US OPEN

September 4, 2024

James Trotman

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. James, what are your emotions after watching that happen?

JAMES TROTMAN: Pretty surreal, to be honest with you. It still hasn't quite sunk in. I think the drama of the match, I mean, I think Jack handled the match incredibly well. His level was high.

Obviously started to struggle a little bit with his leg, getting it taped. In that second set, I think after, he didn't take that breakpoint to get the double break. I think he missed a second-serve return. Back on serve it was looking kind of a bit worrying at that moment.

But I think to compose himself again and get his head back into the process of what he needed to do to win that match was an incredible effort. All of these experiences for him, there's no substitute for just being out there, right, in a Grand Slam quarterfinal, on the biggest stage and having to perform and come up with that under pressure.

Incredibly proud of him.

Q. I think you've said that this is the calmest, the most relaxed you've seen Jack at a Grand Slam. Can you pinpoint a reason for that?

JAMES TROTMAN: I mean, you guys probably know more than me. What's he played, 10, 11, slam main draws over three, four years, probably from his first wildcard at Wimbledon? A lot of these guys he's competing against have played multiple slams more than him. I think the best-of-five format is something obviously they're not playing every week.

It does take, you know, the experience of being exposed to it, understanding how the momentum is going to swing, the concentration flows in the matches, and I just think he's maturing all the time. He's secure with his game, he understands that he can't go out and burn all of his energy and all of his emotions early on.

It's just a sign, I think, that he's becoming more comfortable on this stage and playing with the best players in the world.

Q. Nowadays in tennis, the dynamic between the player on court is quite interesting. There's a lot of ranting at the box. But that's something that Jack doesn't tend to do. The relationship between you seems quite constructive. We could hear some of the stuff you were shouting today. How would you describe the relationship from your perspective and how that works when he's on the court?

JAMES TROTMAN: Even Jack would have his moments. I think as coaches we understand it. It's an incredibly high pressured environment they're in. It's lonely, right? As much as we're there to support them, they're out there, it's one on one, it's physical, it's a mental battle, and it's incredibly difficult.

We would talk and know that once he starts to vent, or any player starts to get frustrated in a way, they're not living in the present. It's typically not something that's going to benefit their tennis. So we understand it but we want to try and recognize that quickly and do something about it to get back into the present and try to problem-solve, trying to be aware of what's happening on the court, and ultimately do your best to make their life difficult.

Q. How do you look back on the dual coaching partnership you had with Wayne Ferreira? Did you have any say in the ultimate decision to just be the main man?

JAMES TROTMAN: Look, Wayne, amazing guy and benefited Jack's tennis, there's no doubt about it. The time we spent together, we were on a very similar page with how we saw Jack needing to play, but ultimately the decision came down to Jack. He wanted one voice, and he wanted one clear voice. He felt like even, you know, two people saying the same thing can be different. You know, you can absorb it differently.

Jack was very clear that he wanted me to be that one voice, and we're going to go with what the player thinks and, you know, the time with Wayne was still valuable, and we're going to move forward and keep building.

Q. I realize the match has only just happened and it's a couple of days until the next one. You referenced the strapping that he's had. What do you know about that situation at the moment and how much of a concern is it?

JAMES TROTMAN: It's obviously a slight concern, because if there was nothing, he probably wouldn't have got it taped. But right now we don't know any more. It will be the same plan as usual. He's cooled down, he's had a shake, he'll be in the ice bath, he'll come for press, then we'll get some food in him, and we'll take a look at that afterwards.

Q. His physical condition, the fact that he's worked so hard on his fitness over the last couple of years, how does that help him mentally when he's in these situations to get through?

JAMES TROTMAN: Oh, it's everything. I mean, Jack has played some really high-level tennis matches in the past, but physically it's been a struggle. I mean, he's a big boy, he's got a big body, it takes time to grow into that. He's had a lot of injuries and a lot of setbacks, so you're not banking that consistent work.

But we've got an incredible team with Steve Kotze, the fitness trainer, Will Herbert, the physio. We work incredibly well together. And Jack, as many of you will know, isn't afraid of hard work and doing what it's going to take.

Q. I just wondered, we'll see tonight who Jack will play in the next round, an elite player either way. Have you spoken with him about looking at those players and the kinds of things he needs to do if he wants to get to that level?

JAMES TROTMAN: Look, we talk about trying to become the best version that Jack can become. We believe that he can challenge the top players in the world, and even in his relatively short career he's shown that with some of the wins or tight losses that he's had. He learns all the time through those experiences.

He's played both Jannik and Medvedev before, so he's aware of them. He's practiced with these guys. Ultimately, we want to build the best version of Jack that we can possibly build that is there to challenge the top players in the biggest tournaments consistently.

Q. Jack's talked a lot about trying to find his identity on the court, to be a more attacking player but also not to lose his defensive base. I'm curious how you've seen his progress as a tennis player over the past few years and what do you think his best kind of self looks like?

JAMES TROTMAN: I think we're seeing a pretty good version of it right here. Anybody who has watched Jack consistently will see glimpses of unbelievable tennis. I think, you know, it's a little bit of a myth that Jack had to become this ultimate, aggressive tennis player. You know, you look at the guys that are dominating world tennis, finishing No. 1 and winning, you know, multiple slams and Masters, they're winning maybe 54% of the points.

So it's not like we're looking for a 20% shift from what Jack's identity is. You know, but it is adding layers, being brave in the right moments, it's doing a little bit more with the balls, it's making sure you see the short ball and the opportunity to take it. But it's not a complete rebuild of a player.

And ultimately, you know, Jack took some tough losses this year. 7-6 in the third with match points against Jarry; Monte-Carlo, 7-6 in the third against Hurkacz; and then quarters of Munich, 7-6 in the third against Taylor Fritz. All top-top players. He played some fantastic tennis, but maybe at some moments when he needed to be a little bit braver or take the opportunity, he didn't.

But we're talking small margins between winning those matches or losing them. And I think, you know, having those losses was something actually really important for his journey actually to say, let's take a look at how I'm losing those matches and what I need to do to give myself a better chance.

Q. We do know that he's going to play someone who has won a major, and he hasn't. How would you describe at this stage of his career the challenge and the opportunity that lie ahead?

JAMES TROTMAN: You can't shy away from it. You know, you know it's a Grand Slam semifinal. His first. You know you're playing for a potential spot in a final. So you can't hide from it.

But from our point of view, it will be business as usual. We'll take care of his body, we'll take care of his mind, we'll do our homework. We'll prepare the best we can to win that match.

Q. As somebody who has been around him a lot, what's he been like to be around the last week and a half here in terms of just like his demeanor? Is he easygoing, focused, tense? What are some of the things you have been doing when you haven't been at the tennis center?

JAMES TROTMAN: I mean, I think he's all of the above, right? I think you have to be. He's intense when he needs to be, but equally, when you're away -- I mean, coming in on-site each day it's tiring. By the time you get your transport, you get your treatment, you warm up, you hit maybe for 30, 40 minutes, it's a four-, five-hour window just to come out here.

A couple of days we haven't come onto site. We've gone elsewhere and looked at his recovery and try to do things properly just to keep him fresh, try and minimize the noise, and give him a chance to have some time mentally to relax and be ready to go again.