“After your disqualification at the US Open (a ball swung at a linesman), did you find a way to better manage your emotions on court? You have sometimes been felt tense in Rome.
Now I am very careful when hitting a ball. It’s still on my mind and I think it will haunt me for a long time to come. I will try not to make the same mistakes again. But what happened is behind me, I must accept it and move on. It was a shock, but that’s life. These things can happen. I don’t think it will have a negative impact on what I do or feel on a court. I won in Rome the following week, I didn’t have the feeling of being emotionally disturbed, of not being able to show my emotions on a court. I was able to control my negative emotions as much as possible. It can happen again, I’m not going to go after myself. I have to accept this, forgive myself and move on. I am a human being, I have shortcomings like everyone else. I want to be the best version of myself, on and off the court. I express my emotions, that’s how it is. But I don’t think any of that has an impact on who I am.
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“What is difficult is that each country has its own rules on the issue (of testing for Covid-19). “
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Covid-19 screening tests are very extensive in Paris. Do you have any concerns about being declared false positive because of traces of the virus that may remain in your body?
I have been tested several times in Rome. I was tested in order to be able to return to French territory, then when I arrived in Paris. I observed forty before I could train, like all players. And I will follow the same protocol as all the players. I will be tested every four or five days. I have no more information for the moment. In New York, I was retested after a first test. I was negative and was no longer tested there. In Europe, it’s different. In Rome I was tested every four or five days. In Paris, it will be the same. What is difficult is that each country has its own rules on the matter. I didn’t care whether the virus was in my body or not. I’m not thinking about it now. I tested positive once and since then every test has been negative. This is where I am today.
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Rafael Nadal and other players have complained about the balls that are going to be used on this edition. What’s your opinion ?
This will be the first time we will use these balls on clay. I agree with the others, they are heavy. It is October, it is cold and the clay is heavy and wet. The conditions also affect the nature of the ball. It is difficult to say if it is heavy in general or if the weather conditions affected it. But that’s how it is and you have to accept it. This is why we are arriving as soon as possible, to get used to the conditions which will be very different from what we have experienced at other Roland Garros. “
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