ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 6, 2026

Arthur Rinderknech

Press Conference

A. RINDERKNECH/K. Khachanov

7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. It's your first victory in Monte-Carlo. What did you think of that match?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: Yeah, it's true. It's my first victory in the final draw in Monte-Carlo. I haven't played many of them, anyway. It was a good match, as a whole.

Karen is a very solid player. He has good results on clay every year, so I really needed to play a good match, and I was able to do that. It was also my first match on clay for this year, so I was not sure I would be adapted to this new surface. I'm happy with what happened, because it proves that I prepared well and I was in good conditions for that match. Winning straight sets against a player like him is good.

Q. Between 2025 and now, you had 20 wins against top-20 players. Did you make a mental improvement?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: Well, I know now that I can beat them. I proved it. I also have qualities in my game and physically that allow me to make it difficult for them against me, and this is something I do well.

I know I can't make mistakes because there are excellent players. What I would like is to have good stats like that against players between top 20 and top 50. If I had the same stats as for the top 20, I would be even happier. But what I need to do is do that every match, whatever the player on the other side of the net.

Q. Were you surprised you were able to play so well on clay from the first match on?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: Yes, as I said, it was my first match on clay this year. You never know what's going to happen. You don't know if you're going to move well, if movements will come naturally, which was the case for me today, so I'm satisfied.

I'm happy that I was able to come early here, because in Rennes the weather was not so good, so we came early in Monte-Carlo with Lucas to enjoy the good weather and the good courts, and maybe that helped me to be able to move well today.

Anyway, it proves I am ready from the first day.

Q. Next match will be Diallo or Fonseca. Which one would you prefer?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: I have no preference. They are very good players, both of them, a lot of talent. So, no, I have no preference. I hope the best one will win.

I don't even know if I'm playing tomorrow or if they are playing today. I don't know. But I will just focus on myself and prepare for the next match.

Q. What do you think of clay?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: I like clay very much. It's always difficult to start the season. I always need one or two tournaments before I get used to it, and I need to adjust my movements on that surface.

So I'm satisfied today, because from the first match I was able to adjust, so it proves that we worked well. But once the adaptation passed, I always enjoyed playing on clay. Last year was a complicated period for me for the clay court season, so I was not playing well. I was not focused.

But every time I was in good conditions, I always had good results on the surface, and so I'm very eager, very motivated this year, of course with a view to the French Open in the end of the clay court season.

Q. Did you put pressure on your cousin? He's playing his first match this evening. Is there a challenge between you?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: No, I have no idea why you're saying I put pressure on him.

Q. Well, do you have a challenge, a bet between you two for this tournament? Are you galvanizing each other?

ARTHUR RINDERKNECH: Well, we always encourage each other. And with Benjamin, my other cousin, we three always help each other.

I saw Valentin was playing well during practice. He feels good physically. I'm hoping he's going to win many matches. He'll have to be careful for this first match against Cerundolo this evening, and then he will be able to maybe go ahead in this tournament.