00:00BNP Paribas, partenaire des plus belles histoires de Roland Garros, aux côtés des ramasseurs de balles depuis plus de 50 ans.
00:30I mean tennis comes in waves man. Look, it doesn't have to be pretty every week. It doesn't have to be immaculate every week, you know what I mean. Again, you know, I say it all the time, I say it to people around me. I think top 20 last year and I passed the second round in four tournaments. Granted in those four tournaments I did really well, but shocking year. So, still finished 16, whatever I finished.
00:54So, it's kind of like how you kind of look at the glass. Obviously, I know, you know, if I'm ready to go, I'm not going to get to the third round. I can go for a run.
01:05I generally feel like I can beat anybody on any specific days. I just got to get myself in alignment mentally and just have fun, man.
01:12And this is the time I kind of have fun. Last tournament on clay, which I get really excited about, and then we get on the real stuff.
01:18You know, the grass and then the summer hardcourts where tennis actually matters.
01:22I mean, of course. I mean, there's always things. If you're not getting better, you're getting worse, right?
01:40I mean, everyone's going to be new faces. The game's open.
01:45Regardless of the center, how far the game's open?
01:47Anyone can beat anyone. Obviously, those two are holding the mantle as far as winning titles.
01:53But, you know, in between that and getting Sam's slams, finals of the Masters, whatever the case may be, I think anybody can do it.
02:00You know, you see different Masters winners all the time.
02:03Like, it's just an open game.
02:05So, if he's ready to go and, you know, the stars of the Lions, it's like, why not?
02:10Anybody can do it.
02:11I mean, I love where the game's at right now because it's such a toss-up.
02:14I think fans should really enjoy it.
02:16What was that you specifically in terms of how do you get better?
02:20What would you like to see you do more?
02:22See, it's just the normal things, man.
02:24I mean, the more I can find myself on the baseline, closer to the baseline, hitting my forehand, coming to the net, serving big, you know, being creative, making guys uncomfortable, not letting guys, you know, bully me around, changing direction.
02:39It's not really that complicated.
02:40I think tennis is only as hard as you make it.
02:44But, you know, sometimes it doesn't fall your way.
02:47Clay, I get a little more passive than on other services because the court doesn't help me play as fast as I would like.
02:52But patience is a thing I struggle with.
02:58So, but again, look, I mean, it's the last tournament on clay.
03:01Why not give it everything you've got?
03:04And we'll see what happens at the end of the run.
03:11Yeah.
03:15Oh, on grass?
03:16On grass, and what was your first?
03:18Yeah, 2014.
03:21It's funny, actually, 2014.
03:22I actually hated it.
03:24Played Wimbledon Juniors, 2014.
03:25Actually, I didn't like it at all.
03:27Super fast.
03:29Really low balancing.
03:30Of course, you got to bend your knees.
03:31And I was really handsy at the time.
03:33Still am.
03:34But then, you know, as I played on the wands twice, three times, I was like, oh, wow, this is actually unbelievable for my game.
03:40My backhand stays so low.
03:41I can play shorter points.
03:43I can come to the net.
03:45I can actually play tennis the right way.
03:48And I think I'm really dangerous on grass.
03:50So, yeah.
03:52As I said, yeah.
03:53One last push on this stuff.
03:55Give it everything you've got.
03:56No excuses.
03:57And, yeah, let's get serious here soon.
04:00Yeah, yeah.
04:11Less felt.
04:12Less felt.
04:14Bigger point.
04:15Less felt.
04:15If I hit a good hit, I don't want it to come back.
04:17I mean, some guys, I don't know what other guys do, but I'm going less felt every time.
04:26And then, well, on both.
04:28Because if I want to hit a big second or if I want to jump a second, like, both balls, less felt.
04:34I guess I just think that's the excuse thing.
04:40All the balls are, it is what it is.
04:42I think all the balls are horrendous other than the U.S. Open balls, to be honest with you.
04:45So, I mean, I don't really care.
04:47I'm not really a balls guy.
04:48All I do know is that the ball at the U.S. Open feels unbelievable for whatever reason.
04:54So, for me, that's the only ball I really like.
04:57But I'm not really a balls guy.
04:58I don't really notice it that much.
04:59It's not like I never lose a match.
05:01I'm like, oh, my God, the balls.
05:04Other guys play the same balls, too.
05:05So, what difference with me?
05:09I think tennis players are not afraid to make excuses.
05:12At the end of the day, man, are things going to change?
05:19No.
05:20Are we ever going to have one ball on tour?
05:22Probably not in my career.
05:25Just play.
05:27The other guys playing with them, too.
05:28Like, it is what it is.
05:30Like, it's not really that important, I think.
05:33But, you know, some guys like to talk about it, continue to talk about it, I guess.
05:38I don't know.
05:38I just think you're one week away from changing everything.
05:57I think it's hard not to take it as a competitor.
06:01You're trying to do it the right way.
06:02It's hard not to take losses hard, right?
06:04Like, especially, like, knowing who I am, I shouldn't be having the results I'm doing.
06:07I shouldn't be going on the slumps that I do and making them, like, a normality thing.
06:12I shouldn't be doing that for a guy of my caliber.
06:16And a guy who's had this experience, you'd think you'd be able to change things or tweak things to put you in a winning position.
06:21But at the same time, I know, I understand that a couple weeks here and there can automatically change the season, just like that.
06:30And then you can ride that wave.
06:31And then all of a sudden, we're all sitting here like, oh, my God, Francis, like, what was the decision you made to then, you know?
06:36Like, so it's not really as deep as you may make it, but you've got to be ready for those moments.
06:41So it's a matter of just staying ready, staying locked in, and having an ultimate belief in yourself.
06:46And I do.
06:47I generally always feel like no matter what I'm ranked, I feel like I'm one of the best players out here.
06:51Period.
