ROLAND GARROS

May 28, 2026

Juan Manuel Cerundolo

Press Conference

JM. CERUNDOLO/J. Sinner

3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on such a big win. How happy are you with the way you stayed focused in the match and you handled things out there today?

JUAN MANUEL CERUNDOLO: Yeah, thank you very much. Of course, I'm super happy with the match. Yeah, I mean, the match was almost lost, but of course, I stayed mentally during the whole match. I was prepared for battling as long as it takes. I was lucky that he cramp and his level went down, but of course, mine went up even though.

Yes, I stayed mentally really focused on the match, trying to do my best every ball. Yeah, super happy for making the win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. From 5-1 in the third what did you feel? What did you notice on the part of the net? Did it start earlier, more or less? As soon as you saw him in difficulty, what was your mindset?

JUAN MANUEL CERUNDOLO: Yeah, I mean, I start to saw him, like, maybe 3-0 or, like, the beginning of the third. I noticed that he start to make, like, different kind of serve and volleys to make the points shorter. Then started to hit big forehanded, like were out of position, trying to also get the points short.

So I started to notice that something wasn't good, because I mean, he was beating me pretty easy, I have to say. Why should he change the tactic and make the points shorter if he doesn't need? So I start to feel.

Then he kind of move his legs to do something, and also, yeah, I think his team started cheer him up. I thought, something's weird. Doesn't seem like with the score, you know? It was 6-3, 6-2, 3-0, and why all that, you know?

So I started to notice a little bit, and I tried to fight a lot to stay mentally and to keep pushing, to keep pushing, to play my best and see if maybe he went a little bit down and try to make my best.

Yeah, of course, that happen, and the thing that was the key for me to stay mentally and to come back from that score.

Q. I just wanted to ask you, is there any words that he said to you on the net after the game? Have you be cautious all the time when you see that the thing rolling on your side after that game where he start to struggle? Do you have a tingle in your head, maybe Jannik is going to wake up and start to play again, like two first sets?

JUAN MANUEL CERUNDOLO: Yeah, well, in the net he told me -- he's a great guy. He told me, good match for me. He congratulate me, and he say, Good luck for the rest of the tournament. Of course, I said I feel sorry for him cramping and feeling bad, but that was the exchange in the net.

Then, no, in my head, yeah, of course, I thought he like he was maybe playing. I thought, like, he would throw away the fourth set, but in the fifth set I thought he maybe would return, like, to be playing as the first two sets.

But, well, that maybe didn't happen. Also, I put my level -- like I increase my level. Yeah, that's what I expect.

Q. I have another question that might sound a bit strange, but at some point did you feel that you have a mental advantage on him? Generally speaking, the world No. 1 has a mental advantage on more or less everybody, but considering how it happened, you won, I guess, 18 of the 20 last games. At some point did you feel really that mentally you were the boss of the match, if I shall say?

JUAN MANUEL CERUNDOLO: I mean, I wouldn't say that way. I suffer a lot of cramps in my career, so it happens to me a lot, and I lost a lot of matches because of cramping and feeling bad.

So I think it can happen both ways. Tennis is about being in the present day and being better in that match. He's No. 1 in the world because he's the best every day.

So I think, no, no, no, I'm not the better in my head. Just happened this day. I was better this day. Of course, I'm happy for it.