THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2025

Oliver Tarvet

Press Conference

O. TARVET/L. Riedl

6-4, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Oliver, what a day. How are you feeling?

OLIVER TARVET: Pretty good. Yeah, just enjoying the moment. It's not every day that you get this amount of interviews. Just enjoying it when I can.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You played incredibly well. You didn't have a single break point. Now, potentially you're playing Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday, if he wins. Almost like a dream come true, isn't it?

OLIVER TARVET: Yeah, of course. As a kid, it's what you dream of. I came here when I was a little kid. It's what you work for. Obviously, it's a pretty long-term goal.

But yeah, for it to happen so suddenly has been really special. Obviously, Alcaraz is winning right now. You never know what can happen in tennis. If I do play him, again, I feel like nothing has changed. I've come here and not really set myself any expectations. I'm quietly confident that I can win against anyone. Alcaraz isn't an exception to that. Obviously, he's done an incredible amount in the tennis world. He's a difficult guy not to respect.

But yeah, just go out there and try and treat it like another match. At the end of the day, for me, I try and play the ball, not the player. Obviously, it's going to be pretty special playing against Alcaraz, potentially, and potentially on a pretty big court.

Just try and not let the moment get too big. Just go out there and play my brand of tennis.

Q. Your opponent said you were like a wall, you didn't make a mistake. You were unbelievable.

OLIVER TARVET: Thank you. Wow. I appreciate him.

But yeah, I mean, I thought I played a pretty good match today. Obviously, he has a big game. He was serving just rockets. I feel like when I was in the point, I did a good job of kind of staying solid, kind of forcing the error out of him.

Yeah, I thought I played a good match today, especially under the circumstances. Obviously, pretty big match. But as I said, just try to enjoy the moment. Just play my game. Obviously, it worked out for me today. Hopefully I can do the same thing on Wednesday.

Q. I've been talking to your dad. He said that he gave you a bit of a wide berth last night and this morning. What did you say courtside with your family and the support team? How was that moment?

OLIVER TARVET: Yeah, it was really special, obviously. My parents have done so much for me. They've been great throughout my tennis career. They've been the perfect parents. Obviously, they've been really supportive. But I feel they haven't overstepped their ground. They've just let me kind of develop. They've trusted me in what I've done.

I feel like one of the reasons why I have so much passion is because of them. They haven't put any pressure on me to succeed. As long as I'm having the right attitude and giving my all every day, they've been with me every step of the way. I'm just really thankful to have my mum and dad there.

It was just really special. Also, with my coach, as well. They've done an incredible amount for me. Their devotion, their dedication to me has been incredible. Just for all their hard work, my parents' hard work, my hard work to pay off, in such a special tournament has been a lot of fun. Just try to enjoy the moment for now, and tomorrow or this evening focus on what Wednesday holds.

Q. You mentioned before that this is your favorite overall tournament. What was it like this morning before you were actually on the court just being able to take it all in? I'm sure it was powerful for you to be able to experience this.

OLIVER TARVET: Yeah, of course. As I said, it's a dream come true. As a little kid, it's what you always kind of work towards. A bit of a long-term goal.

But yeah, it was just really special this morning. I had a lot of adrenaline, decent amount of nerves. But I think I did a really good job, as I said, not letting the moment get too big and focusing on what's important to me and gives me success.

I was trying to kind of take it all in. At the same time, I got a match to play and a job to do. I thought I did a good job kind of focusing on what's important.

Obviously, now I can appreciate it a little bit more and kind of let it sink in. But yeah, to your point, it was just a really, really cool experience. Just try to enjoy the most of it while I can.

Q. Could you tell us who, other than your parents, you had with you out there today? Looked like a pretty big group. Were there maybe teammates from San Diego? Also, if you could explain a little bit about the college experience for you, how you ended up in San Diego. How do you think that's helped you as a tennis player?

OLIVER TARVET: Yeah, I mean, today was pretty funny because I would hear this voice that would be familiar. I'd quickly give a glance. It would be my old coach when I was 10 or 11 or my old friend when I was just young. Old player that I played when I was a little kid.

It was nice kind of seeing these familiar faces, them coming out to support me. Obviously, gave me a lot of energy, a lot of motivation to go out there and win.

Yeah, with the collegiate system, it was a bit of a tough period because when I got recruited, it was COVID. There was no flights available so I couldn't actually have an official visit. But the head coach, Ryan Keckley, assistant coach, Alex Funkhouser, I spent 10s of hours on the phone with them building the relationship. They gave me virtual Zoom tours. They even sent me postcards.

I built a really good relationship with them. That's the main thing that I based it on. As much as, like, the place, San Diego is a great place, the big thing for me was just developing my tennis. I really trusted, from the phone calls that I had, even though it wasn't ideal circumstances, what they stood for, what USD represented.

Even if I could take a visit, knowing what I know now, I would 100% go to USD. I would recommend any top-level junior to go through the collegiate system, especially USD, because of how great the coaches are, the setup there. Everything is so organized. It's so professional.

Yeah, I mean, three years ago, not saying I'm a great tennis player now, but I'm a lot further ahead than I was three years ago. That's based on the teammates, the culture we have. The dedication that my coaches put in. It's not just the coach, the teammates, it's the people working behind the scenes that make everything happen.

