Quickfire volleys with Lucas Pouille

Lucas Pouille has enjoyed success at the Australian Open before, reaching the semi-finals at the season’s first Grand Slam tournament in 2019. The former Top 10 player in the PIF ATP Rankings will face a stern test to begin his 2025 event Down Under though, with second seed Alexander Zverev set to stand across the net from the Frenchman.

Before the Sunday evening clash inside Rod Laver Arena, ATPTour.com caught up with Pouille to get to know the 30-year-old better off the court.

If you could have dinner with any three people in the world, who would they be?
Stephen Curry. A president, any of them. And Mick Jagger.

Are you a basketball fan? What do you like about Steph Curry?
He's my favourite sportsman, athlete. Definitely the first pick would be Steph Curry.

If I asked you who you would switch places with for a day, would it be him to see what it’s like to shoot three-pointers like him?
Exactly, exactly. By far.

Do you play a little bit of basketball?
I do. Yeah, I do a lot. A few years ago, we would go often with Nick [Kyrgios] and Gael [Monfils] and play some basketball before the tournaments, so it was kind of fun. But yeah, every time I can I'm trying to play.

What do you like about basketball?
The game itself. It’s a sports team, I love that. I love the way you shoot, it’s just a sport that I like.

What's your favourite non-tennis memory?
When I got my daughter [Rose]. It becomes the first priority and everything besides her and my family is secondary. I love tennis, it’s my passion. I know I work hard and I’m dedicated to it, but the most important thing in my life is my daughter and my family.

What's something fans might not know about you?
How much I love when they cheer for me, and the noise they make when we play and when we make a good shot. They cheer for us, and they're behind me. It's just something incredible, the feelings and it gives me a lot of good goosebumps. I love that so much. Once I will decide to retire, that's going to be the thing that I will miss the most.

Is there a match that sticks out where the crowd was really supportive?
Many matches. Against Rafa at the US Open, two years ago at the French Open during the qualies. It was just nuts. Davis Cup matches in France, at the final. The noise was just ridiculous. And some others, yeah, it's every time. It's just pure joy to see people enjoying watching your game and cheering for you. It's also why we are doing this. It’s how much I love the support and the fans, that’s what I want them to know.

What is one dream you have off the court?
I don't have a special dream, of course. Just trying to be happy, enjoying my life, staying healthy. I think it's most important that we stay healthy and we we are surrounded by good people and enjoying life. That's, for me, the most important.

If you weren't a tennis player, what would you be?
I would have loved to be a soccer player or a basketball player.

Favourite soccer team?
Paris. When I was young, it was the Racing Club de Lens, that's where I from. I used to go there with my father, and so it's my club of heart. Paris, because I support them and I think they can win the Champions League one day, and I hope that for a french club, it would be amazing.