ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2025

Nicolas Mahut

Pierre-Hugues Herbert

Press Conference

BOLELLI-VAVASSORI/Herbert-Mahut

7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Can you tell us how special this moment was for you.

NICOLAS MAHUT: It was very special. Maybe I thought that when I spoke at the end was longer than the match itself, but I had something to say for my coaches, for my partners, for everyone. I forgot the doctor. I said in the locker room. Was very important for me.

But yeah, was not my last match, as I said, but it was still the last French Open, and you know what French Open means for all the players. So it was very special moment.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. I have a question for you, Nicolas. Can you tell us in French what it's like to play your last match in Roland Garros on the Simonne Mathieu. There were a lot of people. A great atmosphere. How did you feel with this? The first set you went to tiebreak, so what was it like for you? Because you had a great doubles pair that you were playing against.

NICOLAS MAHUT: Well, many things, first of all, during the match. Even though I had prepared for this moment, we really didn't want for it to be the last. We prepared to win the match, as we do every time, but I came in with very little preparation. I started training a month ago after stopping for about 10 months. But since Bordeaux, it was okay.

Then Geneva delayed the preparation. Well, for this match, I'm happy I finished this match on Simonne Mathieu. This is where I played my last singles match. So playing there my doubles match was great.

There were some discussions, but I would like to thank Malisse, Stephane and the President, because when I announced rather late that it was going to be my last season, even though it was not really a surprise, they called me, they wanted to organize a ceremony, and they wanted me to be on the Chatrier, but I felt but there was another match there.

I was happy to be there, to be with Pierre-Hugues. So we knew it would either be on Court 14 or Simonne Mathieu. And honestly, I couldn't hope for better. Obviously we would have preferred to win and go further, deeper into the tournament, but the way we got in, I cried a bit, but I was very happy.

Q. Pierre-Hugues, what a day. Three hours sense Fonseca, to come back and play two hours for tonight's match...

PIERRE-HUGUES HERBERT: Actually, the doubles allowed me to just move on to something else quickly. I sent a quick message before the match, but whatever happened, I was going to see him again afterwards, and I wanted it to be a celebration. Nicolas, myself, for all of the people coming to see the match.

Yes, but I was a bit tired when I came into the match, because the match against Fonseca was physical and it was quite a mess out there on the court.

I'm just happy to have played Roland Garros and been able to end it side by side with Nicolas. Considering everything that we have been through, all of these years together, just like the two last tournaments where we shared a court, it made me happy. That was in Bordeaux and Geneva.

So these are moments that, you know, reminiscent of my greatest highlights of my career. So a lot of joy, a lot of energy. But now I'm really exhausted.

Q. Pierre-Hugues, just a little bit of comments regarding your singles against Fonseca. People are talking about more and more, and he's very impressive, who already has a lot of fans. What about the quality of his balls? Do you think it's something special and in particular his forehand that makes a lot of noise? Is it something very different or really impressive with regard to his age?

PIERRE-HUGUES HERBERT: Well, I wouldn't be the first to say it, but something happens when he really goes for it on his forehand. He was 2-1 in the tiebreak. There were two in the second set that really went through the air fast and traumatized me on the tiebreak, because I had the impression that I had really raised the level of my game in that second set. So yes, it was quite something.

Well, the atmosphere, I played a lot of challengers recently, so I'm no longer familiar, used to that type of atmosphere. But it reminds me of when I played against Roger. So, you know, the atmosphere was really strange.

And yes, he is a very particular sort of player, because he's very mature for his age. Also, with regard to his character. I really felt that I really pushed him, but he was there. He played a monumental tiebreak.

Q. It was your last doubles together in Roland Garros. But what comes after? It's not your last doubles today. What is the program? In particular for you, Nico, what is planned?

NICOLAS MAHUT: I was supposed to play in 's-Hertogenbosch with Ugo Humbert normally, because with Pierre-Hugues, we couldn't fit. And maybe Gstaad with a Swiss. And US Open I don't know yet. But then if I feel good, I will try to finish in Paris, in Bercy. Maybe we can play in Paris together or maybe not. It will depend on a few things. It was our last French Open together but potentially our last match together.

LINDA START there was a lot at stake in this match. I hope we can play together again, but I don't know.

Q. About this evening's match, you started the match with a strap on your side. I think at 3-4, you went for a smash and you hurt yourself even more. In your head, were you ready to end that match, whatever happened?

NICOLAS MAHUT: I was only on one-and-a-half legs for one-and-a-half sets. So yeah, I had to finish that match. I knew that it was a bit close with my injury. I had a little muscle injury in Geneva, and this match kind of revived that pain.

But, you know, you just grit your teeth and whatever happened I would have ended the match.