This is Alexandre Muller: Practice with Federer, dream dinner guests & more | ATP Tour

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That is Alexandre Muller: Observe with Federer, dream dinner friends & extra

Study extra in regards to the French wild card

August 28, 2024

French wild card Alexandre Muller will attempt to earn a giant upset on Wednesday when he performs fourth seed Alexander Zverev within the second spherical of the US Open.

Earlier than the match, ATPTour.com caught up with Muller to get to know him higher off the courtroom.

If you happen to might have dinner with any three individuals, who would they be and why?I feel Roger [Federer], as a result of for me, it is simpler as a result of he speaks French [laughs]. I want to benefit from the dinner so somebody who speaks French, my language, it is simpler for me.

It is troublesome. I feel individuals from sports activities, so we select perhaps Tiger Woods, as a result of I like golf, and Michael Jordan.

Do you play plenty of golf?I wish to play golf when I’ve some days off, sure. [I like] the sensation once you hit the ball clear. That is occurred not fairly often, however once I do it, I get pleasure from it. [I play with] my coach, who loves golf, and I performed golf two weeks in the past in Cary with Lucas Pouille. My coach received, Lucas was second and I used to be third. Not such a superb outcome, however we performed in Pinehurst. Very good golf course.

If you happen to might swap locations with anybody on the planet for a day, it might have been why?As an example Tiger. I want to know the sensation once you’re so good at golf.

If you happen to might have been a part of any tennis match in historical past, which might you choose and why?You keep in mind Roger [Federer] in opposition to Rafa [Nadal] on the Australian Open 2017? I feel to be Roger on this match can be wonderful — the depth, [reaching a] fifth set. It was a comeback for Roger after his damage [and he] received the event. It was so loopy.

Have you ever ever performed with him?I simply had a brief follow in Dubai with him, however I by no means performed a match in opposition to him or Rafa [Nadal]. The follow was very brief, as a result of it was the morning and within the afternoon he had a flight to China to [play] an exhibition. So it was like one hour, hour and a half, simply to play, no factors, simply hitting the ball, very chill. I used to be fairly younger nonetheless, 22 years or one thing. I used to be on holidays with my mother and father, and I performed some good tennis with Roger.

[I liked] his sport after all, even when I do not play like him. His mentality [is] very humorous. I imply, I am simply 70 the world, and I feel if I am going and meet him within the locker room, I can go and ask for a photograph or discuss with him for 5 minutes.

What’s one thing cool you’ve got gotten to do since you’re a tennis participant?I am not a famous person so I feel for me, it is travelling. I feel for individuals who can’t journey and need to journey, that is the cool factor that I am doing each week, taking a flight and going all over the place on the planet. Proper now I am in New York, in two weeks I’m in China, in three weeks in Tokyo in Japan. So I feel that’s the cool factor I am doing with my job.

Your favorite place?I like Australia, in Melbourne, as a result of it is winter in Europe. It is the top of the preseason, and there it is the vacations through the summer season, so all people could be very blissful to be there.

Is there someplace you have not visited that you simply want you might?Canada. I’ve by no means performed the tennis in Canada, which is loopy, as a result of there are plenty of tournaments there. So I’d say, I’d say Canada. Nowhere specifically, as a result of I do know nothing about this nation. So I want to go to Toronto, Montreal, see concepts, simply to go to.

What different hobbies do you have got?Golf. Soccer. I am not taking part in soccer as a result of it may be harmful, however I like to observe golf and soccer. [My favourite team is] Marseille, as a result of I am from the south of France. I like Actual Madrid in Spain.

I like to observe dwell streams throughout my day off, like online game dwell streams. I like stuff like this. I performed soccer for 3 years from seven to 10, and after, I wanted to cease soccer as a result of within the district in France, they advised me come to [tennis] practise Wednesday, however the soccer [training] was on the identical time, so I wanted to cease soccer for tennis.

What was your pinch-me second on Tour?I feel final 12 months, once I performed, I performed right here in opposition to [Novak] Djokovic on centre courtroom for the night time session. That was a superb reminiscence. For me a superb victory was this 12 months in Rome, I beat [Andrey] Rublev, he was [ranked] six on the planet. So after a superb victory like this, you say, ‘Okay, I am a superb tennis participant’.

What was it like final 12 months on this courtroom?It was powerful. It was 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 in opposition to Djokovic. For one hour it was not a superb reminiscence, however after, I used to be making an attempt to get pleasure from it as a result of afterwards he received the event. He’s among the finest gamers on the planet, so I couldn’t do something.

Did you get pleasure from trying round in any respect the followers within the crowd?I loved it. I keep in mind simply subsequent to my towel was Barack Obama, so some wonderful individuals like this, some actor or singer.

If you happen to might obtain one factor on and off the courtroom, what wouldn’t it be?On the courtroom I hope it is going to change once I see you in a 12 months or six months, however for me, it is to get one ATP title. That is my objective within the brief time proper now. And off the courtroom, I simply need to be pleased with my household, make them blissful too, be pleased with myself, and that is it.