PODCAST - Paul, De Minaur, Auger-Aliassime, Lehecka, Rune & Ruud

TOMMY PAUL ON THE CAMARADERIE BETWEEN AMERICAN PLAYERS - ‘For me it’s all fun and I think for almost all of us. I mean I think if I was on tour without any Americans, I don’t know how long I’d play the sport, as I have so much more fun by just having them here’.

ALEX DE MINAUR ON HIS STRONG 2023 - ‘I’m definitely not taking it all for granted. It’s a pretty good position to be in, but as with everything with life, when you get to a certain spot you want more and so that’s the kind of stage i’m at now, I can see a lot of goals of mine getting close and so I’m trying to push as hard as I can to achieve them’.

FELIX AUGER-ALIASSIME ON THE NEED FOR PERSPECTIVE - ‘People say this must be the toughest year I’ve had, but not so much because I feel like I’ve been fortunate to play good tennis in the past few years, be healthy, enjoy my tennis and travel the world and yeah, this year has been more difficult result-wise, but I’m feeling good and I feel positive about my game and I know with time, results will come ’.

ARTHUR FILS ON HIS AMBITION - 'I started to take tennis seriously around ten or eleven years old and I knew I was going to be a good tennis player and my dream was to be number one and win some Grand Slams, so I’m on the way'

JIRI LEHECKA ON LEARNING TO ADAPT TO THE MAIN TOUR - ’The consistency at the very top level is a very hard thing to do, but a very important one to do. The physical game is one of the most important things in tennis as well and it’s very hard to beat a guy who’s physically very good, but the mental game is the most important one, because if you are not ready mentally, you have nothing to do on the court’.

ANEKE RUNE ON BEING PART OF HOLGER'S TEAM - ‘I thought that when he was a teenager he would say that he was good on his own, but somehow, when you become better and better, the more you need people you can trust and my only interest in Holger is that he does good, so when he comes to me and asks for an honest opinion, he always get one’.

CASPER RUUD ON THE RACE TO TURIN - ‘I’m currently sitting at number ten in the race so it’s going to be a couple of important tournaments coming up now. I’m still technically in the race and still have a chance to qualify, but there’s obviously a bit of pressure on the line, but I’m going to give it a go, come in clutch and finish very strong this year’.

Show presented by Chris Bowers

Interviews by Paul King and Jill Craybas

Features by ATP Uncovered and ATP Media