DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 25, 2021

Steven Diez

Team Canada

Press Conference

E. YMER/S. Diez

6-4, 6-2

Sweden - 1

Canada - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. It seemed like you started off great. You were ahead 4-1 in the first set. What do you think changed in the dynamic of the match?

STEVEN DIEZ: Well, I think I had a pretty good start. Actually the first game he broke my serve, then I broke back. I managed to hold my serve. I think we prepared the match pretty well. I think the tactics were working pretty well at the beginning. He missed a few balls I think at the beginning. I was actually playing well.

At 4-1 he broke me back. I think he started to play with a bit more patience. I wasn't really waiting for that, I was waiting for him to play more aggressive, more like miss or win a point.

He started to just put the ball back in. I think I started to go for it, playing a bit more aggressive. I think I started to miss a bit more. I think the match changed a bit.

At the end he was the better player today, I think.

Q. He talked about how he felt like his forehand was on fire. He finished with 19 winners. Were you surprised what he was doing from the forehand side today?

STEVEN DIEZ: I think once he started seeing that, he started not pushing the ball, but putting it back on my side and letting me create more. I think that fired him up a bit. He gained a bit of confidence. He's a player that has a really good forehand. Especially when you play a bit short, there were a few moments I played a bit short and, yeah, he took advantage of that. He played really well with his forehand.

Q. What does it mean for you personally to be back in a Davis Cup environment since 2010?

STEVEN DIEZ: Well, yeah, if you ask me now, I'm quite disappointed. Really happy I have a chance. I think I gave it all out there until the last point. Every point in the game counts. I think it comes especially with this new format now.

Putting the loss aside, I'm really happy to be back on the team. I just want to get back on court now and cheer for Vasek. Yeah, I'm really happy to be here, try to do my best.