ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2024

Matteo Arnaldi

Press Conference

M. ARNALDI/A. Muller

6-4, 6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Matteo, solid performance from your side today. Can you talk about how you felt out there today and how happy you are to get to the third round for the first time at Roland Garros?

MATTEO ARNALDI: I'm really happy. It wasn't an easy match, for sure. We started yesterday at 11:00, and we finished today at 2:00 almost.

It's tough because you always have to be there. Like even if you are not playing, you know that you are into the match. You have to think to do stuff that maybe if you finish, it's completely different, or even if you don't even start, like, it's different.

It wasn't easy. I think it's one of the longest matches I ever played because I had opponent once that suspended and then started the day after, but then like today we suspended again. I'm just happy that I was able to finish the match before another rain came. So I'm just happy for it.

If I have to talk about the match, it's tough because there was a lot of situation that we switched, but I'm pretty happy about my performance, for sure.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. We speak quite a lot about the public at the moment. You play in Italy. It can be hot at times, the atmosphere. What do you think about the public and the supporters cheering in your sport? What's your point of view?

MATTEO ARNALDI: I don't have much to say. I played with two French, but for me it's normal. You play in Italy, you have your crowd. You play in France, you have the crowd against -- you play in France against a French, you have the crowd against you. To be honest, I don't have much to complain.

They were pretty good because they have never been unrespectful. I enjoy it for sure. It wasn't easy to play against the crowd and the opponent, but I enjoy to play because it's always nice to have a full stadium or a full court every time you play.

Like I said, nothing to complain. I'm just happy that I was able to play and to win these two matches against French.

Q. You play Rublev next round. You played him in Vienna last year. What will be the key point for you?

MATTEO ARNALDI: I played in Vienna against him, and completely different conditions. It was hard indoors. So I will have the time to prepare the match, for sure.

I hope it's going to be a good match for sure, but right now I don't know what to expect because I don't know what I'm going to play, if I'm going to play under the roof or not and if I'm going to play in a bigger stadium. I don't know anything right now.

Just happy that I finished, like I said, and then in the next hours I will think about that match.

Q. You played eight matches on the tour against French players. You won every one of them. Did you know about this record? And if it's the case, does it give you confidence before playing those type of matches?

MATTEO ARNALDI: I discovered that after finished the match against Fils because everything -- like in every side or everywhere was telling 7-0, 7-0, whatever. I was going to play against another French. So I know about that, but to be honest, it doesn't give me anything. Every match is different.

It's different, and I don't know why, to be honest, I won against all these French. I like to play with them. I don't know, to be honest. I think it's just a random thing. I'm happy to have this in my favor.