Pouille: "I no longer care what people think of me"

Fernando Murciego | 7 Dec 2024 | 15.00

Lucas Pouille closes out a great season in 2024. Source: Getty

Streaming ATP Adelaide live tennis

🎾 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Ugo Humbert

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

When we think of Lucas Pouille, we think of 2019 and those semifinals in Melbourne, his rise to the top 10, and the excitement of all of France at the arrival of a strong candidate to lead an entire generation. Until the pandemic arrived, and that dream vanished. The Frenchman, who will turn 31 in February, never returned to being the same, although in this 2024, we have finally seen some green shoots. With a record of 43-18, the Frenchman has managed to finish the season with a promising ranking: #101. To many, it may seem insufficient, but it's important to remember that in recent seasons, he was struggling beyond the top 300.

Thanks to an interview with the portal CLAY, we can understand a little better the situation of Pouille. From the mismanagement of success, to overcoming certain addictions during this long journey, and including the most beautiful experience he has had in this world: becoming a father. Furthermore, when he dares to address why there are so few women coaching on the ATP circuit, it was only fair to highlight some of his statements in this article.

A new Pouille

“Right now, I am very happy, very proud of myself. The feelings on the court are getting better and better each time. I believe that if I keep playing like this, week after week, I can build much more confidence in my game. Going back to the top 10? You never know what might happen. I also don't know if I will reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam again, like I did at Wimbledon and the US Open, or the semifinals, like I did at the Australian Open. What I do know is that I will give everything I have to stay in the top 100 for as long as possible.”

Alcoholism issues in the past

“It was very important for me to share all of that [...] It is difficult to talk about these things when you are an athlete, a professional tennis player; you are supposed to always present a good image of yourself. You always want to show your best self on the court, without displaying your emotions and demonstrating that you are strong. But people need to understand that it's okay to feel bad sometimes. It's all right to become weak at times, to feel sad. We are human beings, and it's important to talk about it to feel free, there is no reason to feel guilty or ashamed about it.”

Bravery in discussing his addictions

“Life, in general, is a big taboo, but I see that tennis players are gradually improving in this aspect. It's interesting because every day we hear someone asking 'How are you?' repeatedly, but 99% of the time, they always respond the same way: ‘I'm fine.’ The reality is that everyone lies; you can't be fine every day of your life, but it's normal not to want to talk about your problems with anyone. The good thing is that more and more athletes are daring to talk about it, which is important.”

His experience with Amelie Mauresmo

“I don't know why it is so uncommon, I never cared if a coach is a man or a woman. It's about knowledge, and for me, Amelie (Mauresmo) was the right person at that time; she brought something extra to my tennis. I don't mind the gender of the people on my team; I just look for those who can bring me good things and positive energy. Amelie had a winning mentality, so she was the right coach.”

Does the circuit need more female coaches?

“I would encourage all players to surround themselves with the right people… and if the right person is a woman, then choose a woman, that's all. You can choose a male coach or a physical trainer and still perform poorly, the same can happen with a woman. Perhaps a woman can be a great mental coach, while a man can be an excellent masseur, I don’t know. For me, men and women are equal, so my only advice to the new generations is to surround themselves with the right people.”

A goal beyond tennis

“Today, I see life a bit differently: my main goal in life is to be a good father, a perfect father, if that even exists. I want to be the best for my daughter; I would love for her to see me play and be proud of me. Even my approach to the game is different; the pressure I put on myself, I am more detached than before regarding the importance of results. I no longer care as much about what people think of me, something that had great significance in the past, but not anymore.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pouille: “Ya no me importa lo que la gente piense de mí”