ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2024

David Goffin

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/D. Goffin

7-6, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What is your reaction to the response from Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo to some of the things you said the other day? What do you think about the ban on alcohol, first of all? There's to be no more alcohol drunk in the stands.

DAVID GOFFIN: First of all, I didn't know. So happy that you told me the story, but I don't know what to say. I don't know if it was the reason why after my match two days ago. I just said what I was thinking.

I didn't want to make a long story about that. It was just what I was feeling after my match, but then I didn't know if it was because of the alcohol or something, but I don't even -- I didn't know that alcohol was -- they were drinking alcohol during the match in the stands or in the stadium. So I didn't know.

No, maybe something great. I have no idea. I don't know what to say. No, what I can say is just that today was just a great, great atmosphere. It was a little bit easier mentally, but I didn't win the match.

Q. On today's match how would you sum it up? It was very close, especially in the first set. Do you regret any decisions you made in the tiebreak? Are there any things that you regret about the tiebreak?

DAVID GOFFIN: I don't regret it, but I had some opportunities, of course. It was 2-0 up. Then, yeah, unforced errors and then an easy volley. I mean, never easy, but I can maybe make it for 3-1.

Then I think I wanted to go for it and try to win that first set. I was more aggressive. I was the one who wanted to take it, but it's never easy against him.

You know before the tiebreak that it's going to be, like, minimum two, three big serves or aces. When he starts tiebreaker with almost a 3-Love or 4-Love, it's not easy. You don't have any margin of mistakes.

I did two in a row at the beginning of the tiebreak to go from 3-1 to 4-Love, and at the end I lose it 7-4. So it was a tough one, a tough tiebreak, but he was really solid, served really well the whole match and solid from the baseline. I had opportunities, but it was not enough.

Q. This is a different topic, but this could be Andy Murray's last year on the tour, and you've had some pretty epic battles with him through the years. I wonder if you have any memories of him and what you think his legacy will be when he goes?

DAVID GOFFIN: Some good battles, I don't know because he killed me all the time. Yes, it's amazing what Andy did for the sport. I played him many times, and I always felt that he was too good. It's insane what he did, especially with the other three big guys who was playing with him.

Yeah, he was part of the big four, that's for sure. He was World No. 1. He world Grand Slams. He won so many Masters 1000. He was just a monster, a legend. Yeah, it was an amazing career. He deserve the best for the last few tournaments probably or the last few months that he has on the tour.

Q. Could I ask you another crowd question, in general terms?

DAVID GOFFIN: Yeah, of course, go ahead.

Q. Crowds have changed their behavior since the start of your career, generally, in tennis. Also, can you talk about the post-COVID effect as well? Can you tell it's different in the last couple of years?

DAVID GOFFIN: Yeah, I think it changed. It's funny because after my match and after especially my press conference two days ago, I don't know how many people and how many players came to me and were on my side. I was surprised that everybody was, like, Okay, what you said is great, what you said to the press is great, I agree. So everybody is behind me, so I'm really surprised.

I think, yeah, it changed and especially the last few years. I don't know if it was after the COVID or not, but the last few years, yeah, it changed a lot. Different kind of support here, yeah, in Paris. More excitement, more a little bit aggressive, I would say.

I would say the people, they come to have fun. That's for sure. Sometimes they just go for too much. Sometimes between the points, sometimes -- I'm not going to repeat what I said already. So it changed a little bit.

Hopefully it's good what Amélie did because if they continue like that, you never know. They said, Okay, it was fine this year. Maybe we go for it for more next year and then the year after is going even for more. You never know what they're going to -- if they're going to come with firecrackers.

But, yeah, we see. I think it changed a little bit.

Q. David, I think you explained the match. I suppose that you were quite reassured during the first set given your performance on Tuesday. I suppose it was more or less the same. Is this the positive take-home message that you would take because you know you can put in a fight against these players?

DAVID GOFFIN: Yeah. Not far from winning the first set. I could have taken it, but then he played better. I don't have the impression that I was down very much during the second and third ones, but he continued to play his -- he plays really hard, solid. If you lose your focus, then the points go very quickly. You have to fight for your serve games, and sometimes he plays the first four serves, and then the game is for him.

My level was okay. The match was not bad. There were good moments. So I should take back home what's positive from this match. As I said earlier on, he's in form. Against all the matches I played against him, it's the best tennis he played against me today.

I think it's the first time we played in a Grand Slam I think, if my memory serves me well. So good match on his side. He was solid. He played better and better as we were going in the match. Really tough.

Q. If you look at the tournament in general, you're satisfied. What would you say is positive, and what do you think you can improve in the months to come?

DAVID GOFFIN: There are things that are good. You know, I played a match here that I won and then playing here in a Grand Slam in a three-setter -- winning a match is never easy in three sets. A good match.

There were good things against Zverev. It's the second round, okay, but the feelings were good, and I should continue treading this path going upwards for the time being.

I'll try and improve quite a lot of things, being more aggressive, hitting the balls when they bounce off and playing better and gaining confidence and building on that.

Q. To pick up on what you answered, that is the first question about Zverev, I think you played against him several times, and usually you were a bit of a pain in the neck for him. Has he improved a lot, and if so, which type of thing has he improved? Is it his forehand?

DAVID GOFFIN: Yeah, his forehand is his weak point. It still is. Always been, and still is. It all depends on the conditions, but here he's gained trust or confidence, and everything is okay as the tournament starts, and he likes clay as well. He feels good.

I think he can hit very strong first serves even though the balls might be a bit wet or damp, and the conditions are what they are. He serves really well. He's solid, really hits across the court and moves around very nicely. So when the conditions are heavy, it's difficult to have the lead. He's really good.

Q. We've talked a lot about you on the court and off the court. Now, given what you said, do you have the impression that you have gained respect from the other players in the locker room, the fact that you can speak out and people listen to you and the top managers of the tournament are listening to you?

DAVID GOFFIN: As I tried to say in English, I said, well, I told people what I was thinking after the match, and I was surprised to see that quite a lot of people were supporting me, so many players and coaches and other people. All these people were there. They were supporting me.

I didn't know that people would give so much importance to this that it would become a buzz, and now they've even taken measures, which is what Amélie has done.

I was okay when I said what I had to say. That's what I was thinking. Then when you know that you're going to be supported by many people, you're not afraid of speaking out.

Q. To finish on that point, now, let's think about the future. Would you think that this is a one-off thing, or should we be worried about these types of behaviors?

DAVID GOFFIN: I don't know if we should be worried, but then when it keeps on coming year in, year out, maybe we have to be careful. I don't know. If there are groups of fans who continue like this next year, maybe they're going to do more and the year after even more, and then how far can you go? I don't know how far this can go.

Look at the fans in soccer or football. I don't think this is what we want here in the world of tennis, but I think the most important thing is to try to encourage the players we like, of course, and as much as we can, but then saying things against the players you don't like is not really part of the ethics for the fans I think.