ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2026

Zachary Svajda

Press Conference

Z. SVAJDA/F. Cerundolo

6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 3-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on the win. How does it feel to beat a player that has such great credentials on this service?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: It feels amazing. It hasn't really kicked in yet. I'm sure it's going to kick in tonight. But it was an incredible atmosphere there, and I played really well.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. A lot of people when the draw opened up with Sinner out were picking Francisco Cerundolo to make the final. You obviously stopped that from happening, but what did you sort of sense in terms of the opportunity, and did you sense he was at all tight or nervous because of everything? That's sort of been a theme also that players knowing that it's an opportunity are looking ahead and getting tight and stuff.

ZACHARY SVAJDA: When I saw Sinner was out, I try to stay present and stay positive and just take it day by day, match by match. I knew the draw was open, but I just tried to keep doing my routines, keep doing what I've been doing, and just see what happens.

Q. Next round you are going to play against Cobolli. He said that you practiced few times. You played once in Delray Beach, but he never saw you play on clay courts. I'm wondering what he has to expect about that?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: Yeah, I mean, we played each other in Delray on hard court and practiced a few times. Yeah, I haven't played much on clay, so this year is kind of like my first full year on it.

I'm excited. It's going to be a good battle, good match. We had a close match in Delray two years ago, I believe. Yeah, I'm excited.

Q. Can you just talk through the match a little bit, because obviously a little bit of a roller coaster and probably, you know, in the first two hours it seemed like it was dead to rights, you were going to get it, and then probably going into the fifth I think everybody thought, well... So how did you see it? How did you turn it around? How did you lock down in the fifth?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: It was nice getting the first two sets, and then I got a little bit tired. My legs started cramping a little bit. I didn't want to show it too much, so I just tried to shorten the points a little bit more. He started to up his game, play well.

When I lost the third and fourth, I told myself, just keep trusting, keep believing, and you never know what could happen.

There was the great atmosphere out there. The crowd really helped me. Thankfully it went my way (smiling).

Q. You don't have a ton of experience on clay, and your results before this tournament were not spectacular on the clay so far. How surprised are you that you are in the second week of the French Open now?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: I mean, yeah, I'm definitely shocked, surprised for sure. Yeah, like I said, it hasn't kicked in yet. It's crazy. I'm just taking it all in.

You know, I knew I would get good on the clay. I thought maybe in a few years, but I never expected right now. I'm very grateful and blessed and just taking it all in.

Q. We'll see what results are like, but you could be the last American standing here potentially on the men's side. What would that mean?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: Yeah, that would be amazing. You know, it's like I'm dreaming right now, in a dream. It's crazy.

Today was so special, too, because it's also my dad's birthday. I know he's watching from above. It just makes it so special.

Q. Just following up on the question before, I know you're trying to stay present, but do you hear -- what's it like in the locker room and player dining and stuff like that when you do have all these big seeds go out? Do you hear the chatter of other people talking about, Wow, what's going on here? Does it give you belief about what's possible? Not down the road next Sunday or anything like that at this point, but what's possible when you are going up against a player with a much bigger reputation.

ZACHARY SVAJDA: Yeah, I mean, I definitely hear it. We all talk in the locker room just about the results. I had a lot of people come up to me today, Frances, and even my opponent, Flavio, because we're good friends. He just told me congrats.

But, yeah, I just try to -- you know, everyone is good out here, no matter what you're ranked and everything. I just try to believe in myself and know if I play well, you never know what could happen. I could beat anyone. I like to think that for sure, but I just try to stay humble and take it day by day.

Q. What did Frances say?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: Oh, he was super happy for me. He gave me, like, a big hug. He was just talking how good I'm playing. He was shocked too. Like, Dude, this is clay court, what's going on? I'm, like, Dude, I have no idea what's going on. He's a great guy. It was funny.

Q. How much did you play on clay as a kid? When was the first time you played on a red clay court?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: The first time I played on a red clay court was probably two years ago when I was 21, I would say. I played some green clay back in the U.S., but not until I was probably 19 or so, a couple of tournaments, and then a few times here in quallies.

Yeah, I probably played, like, 10 or 15 matches on clay my whole career. So it's still new to me, but it's paying off right now.

Q. Sliding is still a challenge, or you got it down?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: I think I'm getting it down, yeah. I wouldn't say I'm perfect yet for sure, but it's definitely getting better. The more matches I'm having, it's helping.

Q. I was a big fan of the photo with the beret on the hoodie and the croissant.

ZACHARY SVAJDA: Oh, on TikTok.

Q. How did that come together? You're one of low key TikTok kings of the tour.

ZACHARY SVAJDA: I love my TikTok. It's so much fun. I don't put any pressure on myself. With TikTok I feel like I can just post whatever I want. When I saw I made the third round, I'm like, I have this picture of me with my big croissant that I got a few days ago. I'm, like, you know, I'm going to post it and say, I can't believe I'm in third round. Yeah, that one is going viral. It's so funny. I love my TikTok.

Q. I came in a little late, so I don't know if anyone has asked. Can you take me through the emotions of what you went through when you converted that match point today? It looked like you were having a nice moment there on court.

ZACHARY SVAJDA: Yeah, the emotions were insane. Like I said, it's still kicking in, still so fresh. Yeah, that match point, like, when I fell to the ground, it was just so special.

The atmosphere was great out there throughout the whole five sets. Everyone stayed, and I had a good fan support out there. It was a really special moment, special match.

Like I said, it's my dad's birthday today. I was thinking about that too. I was nervous. I really want to -- I know he's proud of me, and I want to perform well and win. When I got that match, the last point, I just teared up, fell to the ground like, Oh, my gosh, what is happening?

Q. You said earlier that you were cramping. Is it easy to hide cramps, because it's an issue, I think?

ZACHARY SVAJDA: Yeah, no, it's definitely tough, because I wasn't serving as big as I was in the third set. I felt it coming. I took my pickle juice and did things that would help for me, but I try not to show it too much and just hopefully it goes away.

That's why when I lost the third set, I went to the bathroom and just take a little reset and put the cold water on my face, because it was really hot out there too.

The conditions have been brutal the last five, six days. I think it's going to cool down a bit coming up. But, yeah, it's not fun when you cramp, but thankfully it went away around the fourth and fifth.