“You’re going to start the US Open having won five titles this season. What does it do to you?
It’s pretty good, that’s for sure. I’ve played a lot this year and having won tournaments on different surfaces is great. But New York is a very special place. There is no tournament like the US Open. I can’t wait to get started.
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You haven’t played in the US Open in the past two years, how do you feel about coming back here?
There have been a lot of changes in my life since the last time. But it’s a bit the same for everyone on the planet. I was disappointed not to be there last year, but the context was special. It’s really good to be back. I feel like it’s been ages since I came to New York. The coming week is going to be very exciting. There will be fans around the court. All of this will give the tournament a lot of energy. I can not wait to be there.
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You are not necessarily going to be able to enjoy the city because of the sanitary restrictions …
During the tournament, it’s not going to change much for me. Whether you’re in a bubble or not, I’m not the type to go out much during a Grand Slam. We spend a lot of time on the courts and when we get back to the hotel it’s pretty quiet most of the time. I sometimes go out for coffee, but no more.
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“It’s crucial to stay positive and learn from the good times and the bad times”
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You haven’t returned to Australia since the start of the year. What do you remember from this long journey?
That it’s not over yet. When we will have arrived at the end, it will be time to settle down and evoke the memories to draw something from them, to remember the difficult moments as well as the pleasant moments. This journey is something incredible. And when there were tough times, it only made the good times better. It’s crucial to stay positive and learn from the good times and the bad.
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We had a lot of fun, we tried to make the most of each day and see things on the bright side. After all, I do what I love, I play tennis. My job is to arrive somewhere and play tennis. I’m lucky and grateful to be here to be able to do what I love.
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You are the big favorite of the tournament. But there is also Naomi Osaka. What makes her so dangerous on hard?
Naomi is a pure hitter. His first stroke of the racket, especially behind his first ball which is one of the best on the circuit, is exceptional. As soon as she has time to organize herself, it hurts. On hard, there are no rebound variations. She can play with confidence and really get into the court. I think that’s what makes her so dangerous on this surface. “
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