Q: Cameron, what can you say about the win today?
A: I was really happy with my level start to finish and yeah, I was playing with a lot of depth on my forehand so that was good day. I returned really well. A lot of the returns deep through the middle and I made him play a lot and pleased to make the match relatively quick.
Q: What to expect for your next match against Brazilian Thiago Wild. What do you know about his game?
A: Yeah, I've watched him a lot. He's a a great player. I feel like he plays really, really well when he's the underdog and has nothing to lose. He always plays really well in big matches and Slams. I've seen him play close with some top players at the French Open last year and with Rublev, I think he lost in five sets in the Australian Open, so he's really talented. And I'm gonna have to expect the crowd to be on his side, I actually played Thiago Monteiro last year here, so I know what to expect with the crowd. They love the tennis and they're really passionate. So I'm expecting a tough match. He’s beaten some really good claycourt players, so he's playing well and I know his top level is really high. So I'm going to have to play close to my best to have a chance with him. He's a really talented player and I'm really looking forward to the match.
Q: About today's match, do you think you made the match easy for you?
A: Yeah, I thought it was going to be a quite a difficult match going in because he plays quite close to the baseline and he uses his drop shot very well on both sides. So I knew I had to find a lot of depth on my forehand, especially into his backhand and I didn't really know too much. Other than that, I just concentrated on my game plan. I managed to execute it and it really helped to get a lot of returns in the court and to make the match physical and I think I executed as well as I could you know, a lot of fine line winners. A lot of backhands getting off the line. But yeah, I was really pleased throughout the match with my level.
Q: With Alcaraz out you became the favorite for winning the tournament, and you have the chance to be the first double champion here. What can you say about the tournament?
A: Yeah, so first I feel really bad for Charlie and I think that's really unlucky what happened to him in the second point of the match and I think that's tough for the tournament also for him, I'm quite good friends with him. And I think it's a big, big blow for him as well and hopefully it's nothing too serious. So yeah, for me, I always feel good here. Like I said, when I first arrived and I know the matches are going to be tough, you know, regardless of who I play, and in these conditions. You know, it could be absolutely boiling, it could be raining, could be playing in the rain. The courts can be muddy, can be slippy, so the conditions are changing a lot and I have to be ready for anything and ultimately I'm just trying to, I know it's very cliche, but take it take match by match and I think there's a lot of really good players left in the draw, a lot of good claycourt players and even Garin, he's won the tournament before and yeah, this is going to be tough and I just want to keep the same mindset and I'm looking forward to the next match.
Q: Some players like to be in bad conditions, some like to play with blue skies. What do you prefer?
A: I like it when it's really hot and humid. So hopefully the sun comes out and I think ion clay especially when it's really hot and it's difficult I feel like I can withstand better than the other players at times. But you have to be ready for anything, you know, yesterday it was raining and today the court was very heavy. I had to drop the tension a little bit. But I think every tournament is going to have different days, condition wise, especially playing outdoors so I'm ready for anything and yeah I just want a bit of sun in the morning at least I can go to the beach and swim and get a little tan and then I can go and play tennis in the afternoon
Q: How do you feel about going back to a tournament you once won? Do you feel more confident?
A: Yeah, I think I feel great coming here. You notice there was a lot of people watching my practices a lot of fans from last year, which is really cool to see and I think yeah, it helps. You know you like to play well in these conditions so you can take a lot of confidence from playing well last year, you know you can do it again. So I think nothing but positive things to come here. Obviously your ranking, you're defending a lot of points but for me, you're playing throughout the whole year trying to gain your ranking and get your ranking to the highest possible and I think for me this year I want to really just focus on the level and improving and, and adding a few things to my game and trying to improve physically as always but yeah, nothing but positive things returning to Rio and it's a great start so far, but that means nothing yet.
Q: Talking about returning to Rio last year you said that if you were not a tennis player you would like to be a surfer. Have you surfed in Rio yet?
A: No, I haven't had a chance though. I was just surfing in Costa Rica before Buenos Aires so I think last year it was my first time was serving really well and I was like watching surfing videos all day so I think probably one moment I just said I wanted to be a surfer but yeah, growing up in New Zealand I was always swimming at the beach and I always feel good by the water. I always play well at tournaments near the water by chance so I got a good routine going, going to the beach every morning and going to enjoy the tennis in the afternoon. So I'd rather be a better tennis player than a better surfer. I'll take that.
Q: You seem really comfortable in Brazil and you wearing some sandals now. Is that a usual look or is it because you're in Brazil?
A: Actually these are the sandals that tournament gave me and they have like my face on them, so no one's gonna steal the ones with my face on, they know it's mine. But it’s just too humid and to let my feet breathe a lot after the tennis and yeah, that fits the Rio look with the sandals.
