Benjamin Bonzi, eliminated in the first round in Cincinnati: “Digest this start of the tour”

“Do you come out of this game with the same frustration than in Newport a month ago (loss 7-6, 6-7, 7-6)?
It’s more or less the same as in Newport, we’re on the same scenario. Maybe I have to take the first one, I don’t and then we know the tie-breaks. That’s the game. I may have lacked a bit of service in the tie-breaks, points that were a little easier at times. Not much is missing. He may have been a little successful, especially at the start of the tie-break of the third where he made two sliced ​​forehands that hit the line. Behind, he makes a huge reflex volley, it’s 3-0. I start the tie-break late and it becomes hard, even if the content of the points is not bad.

The double fault at 4-5, in the tie-break of the third set, you commit it because it is Isner in front and you know that you are not allowed to make mistakes on your commitment?
I do not know. I know he’s going to go there on the second ball, that he’s going to hit hard in the middle and that he’s going to go up… I’m trying to accelerate him, like all my second balls for quite a while in the game. That’s the one coming out. Why, I don’t know. Maybe I’m hitting her a little too underhand or throwing a little too low. It’s hard to know.

Do you manage to take pleasure in front of such a server?
In Newport, I had a lot of fun returning it. I had fun on the court. There, a little less. I think his serve is even more effective there than on the grass. It’s hard to find binder. He puts energy into his service games. On the return, if he loses the first or even the second point, he no longer plays. In the third set, not much is happening on my commitments, but he is still there to send his big firsts. Sometimes I’m on it, I touch them, I manage to make it play, but it’s not easy to have a permanent feedback quality. This is its strength.

The good news of the day is your selection for the French Davis Cup team. What do you feel ?
I was super happy to be taken. It’s harder with the match today (Monday) to see that aspect, but of course I’m very happy. It’s something close to my heart. I had a great experience in Pau, it will be great to find the team again. But that’s in a month, there are other tournaments to play by then. We will have to digest this start of the tour (three first-round losses in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati) and try to focus on what’s next, the two upcoming tournaments (Winston Salem and the US Open). »