DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 25, 2023

Miomir Kecmanovic

Team Serbia

Press Conference

M. KECMANOVIC/L. Musetti

6-7, 6-2, 6-1

Team Italy - 0

Team Serbia - 1

THE MODERATOR: We will start with English questions.

Q. First of all, congrats on the win. We saw you stepping up a lot with the forehand, being really aggressive. Is that one of the keys for watching your best version, being that kind of aggressive player who takes control of the baseline and dominates the game?

MIOMIR KECMANOVIC: Yeah, I definitely think that's the right way to go. That's, you know, how I'm most effective when I play. I think I am playing a lot better instead of just defending, staying in the back, and waiting for something to happen.

Plus, I think the way tennis is played today, it's more everybody is trying to be aggressive, trying to come in, so I think it's definitely the right way to go.

Q. The first set, to me, you seemed like the better player and Lorenzo did really well to win the tiebreak. How easy was it to stay positive having had so many chances in the first set to then keep positive, basically?

MIOMIR KECMANOVIC: It wasn't easy at all. I wasn't positive after the first set (smiling). But, you know, I knew that if I wanted to have a chance to win, I had to switch the mindset and, you know, especially now when you play for so much, you know you're going to give everything you have.

It definitely wasn't easy, but I'm pretty proud of myself that I was able to pull it off.

Q. Following up on what you said, how different is playing Davis Cup compared to a normal ATP Tour match in terms of changing the mindset? You know, you lose the first set, you know it's tough, but you are playing for your country, playing maybe for much more than what you are used to in ATP Tour. Is that the sort of extra gear that you have to push in order to give it all for your country?

MIOMIR KECMANOVIC: Yes, I think it definitely gives you extra motivation, you know, extra energy to pull it off, you know, because you know you're fighting for everybody and not just yourself.

So I think that kind of energy always brings out the best in you. You always see some crazy matches in Davis Cup. So everybody feels it and everybody always tries to bring out their best when it matters.

Q. What were your expectations coming into this week? I know you came in off the back of a few losses. I know maybe some people were expecting Djere to be No. 2. Were you expecting to be No. 2 from the start? How pleased are you with the level of tennis that you've played in these two matches?

MIOMIR KECMANOVIC: I mean, obviously, no, the plan from the start was that I'm going for doubles. But yeah, then ultimately, you know, I showed good level in the last few weeks that we practiced. You know, everybody thought and agreed that, you know, that I should get that opportunity.

I'm very thankful that I was able to, you know, play the way that I did the last two matches, you know, and kind of give back to them as a thank you for believing in me.