A: I was really happy with my level start to finish and yeah, I was playing with a lot of depth on my forehand so that was good day. I returned really well. A lot of the returns deep through the middle and I made him play a lot and pleased to make the match relatively quick.
Q: What to expect for your next match against Brazilian Thiago Wild. What do you know about his game?
A: Yeah, I've watched him a lot. He's a a great player. I feel like he plays really, really well when he's the underdog and has nothing to lose. He always plays really well in big matches and Slams. I've seen him play close with some top players at the French Open last year and with Rublev, I think he lost in five sets in the Australian Open, so he's really talented. And I'm gonna have to expect the crowd to be on his side, I actually played Thiago Monteiro last year here, so I know what to expect with the crowd. They love the tennis and they're really passionate. So I'm expecting a tough match. He’s beaten some really good claycourt players, so he's playing well and I know his top level is really high. So I'm going to have to play close to my best to have a chance with him. He's a really talented player and I'm really looking forward to the match.
Q: About today's match, do you think you made the match easy for you?
A: Yeah, I thought it was going to be a quite a difficult match going in because he plays quite close to the baseline and he uses his drop shot very well on both sides. So I knew I had to find a lot of depth on my forehand, especially into his backhand and I didn't really know too much. Other than that, I just concentrated on my game plan. I managed to execute it and it really helped to get a lot of returns in the court and to make the match physical and I think I executed as well as I could you know, a lot of fine line winners. A lot of backhands getting off the line. But yeah, I was really pleased throughout the match with my level.
Q: With Alcaraz out you became the favorite for winning the tournament, and you have the chance to be the first double champion here. What can you say about the tournament?
A: Yeah, so first I feel really bad for Charlie and I think that's really unlucky what happened to him in the second point of the match and I think that's tough for the tournament also for him, I'm quite good friends with him. And I think it's a big, big blow for him as well and hopefully it's nothing too serious. So yeah, for me, I always feel good here. Like I said, when I first arrived and I know the matches are going to be tough, you know, regardless of who I play, and in these conditions. You know, it could be absolutely boiling, it could be raining, could be playing in the rain. The courts can be muddy, can be slippy, so the conditions are changing a lot and I have to be ready for anything and ultimately I'm just trying to, I know it's very cliche, but take it take match by match and I think there's a lot of really good players left in the draw, a lot of good claycourt players and even Garin, he's won the tournament before and yeah, this is going to be tough and I just want to keep the same mindset and I'm looking forward to the next match.
Q: Some players like to be in bad conditions, some like to play with blue skies. What do you prefer?
A: I like it when it's really hot and humid. So hopefully the sun comes out and I think ion clay especially when it's really hot and it's difficult I feel like I can withstand better than the other players at times. But you have to be ready for anything, you know, yesterday it was raining and today the court was very heavy. I had to drop the tension a little bit. But I think every tournament is going to have different days, condition wise, especially playing outdoors so I'm ready for anything and yeah I just want a bit of sun in the morning at least I can go to the beach and swim and get a little tan and then I can go and play tennis in the afternoon
Q: How do you feel about going back to a tournament you once won? Do you feel more confident?
A: Yeah, I think I feel great coming here. You notice there was a lot of people watching my practices a lot of fans from last year, which is really cool to see and I think yeah, it helps. You know you like to play well in these conditions so you can take a lot of confidence from playing well last year, you know you can do it again. So I think nothing but positive things to come here. Obviously your ranking, you're defending a lot of points but for me, you're playing throughout the whole year trying to gain your ranking and get your ranking to the highest possible and I think for me this year I want to really just focus on the level and improving and, and adding a few things to my game and trying to improve physically as always but yeah, nothing but positive things returning to Rio and it's a great start so far, but that means nothing yet.
Q: Talking about returning to Rio last year you said that if you were not a tennis player you would like to be a surfer. Have you surfed in Rio yet?
A: No, I haven't had a chance though. I was just surfing in Costa Rica before Buenos Aires so I think last year it was my first time was serving really well and I was like watching surfing videos all day so I think probably one moment I just said I wanted to be a surfer but yeah, growing up in New Zealand I was always swimming at the beach and I always feel good by the water. I always play well at tournaments near the water by chance so I got a good routine going, going to the beach every morning and going to enjoy the tennis in the afternoon. So I'd rather be a better tennis player than a better surfer. I'll take that.
Q: You seem really comfortable in Brazil and you wearing some sandals now. Is that a usual look or is it because you're in Brazil?
A: Actually these are the sandals that tournament gave me and they have like my face on them, so no one's gonna steal the ones with my face on, they know it's mine. But it’s just too humid and to let my feet breathe a lot after the tennis and yeah, that fits the Rio look with the sandals.