I couldn't be more thankful for USD and everything they've done for me.

Q. Have you given any thought to your expenses this week? Will you be flying back by private jet?

OLIVER TARVET: I think that got a little bit taken out of context. Trying to stay humble (smiling).

But yeah, obviously, a big goal of mine is to come back in January and to keep my eligibility. The prize money, if we can't figure things out financially. But I hope to get the prize money and use that money as expenses.

I will try and do everything I can to make that work out and to find X amount of expenses so I'm under $10,000 of profit. Something I got to figure out. Maybe I hire someone to help me out with the expenses, make sure the NCAA are happy. As I said, it's very important for me. I have a lot of goals at USD still.

Q. You're allowed to claim $10,000?

OLIVER TARVET: By December, I need to show that, like, profit and minus -- sorry. Profit or prize money minus expenses equals less than $10,000. I don't know how much I made. I think I made, like, it's £99,000 or £100,000. Obviously, that's before tax. I've got to find £60,000, £70,000 of expenses, which tennis is an expensive sport. So, hopefully, I can make that happen (laughter).

As I said, just pay my coaches a little bit extra. I don't know. We'll figure something out. Fly business class.

Obviously, no, I keep humble. But yeah, really try to make that happen.

Q. For people over here that don't know the college system, sort of paint a picture of how different would a college match be to the match you just played?

OLIVER TARVET: Yeah, I mean, college is definitely energetic, to say the least. Commentators say I'm a little bit too loud or something like that. If you see me at University of San Diego Court 1, I'm three times as loud as I am at Wimbledon. Obviously, it's allowed there. It's part of the culture there.

I know a lot of people don't like the energy, some players don't enjoy that. I think it makes it really, really fun, being really competitive, having teammates who generally have your back.

The pro tour can get lonely at times. It's really nice having nine, 10 guys who have your back. Your coaches always have your back. You're working for the same goals as them, getting team wins, making your mark in USD history as a team. That's what has made it really special for me. USD is why I enjoy it so much.

Yeah, I feel there's this culture, this healthy culture, where everyone is trying to get everyone better. I feel like when everyone buys into that, it produces special things. That's why we've had the success that USD has had this year as a team. Also why I've had the success individually that I've had.

Q. What would be the biggest crowd you've played in front of before this week? And in terms of sponsorship, how does that fit within the NCAA rules? Do you have any personal sponsors or are you here with stuff you bought off the rail?

OLIVER TARVET: Yeah, there's two ways of NCAA. You have the prize money, which I have to write off as an expense or I have to find, like, prize money minus expenses has to equal less than $10,000.

The NCAA have introduced this thing called NIL. It's abbreviated for Name, Image and Likeness. They can sponsor, like, brands can sponsor you as a person in your personal image. I had some sponsorships today with TK Maxx, I think, and Clearpay. The contract was in alignment with the NIL, I don't know, criteria. So I was able to keep that money and not write it off as an expense, not need to write it off as an expense.

It's, like, finding, kind of, ways. Obviously, the NCAA want to play players, but they want to keep amateur status at the same time. They're doing their best so we can put money in our back pocket because, obviously, tennis, as I said is an expensive sport. And once you go pro, it's great not to be reaching into your parents' pockets.

So yeah, there's two things to college. NIL and the prize money, which you need to write off as an expense.

Q. Biggest crowd you played in front of?

OLIVER TARVET: Was against UCI, University of California, Irvine. First round of NCAAs. Had about 800 people show up. It was special because first year at USD, we'd have, like, 30. Kind of to see the progress of USD, kind of seeing us build a community in San Diego, it has been really special for so many people to come out and the support that we've received throughout this season, what we've been able to achieve this season has been really special. Those 800 people felt like 2,000 because of the noise they were making. I had friend in there, as well, from other sports. They were going absolutely nuts. It definitely feels like more than 800 people.

Q. I think we were all thinking, how are you going to be preparing for this match on Wednesday? Do you have a routine, rituals that help chill you out?

OLIVER TARVET: Yeah, obviously I just try and treat Wednesday as every other match. I think I've found a routine that works out for me pretty well. I like to wake up pretty early, have an early breakfast, kind of just give myself a lot of time to mentally get myself in the right place.

It's very important for me. I feel like I'm very competitive. Obviously, I feel like I have good shots, good serves, stuff like that. I feel like the competitive edge that I have is also my mental component. I feel like I'm very focused, point in, point out, that some players' focus can lapse. I feel like it a strength that I have.

Yeah, I warm up, then a big thing for me, I like to journal. It's a thing that I enjoy doing. You can maybe see on the court I bring, like, a little notepad and I write just things that allow me, as I said, to focus on what makes me good, gives me success in the process.

I feel like a thing that gives me comfort a lot is focusing on those things and the outcome will take care of itself.

Q. (No microphone.)

OLIVER TARVET: Just little triggers that keeps me in the right head space and keeps me focused. That's given me a lot of success, not even matches, before or after practices. If there's a feeling that I like, a thought I like, I write it down so I have it on paper. That's given me a lot of just comfort. Especially when you're playing in big crowds, I feel like it's important just to not let the moment get too big or lose your focus. It just keeps me grounded. I think that's a big thing for me.

I'll go out there, warm up, do a physical warm-up. I like to listen to music to get in the right head space.