ROLAND GARROS

May 31, 2023

Diego Schwartzman

Press Conference

D. SCHWARTZMAN/N. Borges

7-6, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Everybody, they all think that this clay is very special here, it's very nice clay to play on. Can you tell me if it suits your game and if you like this kind of clay?

DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN: Yeah, clearly it suits since the first time I played Roland Garros. Always I felt great here. One more time I'm in the third round here.

So, yeah, I think for me it's suiting very well. How they prepare the courts here in France, not just in Roland Garros, it's different. The clay courts here are great.

I think the bounce is, the balls that they are using, for me, for my game, it's very nice. I think for every single match you can see many good points, many good rallies, many matches to five sets already this Roland Garros.

So I think for the people and for the players, it's very good always to come here. Is not easy to have these kind of clay courts, and here are great.

Q. Can you talk about your next match against Tsitsipas. I guess it's a big challenge for you, right?

DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN: Yeah, it's a big challenge right now. Always it's emotional to play against the big guys in these kind of tournaments, in a big court with a lot of people watching that match.

We played already in different tournaments, big ones, not big ones, and I beat him few times; he beat me also few times.

So it's going to be a great match. My level a few weeks ago, it was not the best to play against these kind of guys on tour. It's great for me to already win two matches and arrive to this match with two matches on my body.

I hope to do well and be ready for the challenge.

Q. One of the unique parts of clay court tennis and clay court matches is that in between sets they have to clean the courts and water them. It's a bit of a hypnotizing ritual for those who don't see it that often. What do you make of it? Can you read any sort of deeper meaning into the fact there's a refresh after every set, and maybe that applies to how you're feeling about how you've been playing relative to the rest of the season?

DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN: You mean if it's better for me how they...

Q. If it's like a refresh, like you are kind of like a new player, they like start fresh.

DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN: No, I think clay season, the courts are a little bit different. Depends where you are and the weather and everything, it's changing on the courts. Even on clay.

Obviously hard courts, indoor are more similar each other. Here, yeah, between sets, between matches, they make the court and everything is different. But sometimes you feel good and sometimes not. To be honest, the last few weeks I play on clay and for me were not the best.

So here always my feeling with the ball, it's very nice even when I lose matches, so that's great for me. One more time I'm feeling great here.

Yeah, I think is not a different thing how they prepare or the refresh between sets on clay. It's just clay and every single country try to have the best clay courts. Here are a little bit better doing that (smiling).