R. COLLIGNON/C. Moutet
2-6, 7-5, 7-5
Team Belgium - 1
Team France - 0
THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.
Q. Three victories in a row in Davis Cup, three victories in a third set, two victories coming back from one set down. What's the secret?
RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Yeah, I don't know. Great victories. In the last Davis Cup match, I think the bench help me a lot. My coach and captain also helped me on the bench. When I'm doubting, when it's tough during the match, he has the right words. The team is pushing me very hard. I like to play in this competition.
That's the secret, I guess (smiling).
Q. Do you consider yourself a bit lucky that you had to play a player who sometimes does crazy things in important moments?
RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Yeah, I think I was maybe a bit lucky that he chose to do this tweener at 6-5 because it was tough for me. I was not playing so good. He was dominating the match.
But I think maybe at that moment the momentum switched a bit, which I managed to win that second set. Then I think I deserved to win at the end because I was playing better in the third set. I had a lot of opportunities. I was having break points every game or Love-30 or 15-30. Me, I was winning very easy my service games.
Maybe yeah, at that time the momentum switch a little bit. Yeah, maybe I was a bit lucky. I think in the third set I deserved to win.
Q. What's the bigger result for you, what happened in Australia in September or this win?
RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: I think every win is important. I think if I look back, the most important victory was at the US Open against Ruud because it gave me a lot of confidence to play those type of match against players that are higher ranked. I managed to take this in the Davis Cup.
I don't know, every win is important. But yeah, maybe the one in Australia was a bit higher because de Minaur was No. 8. Decisive matches, the pressure is a bit different than now because I'm opening the tie, and we have two other chance after.
Yeah, maybe I would say Australia was a little bit more important, but this win also is very important.
Q. The question about the missed tweener. What did you think in the moment? What passed on your mind? Did you think it was the moment you could change the match?
RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Yeah, I didn't understand because me, I would never do this (smiling).
Yeah, is this type of guy who can bring magic but also miss a lot, like this tweener. But yeah, I think he did also a lot of good things in the net, magical shots during the match.
I was just fighting for the ball. Maybe it was a bit too easy for him and he wanted to try this. Yeah, I don't know what he did, but thanks to him (smiling).
Q. The double-fault on match point, how did you feel at that stage? Was it relief? Excitement?
RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: When I saw his toss, because he put the ball like very on the left, and I was thinking maybe this one is in the net. When he did the double-fault on match point, I was so tight. I wanted to say him thank you very much (laughter).
Q. Coming through the ranks, where did Davis Cup sit for you as you were looking to become a professional player? Was it something you really aspired to, watching maybe Goffin or others?
RAPHAEL COLLIGNON: Me, of course, Davis Cup was a dream. Since I was a kid, I was watching every tie from Belgium. I was watching my idols, like you said, David. Also Steve, my captain now.
I always wanted to play this competition. It was at the start a dream, then it became a goal when I was getting higher ranked and better in my country.
So yeah, of course it was a dream. I'm very happy now to be part of the team and to help the guys to win some points and maybe win the tie.
So yeah, it's very special.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports