THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 29, 2021

Oscar Otte

Press Conference

O. OTTE/A. Rinderknech

4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 13-12

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How big a win was that for you, knowing that you'd be playing Andy Murray and possibly on Centre Court in the second round?

OSCAR OTTE: Well, of course, first of all I'm just happy to be through. I was just waiting the whole day. It was mentally very tough, and, yeah, just happy to be through and really looking forward for the match tomorrow.

You know, with my ranking, you don't have the options to have big matches like this, and, yeah, I'm just really looking forward for the whole day tomorrow.

Q. Did you realize the match had finished, or did you think it was a first to 10 tiebreak? It seemed like you weren't quite sure out there.

OSCAR OTTE: Yeah, I actually thought it's going to 10. I don't know why. I was talking with my coach before the match, and we were both saying in case it goes up to 12-All, it's a super-tiebreak. I don't know why we were thinking that, but, yeah, as you can probably see in the review when you were watching, I actually didn't realize as I was pretty shocked when I heard "Game, set, match, Otte." Better this way around than the other way around, for sure.

Q. What are your recollections or memories of Andy Murray as you were starting your career in tennis? What do you make of him as a man, as a player?

OSCAR OTTE: Well, of course he's huge in tennis sport. When I watched his documentary when it came out, actually, I was crying. It was so emotional and so inspiring. I mean, I'm probably talking for other players, too. He's just huge icon in the sport.

Yeah, I mean, will be a pretty big match tomorrow. The crowd probably won't be on my side, but that's okay for me, of course (smiling). I have my coach here, my girlfriend I think can be enough, but we will see.

But, yeah, in general, he's inspiring athlete and, yeah, I'm really happy to have a chance to play against him tomorrow.

Q. That documentary was incredibly graphic, particularly the hospital scene. Are you surprised by the fact that he can still play top-level tennis, despite having that type of surgery?

OSCAR OTTE: Well, of course it's difficult to perform high level with surgeries like this, but, I mean, everybody knows he's one of the best tennis players ever, and when he gets in control of his body, I think everybody knows he can still beat the top guys and come far in tournaments.

So I'm actually not really surprised. He has a big team behind him, physios, everything. I think they are taking care of him very good, and, yeah, he's just an unreal athlete and one of the best ever, for sure.

Q. On Monday night when your match was suspended, did you start to watch Andy's match? Were you almost cheering him on because you knew how big of a thing it would be for you to play him if you got through?

OSCAR OTTE: Actually not, because after the match I just did everything to get ready for today. I went to the physio, I went to eat something, recovery shakes, everything, and tried to get as much rest as possible.

Of course I saw some points in the end from the physio room, but I couldn't, like, fully watch his match. It was impossible. I had to focus on myself.

And of course I knew, I had in my head if he wins, in case I win, I will play him, but I was completely in the situation getting ready for today, and I think I did that well. It's also well-deserved today. Can play him tomorrow.

Q. Commiserations on the football tonight, but if you were to beat Andy tomorrow, you would sort of get a little bit of sporting revenge for Germany.

OSCAR OTTE: Yes, of course. I mean, I actually watched the full match before the match, I have to be honest. I was watching in the restaurant, watching in the players' lounge, watching in the physio room when I was getting ready. So, yeah, I think of course there is a small chance for revenge, but England of course won, well-deserved. They were obviously the better team.

Of course I'm really sad that Germany lost, but, I mean, they will get another chance. They also have a good team, so we will see in the next years.

Q. I just wondered, what will you take from the match you had against Zverev in Paris into this match? Do you think it will help you sort of having played a match like that before?

OSCAR OTTE: Yeah, of course. I mean, the first two-and-a-half sets were probably the best sets of my whole life. I was playing unreal.

I was talking a lot with my team afterwards, and we were trying to figure out why it wasn't enough in the end. Of course Sascha is, I mean, he's also an unreal player, he's 5 or 6 in the world.

I knew it wasn't over when I was leading two sets, but I think we are, for the future, we know what we have to work on, especially on my physics. I think that's one of the things that I have to improve a lot. And, yeah, it helped me, of course, even though I lost against Sascha, but I think for tomorrow I will be better prepared.