It’s unbelievable that we were playing for the last spot because my match against him was, for sure, so far, the best match that I ever played. The best feeling that I had was during that match. It’s crazy how life is.
In that match, you double-faulted on your first match point, had to fight your nerves and needed four others to finally win. Did that match define you?
In that moment, I was really myself. All the work that I did with my team for all the years, not just this year, we were working for that moment. When I realized that, I said to myself, “It’s O.K. to be tight, it’s O.K. to be scared a little bit. It’s normal. It’s your first time in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open, Arthur Ashe [Stadium] is full, what do you expect from yourself? It’s O.K. to be emotional.” And I accepted that. So yeah, that match defined me because I was myself in that moment.
Did you know that you’re now ranked a career-high No. 8?
Call me every day and remind me of that, O.K.?
When you lost to Roger Federer by 6-1, 6-2, 6-2, in an hour and 14 minutes in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, you shook his hand and said, “Thanks for the lesson.” Did you mean it?
Oh, yeah. He laughed. But for me, that moment was like a dream. It’s not that I didn’t care that I lost. I was upset. But I grew up watching Roger and cheering for him on TV.
So being at Wimbledon, on Centre Court, against my idol, was something more than just about a win or a loss. I told my team that we have a lot to improve because I want to be able to play with that guy and do better.
Source : NYtimes
