ATP Tour

Halys on ‘zero regrets’ approach to Kitzbühel final: First-Time Winner Spotlight

Quentin Halys banished his demons from a difficult first experience in an ATP Tour final by winning his second in style on Saturday at the Generali Open in Kitzbühel. The 29-year-old Frenchman delivered a high-class all-around display to upset World No. 11, top seed and defending champion Alexander Bublik and claim his maiden tour-level trophy.

After his 6-4, 7-6(6) championship-match triumph, Halys sat down with ATPTour.com to reflect on his journey to his first title, discuss how he will celebrate, and select which ATP star he would pick to play football for his beloved Paris St. Germain.

What does it mean to you to win your first ATP Tour title?
Of course that’s a great achievement. I was trying to get a title even at Challenger level. Now its been three years [since my last Challenger title] and I’ve lost some finals. I knew before this tournament I was playing great, but it’s a huge difference between, let’s say, making the quarter-finals or winning. Hopefully it’s going to give me a lot of confidence. Now the goal is to get back to another final and of course to try to win one more title.

Who are the key figures that helped you get to this point?
There are many, because all the way I had many coaches, but the work we’ve done in the past two years with Olivier Malcor my coach has been huge. My physical trainer Ben has been here since I was a small kid. Every coach has contributed to this title. Now it’s Olivier and Ben, but everybody has something in my game. I don’t have a special one in mind, but all of them are pretty important.

You had previously played one ATP final. How did that experience help you today?
The last final was a bit weird because I lost in less than one hour to [Matteo] Berrettini. He played a really good match, but from my side I played really bad. Today I just wanted to fight and at least enjoy and give something, because last time was a pretty easy match for [Berrettini]. Before the match, I really wanted to enjoy it more than last time, and I fought from the very first point until the end. I wanted to have zero regrets at the end of this match.

Was there a moment this week when you realised it could be a special one?
Not really. That’s maybe why I won the title, because I was really focused and I was not expecting many things, from the first match to the last, so I came on court every time and just tried to be aggressive and play my game. Maybe that’s why sometimes when you don’t expect anything, you get some great results.

How much does winning your first title aged 29 make this even more special and how big of a goal was it for you?
I’m not thinking too much about my age now because I’m feeling good and I think I have a few more years to play. But of course, you want to win a title whenever you can. Now I’m 29 so let’s say I’m a bit late, but the level is so high now, so hopefully it’s going to give me more confidence. I feel I can win more titles, and I don’t feel too old now so hopefully I have a few more years to play and a few more titles to win.

If you were not a tennis player, what do you think you would be and why?
For sure I would do some sport. I don’t know which sport exactly, but I’m a big sport fan. Hopefully I will have a chance one day to work in the sport industry. I don’t know exactly where. I think maybe I would have played some handball or a team sport. For sure I would be into sport.

You are a big football and PSG fan. If you can pick ATP players to join PSG and play football, who would you pick and why?
I would pick Richard Gasquet, because he’s really talented and such a good football player. He is also a big PSG fan, so I would pick Richard.

How will you celebrate this title?
That’s a good question. I have absolutely no plan, but I’m sure we are going to party tonight back home in Paris. No plans yet, but we will find a way to celebrate it.