Fucsovics: I made the best out of the Australian Open

– How do you feel?
– Huh, after the match, I laid down on the bed at night because I was in so much pain, but by the morning it made everything even worse. I got very tired as I had done my best out there – replied Márton Fucsovics to our question. It answers why we couldn't reach him on Friday after playing for 3 hours and 13 minutes and losing 7-6, 5-7, 6-2, 2-6 to 14th seed Canadian player Milos Raonic in Round 3 of the Australian Open.

– This is the physical part. What about mentally?
– I have no regrets because I really did my best. I fought from the first point till the end, so I'm flying back home with positive experiences. I did my best at the Australian Open.

– After the game, you mentioned your thighs, hips and shoulders were hurting. Do you have any injuries you should be worried about?
– Thankfully none of them are serious. They're just muscle aches, not strains or tears.

– Several professional players have mentioned before the Open that faster-than-usual courts are in favor of big servers like Raonic. How could you have grabbed him by the collar?
– I think my approach to the game and my tactics were fine. We were head-to-head in the first and second set. I would've needed to be fit, and not have played against him after two five-set victories. Overall, I don't think it's shameful to lose to Raonic; he was always right behind the top players. His serves are deadly, but he played well against me from the baseline as well. Previously, we'd played twice on grass where he defeated me very easily. This game was different, though. The draw would've been better if I got someone else from the 32 players, and not a king of serves, but someone whom I can rally with.

– Did you get tired mentally as well?
– I felt I was tired after the third set. I was under a big pressure because he was a strong server and if he took my serves, I knew that game would be over. But regardless, I left all my strength on the field and was fighting until the very end.

– Absolutely yes! This is the right track – my team and I talked after the match and only wished better Grand Slams. Things shouldn't be rushed that, for example, this year we are expecting to reach the top 8. We have to keep working as hard as we've been doing so far. At a big tournament, a successful performance depends on a lot of things. For example, I could get Nadal in the French Open, or Djokovic in the U.S. Open in the first round...

– Obviously, after two five-set games, it's very difficult going into the next round without being tired. We do see from top players, however, that it's possible. How are you doing in terms of physical fitness?
– Only the biggest ones, such as Nadal or Thiem, can win five-set games in a row, but it's rarely seen that someone can win four or five after one another. I'm also moving forward in this with the help of my team. I recovered much better even after the second five-set than last year at the U.S. Open following the advancement against Grigor Dimitrov. After playing two matches for four hours each, I played against Raonic for another three hours where I could win one set. I started to feel tired pretty much in the middle of the third set. That's when the minor injuries appeared as well.

– Was it a difficult decision that you stepped back from doubles and didn't play the first round with Attila Balázs?
– Yes, it was difficult, but it was the right thing to do. If I had played doubles as well, I would've been even more tired against Raonic. I have to give myself the chance to be able to play in the best condition possible in singles.

– What's next?
– We continue training after a few days off. My next competition will be in Rotterdam starting March 1, where I will have to play a qualifier because everyone signed up for the tournament, so a strong line up is expected. Then, I will go to Doha, Dubai, and Miami in this order.

– So, you're traveling around the world again.
– Yes. After last year's six-month break, I actually missed traveling and competing.

Translated by Vanda Orosz