ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 8, 2024

Arthur Fils

Press Conference

A. FILS/Y. Hanfmann

6-0, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. How did you get used to the conditions so quickly and to a new player on top of it?

ARTHUR FILS: Well, it was totally different. I was supposed to play a lefty, playing flat, and I had a player in the end who did the opposite.

I heard about it an hour and a half before the match. I had time to talk with my coaches. I know him, but I had never played him before. They knew him, so we changed tactics a little bit. But in all cases, I had to dominate.

Q. So you're happy with this match? Very quickly you were able to overrun him.

ARTHUR FILS: It was not easy. He's a pro. He beat a top 10 last year. He went to the quarters already, and today it went my way because I was able to make him run a lot and he doesn't like that.

As soon as he dictates the game, it's different. He hits hard and makes dropshots. But as soon as I was able to return deep and serve well, the match changed.

Q. The level will go up a step next round. What do you expect?

ARTHUR FILS: I expect a big match. He played well against Djokovic last year here. Between Italians and French, it's cool, and these are the matches that we practice for.

Q. You were excited to come and play here? Do you like this tournament?

ARTHUR FILS: I watched a lot this tournament on TV. I saw many champions. I'm happy to play here for the first time.

Well, it's good to play the tournament, but it's also good to win matches, and I hope I'll keep coming here in the following years, and I'm sure it's going to become a milestone in my season.

Q. Many things happened to you this year. Does this make things more complicated for you?

ARTHUR FILS: No, I like it. I am able to visit new countries. I travel a lot. It's great.

I have good experiences; others, not as good. But I'm young and I'm still learning a lot on the tour. I try to see where I'm good, where I'm not as good.

Q. So you went to South America to play on clay? Having done that, do you feel a difference playing here? The clay is different?

ARTHUR FILS: Totally different here. It has nothing to do with South America. The conditions with the humidity are very different, and the clay is a lot heavier.

Here the courts are faster. In South America, you had to hit ten times before you could win a point, but it helped me practice a lot on clay. Now I feel very comfortable moving on the court.

Some players here haven't played on clay for a year, where two months ago I was on clay already, so I feel comfortable on that surface. It was a good experience in South America. I didn't win matches, but I practiced a lot. Now I feel good.

Q. So it was good to have this tour in South America?

ARTHUR FILS: Well, it helped me spend a lot of time on the courts and practice even if I didn't win matches.

The first two weeks I was a bit sick and it was a bit difficult, but starting in Rio and Santiago and after, it was a lot better and we worked well. I feel it helped me. Now I feel very comfortable running and reading the game on clay.