US OPEN

August 31, 2025

Arthur Rinderknech

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/A. Rinderknech

7-6, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: If you would, your thoughts on today's match.

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: Well, never easy to beat one of the two best players as of right now. I enjoyed playing the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 in the last three Grand Slam on the three center courts, so that was really enjoyable. Great experience. I can't ask for any better when you are a passionate tennis player like me.

Unfortunately, it's a loss. I tried to come up with a plan, tried to give it a shot, give it my best. Of course, the task was really complicated. It's three sets to love, but sometimes I was trying, and it was not that far. I'll take some stuff for the next ones and try to do better.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You've played Carlos a few times now. How would you describe the challenge of facing him?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: The challenge is tough in a way that against any other players -- I'll probably include Sinner as well -- but any other players when you play a good shot, you know that the next one you're going to be able to do whatever you're trying to do. Are you going to be able to take a step inside the court?

Today, again, I felt like sometimes I hit a pretty decent return. I'm, like, okay, that's -- I'm going to be able to step in, and maybe I can go there and then there, and he's going to play here and shorter. Against these two guys, it's just coming back faster and with a better angle. So you're just right away on your heels.

I'll say that the toughest task against these two guys is that they are able to change the direction on such fast and penetrating balls that their opponent capable of hitting, against me. That is, yeah, really tough.

Sometimes I hit some good attacks, good return, and just so fast and put his racquet and just drive it on the open court, and I just had no chance to get it. Unless I fly two meters left, I have no chance to get it. That's the tough task against these guys.

I feel like they play knowing before you even hit your shot what you're going to do. So they are always early on what's going to happen, and it's quite complicated. Of course, sometimes you can push them maybe to their limits, but whenever it count the most, then they play their best tennis.

I didn't play a great tiebreaker today, but out of nowhere, he's starting to really play more aggressive, no mistakes, first serves, return everything. Then it's even tougher.

Q. Have you noticed over the times you've played him a difference in his serve today?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: I would say first set he wasn't serving that many first serves, so I was able to jump on his second serve. I decided early on not to take it too early, to mix it up. Maybe I could have tried to hit it, you know, take a step more inside and take it earlier so I could put even more pressure. The thing is that even when you hit a good return out of an early return, then he's so good at just rechanging the direction out of this return. Then it puts you on the run right away.

After the second and third set, I felt like he served better on the first serves. Yes, it was quite fast. He was serving better, better target. Quite fast also. I think his serve is improving, like everything or everyone is trying to do.