm very happy I won and I will be able to play again.

Q. Physically how were you today?

STAN WAWRINKA: I had no problems. Of course the first round was long and complicated, but I needed to enter into the tournament and I did it.

Q. What happened in the last set?

STAN WAWRINKA: At the end of the match, I was hesitating a little. It was more complicated. As I said, I'm trying to find my game. It's my first match on clay. So once again, I'm very happy of what I did.

Q. As you say, it's never easy to play a first round on clay. How important is this victory for you, thinking about the past?

STAN WAWRINKA: At present, any victory is important. It's been a while now that I feel better, that I can finish the match, and I have no problem, so I'm very happy of what is happening during the matches. I feel good in practice too. I am able to play practice weeks very hard. So really, I want to add up as many victories as I can.

Q. What is your relationship with clay? Are you happy this season is starting now? How do you feel on clay?

STAN WAWRINKA: I was always happy to play on clay. I grew up on clay. It's a good moment to come back on this surface, and these tournaments are very pleasant in Europe with the beautiful environment like here, and the end is in the French Open. So I'm very happy to play again on clay. Physically I feel very good, as I said, and I hope I'm gonna win as many matches as possible.

Q. A few words about your next round, Taylor Fritz?

STAN WAWRINKA: It's going to be a tough match. He's a top-10 player. He's of the younger generation. He won many matches during the past two years. He improved a lot. He's dangerous on any surface.

Even if he didn't grow up on clay, he's very dangerous on this surface. And here the conditions are quite fast and the balls are fast, so it's going to be a good challenge, and I hope I will be able to play my game.

Q. Would you like to play even better and go further?

STAN WAWRINKA: What I want to do is keep winning. Physically I feel good and my level is quite high. I'm able to beat many players, so I just need now to play my game.