ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2026

Jesper de Jong

Press Conference

J. de JONG/K. Khachanov

7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. You're now qualified for the fourth round. Can you talk us through your match and how you feel being qualified?

JESPER de JONG: Yeah, if I have to talk about everything, we will be here for a while. Yeah, it's incredible, yeah, achievement for myself.

I'm really proud of how I mentally stayed in the match, especially in the fifth set, and that was a key, how I came out of the locker room, the toilet break, that was the key, yeah, of making a good start in the fifth and that I didn't give away.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. How are you feeling physically? And also, just about your tennis, after all the tennis you've played at this tournament, more than anybody else?

JESPER de JONG: Yeah, it's a good sign, playing, I don't know how many matches, six matches right now. Yeah, physically I'm still okay. I said to my coach I could have played one more set. That's a good sign.

And now it's important to recover well, to take my vitamins, don't get sick (smiling). My resistancy of how I can handle my recovery, that has been a little tougher in the past. Yeah, looking forward to my next round.

Now I have to, yeah, enjoy and celebrate a little bit.

Q. As you said before, you were mentally very strong, especially in the fifth set. Do you think the fact that we spoke after your first round that you were a Lucky Loser and you were almost out of the tournament, do you think it gave you a special energy? Because it's the first time you reach the second week. Do you feel like it's helped you mentally go further and to be stronger?

JESPER de JONG: Not the Lucky Loser part. I feel like I just made it through another route to make it to the main draw. I was one out at the start of the French Open. Then I had to play quallies. Then losing last round of quallies. Then being one out for Lucky Loser.

In the end, it was a little in between, yeah, it was tough roller coaster or whatever, to make it to the main draw. But of course I was lucky with the draw that I came on the seeded spot, and that helped with the draw, obviously.

But, yeah, that Lucky Loser thing didn't give me extra energy or something.

Q. We have seen matches from you and in the past have shown how talented you are, but this is a real run deep in a Grand Slam now. What do you think may be the main strides you have taken have been that got you to this point?

JESPER de JONG: Yeah, I have had some good runs. Not playing Alcaraz, Sinner, or Zverev would help. Like, in the second round, I always had quite tough draws in the second round, but I enjoy the big stage. I enjoy the battle. Mentally, I'm like on my best when it's, yeah, when it's those kind of matches.

This year was tough mentally. Didn't win many matches. Started to invest with a mental coach, as well, with a breath coach. Yeah, those are good investments if these kind of matches go my way.

So that's what I really believe in. Those investments, yeah, helped me to get to the spot I am right now. Yeah, I'm very happy.

Q. Have you ever found yourself during matches feeling a little anxious before, and therefore, these drills maybe help...

JESPER de JONG: Well, this year I had many matches, especially on the Challenger Tour, wherever, that I was really pissed to myself, that I was playing to myself more than to my, against my opponent.

Yeah, that makes it pretty tough for myself, and physically, as well. I just spoke to my coach that the way I handled it physically was because I was mentally, yeah, just calm and just in the match and not negative.

That really helped me maintain my energy.

Q. You mentioned not drawing Zverev, but you could play him here, potentially.

JESPER de JONG: It's better in the fourth round than in the second round.

Q. You did take a set off him last time, and he's probably feeling more pressure than he ever has in a draw in a lot of ways. What do you think of your chances there? Do you sense these other guys, Khachanov too, maybe, are feeling all this expectation, and I think for Zverev may be higher than anyone?

JESPER de JONG: Yeah, of course. For everyone, of course the very big names are out, Djokovic, Sinner, you cannot go around that it will bring extra pressure for Zverev. It can go two ways, or it can work against him or work for him that he is, okay, this is my year, I'm going to do everything I can to make it my year.

But he still needs to win five more matches, and yeah, I hope to, yeah, have a good performance, prepare physically for it, and then, because he's a physical player, last year he, yeah, he brutally, yeah, demolished me after that first set. And I'm physically stronger than last year, so I'm really looking forward.

But still, he needs to win today.

Q. You rank around 100 in the world, so for you, this is big thing, like today. I know the tournament is not done yet, and as you said, you have still more chances, but what will it change for you for the season, for the future, like, mentally? Will it change something for you? What does it change in the future for you mentally, considering you're capable, able to do that, in Grand Slam?

JESPER de JONG: It adds a lot of points. That's a good sign. Didn't have many points going into this tournament. Getting some extra money is always -- the fourth round of a slam is always, yeah, a good thing with, like, money-wise.

So that's a very nice thing for, in that case, but yeah, I mean, it's a good push for, like, yeah, good confidence boost for the season I had. And I'm going to keep playing on clay, small break to the grass, and then a long season on clay I had.