ROLAND GARROS

June 10, 2023

Niels Vink

Press Conference

N. VINK/S. Schroder

3-6, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations.

NIELS VINK: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: Can you share with the room how you're feeling right now?

NIELS VINK: Yeah, I'm feeling really happy now. It was a really long battle, a great fight, but yeah, I'm really happy here to win it back to back (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Congratulations.

NIELS VINK: Thank you.

Q. Obviously a tough match, and you were down at one point. How did you motivate yourself to keep fighting, keep yourself in the match?

NIELS VINK: Yeah, the whole match I was not -- yeah, Sam was leading except for the second set I was 3-Love up, and then yeah, I managed to stay calm, not get frustrated. Of course I was a little bit frustrated, because yeah, the first set was not a really high level, but then the second set I played better and played aggressive.

In the third set, I had control over the points. Yeah, played really good.

Q. Is it difficult playing someone you know so well? The things you have to do to try to surprise him and doing something that perhaps he's not expecting.

NIELS VINK: Yeah, yeah, it's always difficult to play him, to play Sam, because yeah, we know each other so well. We play doubles together. He's also a really good player. So, yeah, like I said before to you, the match was gonna be great.

It was a great match (smiling).

Q. How does it compare to the final last year, like how do you reflect on the match last year compared to how this match turned out?

NIELS VINK: Yeah, this year's final was, yeah, it was a final. Last year, due to the rain, it felt really strange. Had so many chances to finish it on Saturday, but didn't do it. Yeah, on Sunday we only played a tiebreak.

But last year felt really strange, but this year, yeah, it felt like a final. It was a good final. It was close. So, yeah, really happy with the win.

Q. Congratulations. How did you find defending a major title? Is it a challenge? Players talk about the difference between defending a title and winning it for the first time, so coming back as a champion. Did you feel the pressure?

NIELS VINK: No, I didn't feel pressure. Yeah, I was a little bit shaky, but yeah, I just tried to stay calm, be with my -- yeah, just don't get frustrated. Talking with my coach to keep my calm and do what I needed to do.

Yeah, I'm happy that I won it and I defended my title.

Q. Yourself at 20, Oda wins at 17. There's some really, really good young talent in the ranks. How exciting is that for the sport?

NIELS VINK: Yeah, it's really exciting. I'm 20. Tokito is 17. He's a good friend. Yeah, it's great to see him winning his first Grand Slam and for me winning it back to back. Yeah, it's amazing for the sport to have young people.

Q. I know from an Australian perspective you looked up to Dylan, but do you now look at young talent coming through and think one day they will challenge me?

NIELS VINK: I hope. I hope there will be young talent. Yeah, I'm missing Dylan on tour. It was always good to have him. Someone who I looked up to. But now, yeah, hopefully I can beat all his records and be better than he was (smiling).

Q. You played now at Roland Garros, you have won Roland Garros twice, but one tournament you have not yet won is Wimbledon. So how important will that be to you for the rest of the summer?

NIELS VINK: Yeah, also Australia I haven't won. Of course Wimbledon is Wimbledon. It's a tradition. Everything is special over there. So it's really, yeah, if I'm able to win it, it's really special. It's not my favorite one, because the grass, I find it there really difficult. Yeah, Roland Garros is my favorite surface, on clay, because, yeah, I love to play on clay.

Yeah, of course it's special to win Wimbledon, but let's do one tournament at a time.

Q. What are your next plans, and do you have any expectations for the future?

NIELS VINK: Yeah, my next plan is now doping control. (Laughter.)

Then, yeah, of course, celebrating with my family who came to watch. Tomorrow I will go with the train to Nice for the French Riviera Open. Yeah, of course I want to win that one too.

I'm going to make me ready to play that tournament. After that, I want to be ready for Wimbledon. Then we will see what's gonna happen.