“When exactly did you learn of your selection?”
I knew after Roland-Garros that I was going to be offered to the CNOSF by the Federation. But in fact, I think I won’t really realize it until we all come together as a team. Competing in these Games has been my goal since the Olympic Games were awarded to Paris in 2017, and the timing of my hip operation in 2021 was chosen with that in mind. For two and a half years, this was clearly my long-term goal.
At one point, especially when you were struggling to string together results with Nicolas Mahut, were you afraid of not being selected?
It sure wasn’t as smooth as we hoped. But in my head, I still had the possibility of being Top 10, and then I knew that I had played really well last year (two Masters 1000 titles and a semi-final at the Masters, alongside the Mexican Santiago Gonzalez).
Playing the Games in Paris, what’s more with all your loved ones in the stands, what does that mean?
All my relatives I don’t know, apparently it’s nice to have places! But in any case, I have difficulty projecting myself because we are going to discover a completely different Roland-Garros. Normally, people come to Roland to see tennis and shows. There, I can’t wait to see what it will look like, in Olympic Games mode with real blue supporters.
Will you be staying at the Olympic Village?
No, we will stay at the CNE (which is adjacent to Roland-Garros) so that it will be more practical, particularly in terms of transport. But I also dream of discovering the Village, I will look at it all with the big eyes of a child. I’m looking forward to the opening ceremony! When I was little, I was already crazy about the Olympics, I watched all the sports, summer and winter. I am a sports lover and participating for my country as a kid was a dream of mine. There, it will also be at home. Pfff, I can’t even realize it yet…
“We will play an ATP tournament before the Games. »
How was the choice of your association with Fabien Reboul made?
The choice was made on the best ranked, due to the cut. We had a very open discussion with Fabien and Sadio (Doumbia), and even Sadio felt that it was the best association, because Fabien plays on the right and I on the left.
Have you ever trained together?
Once last year, but we’ve faced each other quite a few times on the circuit. As soon as Wimbledon is over – for which I will not be competing in mixed doubles – Fabien and I will switch to Olympic preparation mode on clay, in order to spend as much time as possible together and get to know each other, on and outside the field. And of course, we will play an ATP tournament before the Games (Hamburg or Bastad). I hope we blow it all up.
What are his qualities as a doubles player?
Already, he is young (laughs). He has the enthusiasm, the physique, he is quite complete. He serves well, is present at the net, puts a lot of energy. With Sadio, I saw them gradually arrive on the Challengers then on the big circuit, they have a great project and are training really well. They can still progress and become a reference team on the circuit.
A final word on the mixed doubles, which you should compete alongside Caroline Garcia….
When we lined up together this year with Caro, we played really well. Afterwards, the rules are a little different because it is the Federation which chooses the pair at the last moment based on the players already there. Obviously, on paper, I want to play with Caro, who is a great doubles player. »
