ROLAND GARROS

May 27, 2024

Arthur Fils

Press Conference

M. ARNALDI/A. Fils

6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You were saying you were feeling good during practice. What about during the match?

ARTHUR FILS: Well, quite okay. It was a good match. I missed a number of important shots, but he played really well from A to Z, apart from the end of the second set when he missed a number of shots, but otherwise, he was really good. Congratulations to him.

Q. Were you surprised by the number of break points on both sides? It was crazy.

ARTHUR FILS: No, I know. His returns were really good, and the clay was a bit slow. It had rained. The conditions were a bit heavy. I knew that we would have a lot of break points.

I was not far from breaking him back during the fourth set. Didn't happen, though. After that I had to be solid in my head -- in his head, and we saw it made the difference.

Q. What about your finger injury? Did it make a difference? I had the impression that at the end after the medical interruption you were no longer in the match.

ARTHUR FILS: Did I decide to let things go? I don't think so, but when the rhythm is cut when you have to come back on the court, I don't know. I can't really remember the points, but when it was 4-2, I made two errors, and he had two good shots. So that's the way it is. Nothing to say about this. Then after this, no, everything is okay.

Q. Why is he such a tough player because he's tough for you?

ARTHUR FILS: I think you saw how he plays. He doesn't miss many points. It's not the important moments when he misses, and he made me play the extra ball at the right moment, and his match was really good.

Is he my worst player I should play against? Well, yes, yes, he is. He is. I have to find my way to manage the match. Each time we play it's a good match. He wins all the time, but it's good matches that we play.

Q. A few words about the French Open because you had two opportunities to play against him. Now, of course, there's the Olympics. That's probably your priority now.

ARTHUR FILS: Now the Olympics is my number one priority. It's finished for me here, so I'll focus on the Olympics.

Q. Two years in a row when you are out during the first round. However, with these losses, would you learn something? Would you perhaps consider the next step?

ARTHUR FILS: Well, what do you think about this? Yes, two years and four-setters on the Simonne-Mathieu court. Two years, exactly the same scenario. Well, have I learned a number of lessons from last year? I don't believe so (laughing). No, I'm joking.

But I think I've been playing good matches for the past two years, even though I didn't win. It's unfortunate, but it's the way it is, and the wind will change. Is it going to be next year? I don't know. In two years? I don't know. Will I lose again first round on Simonne-Mathieu? Quite likely, but that's the way it is, and then we'll see.

Q. When it was 4-All when you were dictating the game, he was moving right and left and right and left, and the crowd was with you. He was making errors. Is that when you felt it could have been the turning point?

ARTHUR FILS: I was feeling good at that moment. I thought I had the upper hand, and I think I missed -- well, I missed the break point. His game was solid. Well, the points were really good.

Q. (Off microphone)

ARTHUR FILS: Yeah, I remember that.

Q. (Off microphone)

ARTHUR FILS: Yes, I remember that, but it was not wonderful at that moment, but when we reached 4-4, well, I would say it was a good game that we were playing. Then I made a silly mistake on the break point as usual. So break point for him, and that's the way it is.