THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 4, 2024

Arthur Fils

Press Conference

A. FILS/H. Hurkacz

7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-6 (ret.)

THE MODERATOR: Arthur, how are you feeling out on the grass today?

ARTHUR FILS: I'm feeling good. Feeling good. I played a great match today. Of course, it was not the end that everyone wants, but really happy about how I stay composed during two sets. And, yeah, that's it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Do you take from that match your focus on how well you played early on, or does the ending stick in your mind because I'm sure you would have liked to finish it off on your own terms?

ARTHUR FILS: Yeah, I mean, the ending is super weird. I don't know if it already happened in tennis, but it was super weird.

I mean, it's a good friend, so I'm really sad for him. Of course, me, I'm happy to win and to have a chance to play another match in Wimby.

But yeah, it was a tough end. If I just have to focus on the match, I was really happy about my level during two sets. But after during the serve, it dropped a little bit. It wasn't very good.

The fourth was good. We had some great rallies and with a good atmosphere with the crowd. So I really enjoyed to play that match.

Q. Do you text back and forth with Giovanni after the match?

ARTHUR FILS: I mean, of course. Of course. We are always texting. We see each other every day. We are going out dinner almost every day. So we are super close friends, so yeah.

Q. From 10 years old?

ARTHUR FILS: From 10 years old, yeah. We know each other since we are 10 years.

Q. Did you teach him how to serve?

ARTHUR FILS: He teach me how to return (laughing).

Q. From playing him so much?

ARTHUR FILS: Yeah, exactly.

Q. It's good practice.

ARTHUR FILS: Yes.

Q. This match was pretty big for so many different reasons. You reached your third round in the majors for the first time. You beat another top 10. I think you're actually the youngest to beat a top-10 player at a grand major since Nick Kyrgios in 2014, I believe.

ARTHUR FILS: What did you say? I'm the what?

Q. You're the youngest to beat a top-10 player in a men's singles at a major or Wimbledon, if I believe, since 2014.

ARTHUR FILS: Didn't know.

Q. So there's that. Yes, since Nick. I think he beat Nadal, I believe. So hearing all of those and accomplished that at Wimbledon, how does that feel?

ARTHUR FILS: I'm happy (laughing). No, it's nice. I mean, today was a great match. Of course, he is a top 10. He is one of the best player we can see on grass, so I was trying my best.

When I get on the court, I was trying my best to at least try to win one set, and to get him in one tiebreak. Like this we never know. I don't know. I was feeling great. I was playing quite okay. I won the first set. Then I broke early in the second one, won the second set. Then you think, like, Okay, I can win this match. I'm not too far to win it.

Then the level is dropping. It's 6-2. He is punishing you. He is serving for the fourth, and my head was already in the fifth. I don't know. I have to get my focus back and try my best.

I managed to break him back. I don't know how I did. I'm happy about this match, yes.

Q. Did you ever think that out of all of those three surfaces, grass would be the one you would go the furthest?

ARTHUR FILS: No, not at all. Not at all. It's only my second year on grass. Okay, I'm playing better than last year, but I still have so much to improve. Sometimes my movement, I don't know how to move on it. I don't know if I'm too powerful. I don't know, but I'm always slipping.

I'm in the third round, and I will try my best to be in the second week.

Q. In the fourth set when Hurkacz fell down, how were you keeping your composure mentally? You get down a set point, and you have to hold your serve. It's hard to keep the risk in there when you have to wait that long.

ARTHUR FILS: Yeah, it was the first time I was having this situation, so I didn't really know how to handle it. I think that I did pretty good. But I was okay. I don't know if I have to do one kick serve and just make him play, or I don't know if I have to try an ace, and then if I'm missing, I put pressure on my back for a second serve. I didn't really know.

Hallelujah, I passed the first serve (laughing). I mean, I played two great points because it wasn't that easy. Then he stop. Of course, it's a sad end, but I'm happy about how I deal with the two points, yes.

Q. I'm curious, what have you learned over the past year that you didn't know about life on tour and what it takes to be successful that you now know?

ARTHUR FILS: I mean, I didn't know that everyone was so nice on the tour. No, actually because when you watch everyone on the TV, I was watching everyone on the TV since I'm probably 12 years old, and it was only for me like champions.

Finally, everyone is super nice, saying hello. We always have some good conversations. That's the most important thing I saw on the tour, yes.

Q. What have you learned about what you have to do to be successful?

ARTHUR FILS: To practice. To practice and practice and practice and try to keep composed during all the matches that I'm playing, yeah.

Q. What message do you hope to send to people by your sportsmanship after the opponent got hurt and you went over to try to help him?

ARTHUR FILS: I mean, for me it's normal, completely normal. I saw a friend. He was in pain and he couldn't move. I didn't care about the score. I was just hoping that the guy is well and he can still walk and everything. He told me that he felt something in his knee.

I mean, I forgot the score at this point. I was just trying to help him, and just that's it.