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

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That is Alexandre Muller: Follow with Federer, dream dinner visitors & extra

Study extra concerning the French wild card

August 28, 2024

French wild card Alexandre Muller will attempt to earn an enormous 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 court docket.

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

It is tough. I believe 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 prefer to play golf when I’ve some days off, sure. [I like] the sensation whenever 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 earth for a day, it will have been why?
As an example Tiger. I wish to know the sensation whenever 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 decide and why?
You keep in mind Roger [Federer] towards Rafa [Nadal] on the Australian Open 2017? I believe to be Roger on this match could be superb — the depth, [reaching a] fifth set. It was a comeback for Roger after his damage [and he] received the match. It was so loopy.

Have you ever ever performed with him?
I simply had a brief apply in Dubai with him, however I by no means performed a match towards him or Rafa [Nadal]. The apply 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 dad and mom, and I performed some good tennis with Roger.

[I liked] his recreation 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 believe if I’m going and meet him within the locker room, I can go and ask for a photograph or speak with him for 5 minutes.

What’s one thing cool you have gotten to do since you’re a tennis participant?
I am not a famous person so I believe for me, it is travelling. I believe 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 in every single place on the earth. Proper now I am in New York, in two weeks I’m in China, in three weeks in Tokyo in Japan. So I believe 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 everyone could be very blissful to be there.

Is there someplace you have not visited that you just want you could possibly?
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 wish to go to Toronto, Montreal, see concepts, simply to go to.

What different hobbies do you’ve?
Golf. Soccer. I am not enjoying soccer as a result of it may be harmful, however I like to look at 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 look at dwell streams throughout my day without work, 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 believe final yr, once I performed, I performed right here towards [Novak] Djokovic on centre court docket for the night time session. That was a superb reminiscence. For me a superb victory was this yr in Rome, I beat [Andrey] Rublev, he was [ranked] six on the earth. So after a superb victory like this, you say, ‘Okay, I am a superb tennis participant’.

What was it like final yr on this court docket?
It was powerful. It was 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 towards 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 match. He’s among the best gamers on the earth, so I couldn’t do something.

Did you get pleasure from wanting 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 superb individuals like this, some actor or singer.

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