The 37-year-old still packs magic in that racquet.
Dave Winter/Icon Sport via Getty Images
Nicolas Mahut was worried that he wouldn’t be able to play at Roland Garros. But those worries faded on Day 1 as last year’s doubles champion created one of the magic moments of Day 1.
The Frenchman helped to create a special atmosphere in the new Court Simonne-Mathieu on Sunday when he rallied from two sets down to defeat Marco Cecchinato 2-6 6-7(6) 6-4 6-2 6-4.
The victory was extra special because of the pressure Mahut felt when he received a wild card from tournament organizers.
“It's rather complicated,” Mahut told the press. “First of all, some people took some risk by giving me this wildcard. I know that the captain, Thierry Champion, and the national technical manager also, and the president [of the FFT], as well. It wasn't obvious, because I hadn't been playing well, and I had been hurt over the past few weeks, and they trusted me.”
Mahut ( 🎥@Eurosport_RU ) pic.twitter.com/ZphBr593Wd
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) May 26, 2019
An extremely grateful Mahut was quick to give thanks to those who trusted him. And he went on to explain just how close he was to rejecting the wild card in the lead-up to the tournament.
“I would like to seize this opportunity to thank them, because it wasn't a given. And for the anecdote last Friday, a week ago—well, before the qualifications we were training. It didn't go well. My back was still hurting. And I felt like giving back the wildcard and saying, ‘I won't be ready.’ Then my staff said, ‘Look, you have until Sunday. Take some time, take some rest.’ I felt better and better. Saturday and Sunday I was feeling better. And I had a week of preparation with coaches, with Jean-Michel. They didn't let go.”
Mahut gave credit to his wife for telling him to relax and play it by ear.
“My wife every evening would tell me, Relax, don't put any pressure on yourself. Things will go well. And I trusted them and this was my payback today.”
He was overwhelmed with joy when it was all said and done.
“It is by far my best victory in Roland Garros, in a French tournament, I hadn't had many,” said Mahut, who entered the tournament with a 6-16 lifetime record at Roland Garros. “And playing on this extraordinary court, I felt that if there was a possibility of playing on this court, it would be incredible and there would be an incredible atmosphere.
“And this is what happened today. He was winning two sets, and then I made an effort in the third, fourth, and in the fifth it's no longer the 20th seeded against my rank of 250. And it's also an advantage of being French when you play Roland Garros. And this victory will rank very high in my memories.”
