Benjamin Bonzi lost in the final of the Marseille tournament this Sunday. With some regrets to the key but also beautiful renewed ambitions. Southerner, the interested party has not forgotten the Classic between OM and PSG, however.
How do you feel about this final lost in Marseille?
It’s not played much, I had chances but when he serves like that, it’s complicated to return. In the second set, on every second, I saw that I could take the advantage; but it is especially the first set that leaves me with regrets, with this break conceded twice. I had a hard time getting into it, and he was waiting, he was trying to get me to go where he wanted… It’s a shame not to have negotiated this start to the match better, it’s not working out for me in the end but it really doesn’t play much.
The match almost turned in this second round…
In this second set, I get there more often in the exchange, it’s true, I feel stronger in the duels from the baseline, I manage to finish more often in the net. Him, he continued to play in his sector, I had more time to move him but as soon as he was under pressure, he knew how to take his chances.
Has this week given you certainty in your game?
Let’s say that it reinforced the ones I already have. I see that there is a match, especially against the best, when everything goes well as planned. Today, it’s a defeat, stuck, but it comforts me in my certainties, that’s for sure.
Compared to your defeat in the final of the Pune tournament this year, have you noticed an evolution?
Not in the result unfortunately. I made mistakes in the first set, it was not for lack of commitment or because I was tense, I had trouble adapting to his balls and his service in particular. On the other hand, I increased my energy, it’s positive, and it’s still a good experience.
“I learned a lot last year”
What are the first lessons of this year 2023 compared to the previous season?
I feel much better, and this is my second final on the ATP Tour, the second of the year… I learned a lot last year, it was a full year, and I know what we have to continue on to work now. Everything is falling into place gradually, things are getting better and better, and final victory is more than ever a goal.
What aspects of your tennis are you focusing your work on now?
We try to work on the service, and I have to be more forceful in the exchange, to always keep the intensity in the exchange. There, even when I feel that I am the best in the exchange, I know that I still have progress to make, and I do not set myself limits. We’ll see how it evolves over the season.
The place of French number 1 is not far away. Is it a goal?
It’s not really an objective, no… If all the French have results in tournaments, that’s fine with me. The goal is to continue to progress and to give the maximum to each tournament, that’s all. The rest will come.
“I’ll be at the stadium tonight, we’ll try to finish this day better! I’m a big fan of @dimpayet17…” @BenjaminBonzi #OMPSG #Open13Provence pic.twitter.com/Z7Vd2yf8Tm
— Thomas Siniecki (@siniecko) February 26, 2023
You said at the ceremony that the day was not over…
I will be at the Vélodrome stadium tonight (for the Ligue 1 Classic between OM and PSG, editor’s note). A prognosis? It’s the heart that speaks so I’m going to say Marseille but I know it’s going to be complicated. My favorite players? Alexis Sanchez is still very strong… I’m a big fan of Payet too, but he’s playing less at the moment.
