ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2026

Raphael Collignon

Press Conference

R. COLLIGNON/B. Shelton

6-4, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Congratulations, Raphael. What does it feel to be in a room where the player who's come most often is called Rafael Nadal?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Well, it feels good. It means I did something good, and I'm really happy I won this match.

I was very solid from the beginning to the end, very stable. I'm really happy about the way I played today. I was really into the match from beginning to end.

Q. How can you explain this attitude? How did you build your match to make sure you would be so consistent?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Well, we prepared the match well. Steve briefed me very well. I knew I had to be good on returns, because his main point was his serve. So I had to focus on that. I know that when I focus, I serve well. That's where I'm best.

I seized every opportunity, and I broke every time at the right time. If I hadn't been so calm and quiet, I wouldn't have been able to win the match.

Everything we talked about before the match really took place properly on the court.

Q. Many people around you are aware of your potential, but it has often been said that you're not aware of it. Do you think this will be confirmed?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Well, we'll have to see for the next match. I know I can do good things. I've proved it in the past. I've played against good players, but this time I really felt I had a properly controlled game against a top-5 player.

So it was important, and we'll see what happens at the next match. We'll see if I've learned and made progress, because if it's just one match, it's not worth anything.

Q. The match point, you played it and then you let go. What did these tears mean?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: I didn't want to let go, but it was just seeing my family, my brother, and my father. Unfortunately, my girlfriend wasn't here. There was a lot of my cousins.

When you do something like that and you see people that you love whom you see in your daily life, and you are able to share such a moment with them, so it was great.

I couldn't control my emotions, but we're not just robots, you know. Some people live their match to the full with a lot of emotions, and sometimes you can't keep your emotions inward.

Q. Your result against top players are very good. How can you explain that? Is it because you feel more relaxed?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Yes, because I'm someone who thinks a lot about things, and I like to be in such a position when I have nothing to lose. I feel more relaxed, because I know that I have to attack in order to win, so it's a position I like.

While when I play a match which seems to be more reachable, sometimes my arm may shake or tremble, because I know that what I'm going to do should help me win, and I don't feel so good. So I like to play against someone who's much stronger than I am, because I have nothing to lose.

Q. What happened to Alexander Blockx may be a pity, but what he did over the past week is an inspiration.

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Yes, it's a pity, because he had a good impetus. What happened was a pity, but even for Zizou and for me, it was a good thing to see him get such good results, go to a finals in a Masters 1000, or beat the best players in the world.

So we realized we could do like him, because now top 40 is exceptional, and it gives us a lot of confidence in order to play.

I think with Alex and Zizou, we get on well, and we're pushing each other. It's probably partly thanks to him that I managed to play this match today.

Q. Were you surprised by the fact that your opponent couldn't find a solution against you?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Yes, there was a lot of waste on his side, but I felt I played really well. He had problems returning, because I served really well, and I had some opportunities on one game per set, because he was very impressive in his serve, and we knew that, but I was surprised to see that I could get some free points.

Without even pushing him around, he was giving me some points, but I also played a good match. I was on every point, every ball. I had to show him that if he wanted to win, he should play really well.

As I said, we had prepared for this match very well, and there was no surprise. I got to the court with a lot of certainties.

Q. Is it an idea or did I see you with a Panini Album? Do you have stickers?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Yes, I ask a lot of players if they're also completing their album. I had wanted this album for a long time, because I used to have one when I was a kid. It's rather playful. You know, we spent a lot of time in the club, and it's a good thing to add your stickers. It reminds me of my childhood.

My girlfriend went to a bookstore and brought it, and I asked her to buy a lot of boosters. I had some time, and I know that Faria is also completing his album, so we'll exchange some stickers.

Q. Last year you said you wanted to keep your children's eye when you got to the court. Can you do it in Roland Garros and even on Lenglen when you are fighting against a top-5 player?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Yes, obviously I do. I keep my eyes as a kid. I remember the time when I was behind my TV watching beautiful matches. I've always been a tennis fan, so I used to watch all the Roland Garros matches.

So this was really present at the beginning of the match, and then I managed to get into my bubble, but when you get to the court, obviously you have a lot of memories that come up. When you win, obviously it's multiplied by ten.

So I keep my vision, my child's vision, of things. It's great, because being in a place like this is the place where you always wanted to be, so it's important to keep that kind of vision.

Q. I see that you're 48 in the ranking. What does it mean for you to have entered the top 50?

RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Well, I think it's a good thing for the Belgian tennis. We're three in the top 50. It's good for the Davis Cup. We can still improve. We are not at the top of our ranking, and we are pushing each other.

The fact that I'm progressing and I'm doing things well, it's an encouragement also. It's just a figure, but it's a figure that shows that I'm making progress.