THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2024

Arthur Fils

Press Conference

A. FILS/R. Safiullin

4-6, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Tell me how it felt for you out there today.

ARTHUR FILS: Really happy. It's been a tough match with tough conditions. We stopped twice. There was a lot of wind.

So I'm really happy about how I managed my emotion because after the third set I was very down, but I managed. I mean, I know how, but I'm really happy how I did.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Arthur, first of all, I want to ask you about your next opponent. You played Alex earlier this year and beat him. Do you think you have the weapons to do that again on this surface, on grass.

ARTHUR FILS: We played on clay, so it's completely different. Completely different. It's going to be a good match I think. He's one of the best on the surface for sure, so I'm going to try my best.

Let's see if I can win this one, but it's not going to be easy at all.

Q. He said earlier today that you were a great athlete, and he was really impressed with the way you played. What do you see in the way he plays? What are his strengths?

ARTHUR FILS: He's one of the fastest guys I know. It's like if I want to hit one winner, I will have to hit three winners against him.

So it's going to be very interesting. Of course, everyone knows that he's fast, but he is also super clever on the court. He's doing unbelievable since the start of the year, so it's not going to be easy.

Q. When do you allow yourself to start to dream? I mean, you're in the second week. At what point do you start to dream and start to envision of playing on Centre Court, of playing maybe for the championship at some point? Does your mind go to those places?

ARTHUR FILS: For now I didn't start to dream, no. No, I'm still very focused.

I mean, it's only second week. It's great, of course. It's great, but it's only second week.

I have one of the toughest opponents in the draw to play. I mean, I didn't even see what can get after Alex because it's going to be very tough. So I'm still focusing on one match, and after one I will see after that.

Q. Is it hard to stop yourself from thinking ahead?

ARTHUR FILS: No, no, no. I'm really focused on the next match. That's it.

Q. You said earlier that you knew what to do when you were coming down on the third set, all the things that you have actually felt like helped for you to win this match?

ARTHUR FILS: I had one very tough third set. Mentally I get down quickly. I was complaining a little bit about the wind and about the condition.

Then at the start of the fourth I said to myself, Arthur, now you shut the fuck up. Sorry, but I said it. Now you play, and you stop complaining about everything, and we see at the end if you win this one, but at least you don't talk anymore.

I think it was one of the reasons that I won it because honestly I was really locked in, really focused. Yeah, it helps me a lot.

Q. Would you have won this match a year ago?

ARTHUR FILS: No, for sure no. I would have lost it.