ROLAND GARROS

May 27, 2026

Valentin Royer

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/V. Royer

6-3, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Well done today. Really tough match. I just wonder what you made of Novak's level during it?

VALENTIN ROYER: Sorry?

Q. What you made of Novak's level during the match.

VALENTIN ROYER: Yeah, he had a decent level when we started the match, especially when the sun was still out, when the conditions were pretty dry still. The ball was going pretty fast. He was getting me a lot of wrong foot.

It was tough for me. He played well tactically, and as soon as the ball started to get a little bit, you know, slower, I started to play well, to have more time so I could use my powerful shots.

Yeah, I just tried to fight like a dog, and I got the second set by saving the match point, but yeah, he played really well, obviously. He served particularly well, I thought, in the first and the second set.

I didn't check the stats yet. First and second, he played a lot of first serve in. Yeah, the tactic with the team was clear, is to get a lot of aggressive shots out of his second serve, and I didn't get the opportunity a lot. So, yeah.

Q. It was a great atmosphere, a lot of support for you. Did you get the sense he was almost relishing facing up to the French crowd?

VALENTIN ROYER: Yes, yes. As he does always, (smiling). But the thing is I had the impression every time the crowd is cheering for me, he takes the energy or the negativity of what's happening. He was also complaining a lot about the noise and everything, but, I mean, you have to expect that it's going to be noisy. It's Wednesday, Kids' Day, a lot of kids on the court. They make some noise.

Yeah, I think he took that energy maybe against him, I mean, as usual. He takes the energy, whatever it is, to make him play well. When at 5-3 I saved the match point, I don't know, advantage with the half volley, and I went with the crowd, then he just went calm like this and aced me. I was like, yeah, typical Novak thing.

Yeah, he played really good. I think in the tiebreak I had more opportunity to get the ball in my hands, at least, to have the opportunity to get some powerful shots and to, yeah, to have the opportunity to take the set, and I took it.

Yeah, at least I'm happy with the way I fought.

Q. Do you think he could go all the way again here?

VALENTIN ROYER: You never know. I don't want to advance myself too much.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. Good evening. You clearly managed to get a set, but I'm sure that you're disappointed after having such a tight match with such a big player.

VALENTIN ROYER: Yes, I'm coming off the court a little bit disappointed with my performance, especially in the first and second set. He served very well, as I said. But I couldn't manage to build on those shots that I should have built on. I did quite a few direct faults. I didn't manage to get him off balance at the back of the court. Of course things came together in the third set.

But it was a super match, beyond the disappointment. I absolutely loved the communion with the crowd. That was crazy. It's a first for me playing on Chatrier against a tennis legend. So I was super happy with myself on the way in which I managed the event, in any case, because I wasn't too stressed and I didn't do anything ridiculous today, so I'm happy.

Q. He's 39 years old. It was so hot on the court, and yet he sticks in there. At one point, did you say, No, it's not possible, at one point physically he won't hold out? Did that impress you? We know him, but when you're playing opposite him, is it impressive to see him hold on like that on a physical level?

VALENTIN ROYER: I knew that, physically speaking, I would have liked to go to five sets to see whether he would hold out. I saw him complaining a bit, stretching, but that's Novak. He does this to try and see how his opponent reacts.

But it didn't impact me. I tried to keep the thread, especially in the third and fourth, because he's an exceptional player. So even if he is complaining about his back or pains, he runs so fast and he goes and he goes and gets all of those points.

So it was just so impressive in the two, three first games. Then I got into the game and I said, Okay, I'm just playing against a player that is like any other player that has a good level of game, but when Marc announced the wins of Novak during the warm-up, I wasn't listening. I was in my bubble.

We had a good brief before the match, and the fact that I'm not playing against a legend but I'm playing against a tennis player. Because if you're playing against a legend you have lost before you even get out there on the court. The goal is to play the ball and not the legend, so it was very important for me to stay focused on what I had to do.