US OPEN

September 4, 2021

Oscar Otte

Press Conference

O. OTTE/A. Seppi

6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on today's match and your level of play during this first week of the Open.

OSCAR OTTE: Yeah, I mean, was big match today again. I know Seppi from playing club matches back in Germany. I knew how he plays. I think it was similar to the Kudla match. I knew what was going to happen and I just tried to focus a lot on my serve.

Was pretty difficult for me the beginning and third set because conditions were compared to the other matches a little bit different. The court was much slower, so I had to adapt a little bit, but I think it worked out really well. I'm just really happy to be first time in my life in the second week of a slam.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. From where you were in the first two rounds of qualifying to now, has it hit you what you've accomplished here in New York so far?

OSCAR OTTE: Quallies are always tough, especially the first two rounds. I wasn't in very good physical shape. I puked on the court in both deciding tiebreaks.

I know if I play well and my game works really good, I can make a lot of damage to no matter who is my opponent.

Yeah, it's tough. It was a long way, but I think it's still not the end.

Q. I remember, as you said, the first two matches, what was going through your mind after the first time that happened, like could you ever imagine not only getting through quallies after that but then getting here?

OSCAR OTTE: Well, actually in the moment when it happened, I was just thinking, Okay, doesn't matter what's the score, how the match is gonna end. I just wanted to be off court out of the sun because it was so humid and hot.

Yeah, it's a crazy ride. Just unbelievable. I didn't expect that I could come so far.

Yeah, as I already said before, I know now that I have more trust in my game, and it's working really well. Let's see when this ends.

Q. I know this is going to sound funny, but could you tell me the story behind Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell.

OSCAR OTTE: Yeah, I mean, my sister and her -- they are actually married -- her husband, they are obsessed with Chick-fil-A and Taco Bell, and they always force me to go and order as soon as I'm in the States. Actually did it when I came here like the couple of first days. Then I was thinking, Okay, maybe it's a little bit of a lucky charm. So I decided to keep on with that.

And, yeah, yesterday not, but the last days I ordered Taco Bell and Chick-fil-A. I really like it. Just in the evening. Not before the match.

Q. I know you had a really good summer in German leagues, in your second, Bundesliga, going undefeated singles and doubles. I wondered has that helped you find your form or give you some confidence?

OSCAR OTTE: Yeah, definitely. I mean, I always enjoyed so much to play club matches because a lot of good friends are also on the team. I think it helped me a lot, because it was a lot of matches with singles and doubles. It's the only time in the year where you can compete as a team, not alone like the rest of the year.

So, yeah, I think, yeah, I was undefeated in second division. It just helped me for the, yeah, for this tournament also.

I mean, it was on clay, but for me the surface actually doesn't make such a difference because I play same style no matter which surface. Yeah, it helped a lot, I would say.

Q. Today you handled this biggest match of your life very, very well. The way you closed it out was very confident. Does it matter that you're 28 at this stage of your life at this big match instead of being 20? Do you think that helped you today?

OSCAR OTTE: Yeah, of course. I still remember back couple of years ago when the matches were smaller, playing futures or challengers or quallies, was completely different, going nuts on court. Now, a little bit later, a little bit more mature, this helps a lot. You grow as a person not just as a tennis player. It's not always about playing tennis.

Of course I enjoy it and I love it every second. Of course the older you get, I mean, with the body it can get a little bit more tricky, but, I mean, I'm still 28. It's not that old. Yeah.