DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 24, 2024

Paul Haarhuis

Botic Van De Zandschulp

Tallon Griekspoor

Team Netherlands

Press Conference

J. SINNER/T. Griekspoor

7-6, 6-2

Team Italy - 2

Team Netherlands - 0

THE MODERATOR: Let's start our press conference with Netherlands. First questions in English.

Q. Commiserations on the result, but this is the first final in the history of Davis Cup for Netherlands. What's your overall feeling now? With Paul, please.

CAPTAIN PAUL HAARHUIS: Yeah, it's close after the match. I don't think I have a love relationship with the second place. I have a hate relationship with second place.

So even though I'm unbelievable proud of this week and the guys, for now, it feels like shit, you know. Friday night we were already here. We could have gone home and had the same result. So if you're in that position to play, then it doesn't feel good.

No, but tomorrow or tonight later on, I'll be very proud of what we did. I mean, the first time ever. I mean, I got my first medal at Davis Cup, so something I never experienced before. So I'm very proud of the guys to give me something I have never done (smiling).

Q. Congratulations for your performance. A question for Tallon. You played an incredible match against Jannik. How did you prepare and how did you manage to reach this level? Because you had played very well during the week, but I had the impression you were one step higher today.

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: Well, I had no other option than playing high-level match. If you want to have a chance against Jannik in this kind of form, this kind of shape, this kind of confidence, he's incredibly tough to beat. Tried my best. I felt like I gave him a tough run in the first and beginning of the second.

I think I just heard that I only hit three unforced errors in the first set, which is pretty good, I think. But still lost the set. Still gotta do better next time.

But yeah, like I said, Jannik is very, very tough to beat. Well, especially if he can play 1-0 up and with the confidence he had, the season he had. He deserves all of it, and, well, like I said, just too good from him today.

Q. First of all, congratulations to reach the final. Paul, last year you said when we asked when did you realize it was difficult to win, you said when Sinner came off of the airplane. This time there was also Berrettini, so we have two strong players. What do you think about it? And what everybody thinks about Sinner and the doping case? Because everyone is discussing about that. I would like to know what you think, if you trust him or you think WADA is right or wrong?

CAPTAIN PAUL HAARHUIS: Well, the Italians played very good. So, you know, they came out. But we believed we could beat them. I felt that, yeah, Berrettini played good.

But still, without Sinner, we would have won anyway, with Berrettini or without Berrettini, whatever. But Berrettini played well.

You know, to get to 1-0, then it's tough. Tallon played well also to beat him but just came up short, and the Italians are the champions again.

Good for them. We're happy obviously with our run this week. We are not happy with the result today.

About the doping, we never know what happened.

Q. What's your feeling?

TALLON GRIEKSPOOR: What's my feeling? I feel that Jannik, in my personal opinion, is an unbelievable nice guy, great player, but we never know what happened, you know.

Q. First of all, congrats for the result for the week. The question is for Paul, for the captain. I saw you speaking to Jannik at the end of the match, at the end of the tie. I was wondering if you could tell us about what did you say to him and what did he answer?

CAPTAIN PAUL HAARHUIS: I told him we have a Dutch passport for him next year. We will do anything, because he speaks German, so Dutch will be very easy for him to learn. (Laughter.)

Then I said congratulate on a fantastic year. You know, this year was fantastic, ending No. 1, winning the Davis Cup for the second time.

And he told me that was his last time he play Davis Cup for Italy, so I was very happy to hear that. (Laughter.)