THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2024

Paul Jubb

Press Conference

T. SEYBOTH WILD/P. Jubb

1-6, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Paul, how are you feeling right now?

PAUL JUBB: Yeah, obviously gutted. Yeah, just gutted.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Paul, you started so well. What do you think changed? What turned the match around?

PAUL JUBB: I think he just started playing much better. Like, I don't think I played worse, like much worse. I felt like I maintained a decent level throughout the majority of the match.

But I think the biggest difference was he started serving better. So to break him became a lot tougher. His first-serve percentage and was hitting the spots. I didn't quite serve as well as I could today.

So, yeah, just as the match went on, I think him serving better and making it tougher for me to break was what kept him in. Then started to gain more momentum.

Q. Was it hard when you've been two sets up and then you lose the next two, and you are going into a fifth? Is it hard to keep your mind clear in those moments when it feels like it's unraveling a little bit?

PAUL JUBB: I think you're obviously aware of the momentum shift. You try and do your best to kind of put a stop it, but I don't feel like... Yeah, in the moment I was able to stay pretty present and just try and do my best in that moment.

But, yeah, I think credit to him the way he was just able to, yeah, produce as it went on and not give me as many looks as what I had earlier on.

Q. When you went the break up at the start of the third, did you think that was it now? Did you think you were going to go on?

PAUL JUBB: Not at all. At this level you get a break early, there's still a long way to go. Obviously the game I got broken a few kind of routine forehands that I missed, but I went for them, which I'm proud of. I didn't kind of go pushy and hope for him to miss. I tried to stay aggressive.

Yeah, but obviously in those moments you know you still have a long way to go.

Q. How desperate were you to get that first Wimbledon win today?

PAUL JUBB: Yeah, I think that's the main thing what's kind of hanging over my head right now is I really wanted to tick that one off the list as one of my childhood dreams. One point away is brutal.

So that's the thing what's kind of in my mind right now. It is what it is, and all you can do is move forward from it, keep going. I'm on a positive trend. So I just have to keep working hard.

Q. Regarding the rain delay, did that have an impact a little bit? Did it break your rhythm at all?

PAUL JUBB: It was obviously frustrating. And after the second one, he played well. Yeah, I don't feel like I played bad. He started putting more balls in court, playing more aggressive, hardly missing, but also hitting more winners. So maybe it helped him kind of regroup.

But, yeah, I felt like actually I did a decent job of not being, like, coming out too low. When he came back from the rain delay, he earned it. That I'm not kind of, I don't regret, you know?

Q. I know today isn't the result you've wanted, but you've had a great grass season so far. So has Jack. I know you went through your own injuries. Can you talk about being there for each other in those moments and now reaping the rewards and being out the other end of it.

PAUL JUBB: Yeah, I was very grateful to kind of be around Jack and have both of us together to help get through kind of a tough period that we both had last year. So we kept each other's motivation high and kept pushing each other to have a good attitude towards kind of the situation.

You know, that's what your friends are for, and that's what we always try and do. We always try and help each other see the best side of things and always keep pushing each other to move forward wherever you are at.

Yeah, I think that was very valuable to have each other for that time period.

Q. If you can talk a bit about Mallorca. I know it's probably not really on your mind at the moment, but that was -- you made career breakthroughs last week. If you can just take us back to the week and how you felt. You are trending in the right direction, like you said. If you can maybe talk a bit about Mallorca.

PAUL JUBB: Yeah, it's good to get rewarded for the hard work you put in. So I think that was just the main thing, I think. The people who are with me daily training and I myself know what level I'm capable of and what I produce day in-day out.

Yeah, so it's there and then to actually do it, get rewarded for it was great. As you said, a huge positive for me and a big confidence boost. So hopefully just keep trending in that direction and more good things will hopefully come.

Q. Jack was mentioned there, and I wanted to ask how kind of what he's like off the court to people who don't know him so well.

PAUL JUBB: Great guy. Can't say a bad word about him. Yeah, always there for me picking me up, motivating me, encouraging me, giving of me advice, whatever it is, to be the best I can be, and likewise back to him that's what I try and do.

Yeah, just a super caring guy. He's got a big heart. So, yeah, can't really say a bad word about him.

Q. Of course, Andy Murray couldn't play today, and I know that you've received a lot of advice from him in the past. You're repped by his agency. I was wondering if you can ask your thoughts about his retirement and career in tennis. Is it still an inspiration for you? What are your thoughts at this moment on that?

PAUL JUBB: The guy is a massive inspiration, for British tennis, anyone worldwide tennis. The guy is a legend. I hope people don't forget how much of a legend he actually is and the privilege we have to be around him daily at the National Tennis Center.

It's something I don't take for granted even though I joke around with him and, yeah, banter with him a lot. To be in the presence of a legend like that is something I'm very grateful for and seeing how he operates. So, yeah, huge inspiration.

Q. You're competing on the same level or beating players ranked a lot higher than you. Does that kind of give you confidence of where you can get to hopefully in the not too distant future?

PAUL JUBB: Yeah, for sure. This is definitely where I feel I belong. As I said earlier, my level is there. I'm good enough to compete in the top 100 and beat top-100 guys.

But, you know, I was injured and had to start from scratch. So, yeah, just got to work my way up, which I'm doing right now, but hopefully the past results I've had, the performances consistently putting out on the court shows that what I'm capable of and where my level is and where I belong.