D. DE GROOT/Y. Kamiji
6-4, 6-1
THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. It's your sixth Grand Slam in a row, and your third Roland Garros title. What is the secret for so much success?
DIEDE DE GROOT: I don't really know if there is a secret. I just train really hard, but I think everyone does that (smiling). I just really love the game, and I think that really helps in just trying to focus on yourself and trying to improve yourself. That's how things stay fun, I think.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Congratulations. Another Grand Slam singles title to your name. I mean, you have been part of so many Grand Slam singles over the years and so many have been big occasions. Caught one last year at Wimbledon and now here at Philippe Chatrier. Does it ever stop feeling special when you are on those big stages?
DIEDE DE GROOT: Yeah, I have to say I think we are very lucky at this moment that all of the Grand Slams are really picking up wheelchair tennis.
Like you said, I had the fortune -- fortune? I was very lucky to play at one of the center courts at Wimbledon last year for the first time ever, and then this one which there has been doubles played yesterday, but I know this one was the first singles match, so it still feels special.
I think it's a really nice time to be a wheelchair tennis player at the moment.
Q. Talk to me about that final. You and Yui, you are a great rivalry. You just seem to keep stepping up your game every time you play her. You go away, and then there is a new sort of element to your game. How do you keep going back and doing that and finding new ways?
DIEDE DE GROOT: I think what motivates me in finding a new way is that I know that my rivals are doing the same thing for me. So I know that they are trying to keep improving themselves to basically chase me or beat me, and I have to do the same in order to stay on top.
I can't sit still, because that's when they pass me. Yeah, I need to keep working.
Q. I'm going to mention one thing, slightly critical, because I know you were being critical of yourself on court. Those double faults today, you weren't a big fan of them, were you?
DIEDE DE GROOT: Yeah, I made it very difficult for myself, I think. Definitely some nerves there. Also just I haven't played Yui in quite a while actually. We always used to play big matches a lot of times in the year, this year Australia in one of the preparation tournaments was the last time.
So you sort of get more nervous when it's quite a long time since you have played someone. Yeah, it was an interesting final, I think.
Q. You mentioned about it's great, this is great that the slams are now putting you on center courts. Where do you see the future going, now this has all started off? Seems to have been over the last few years there has been a big shift. Where do you envisage it going in the future?
DIEDE DE GROOT: I really just hope that this once becomes normal. Where it's now like a really big thing and really special, I hope that it's just normal. Like, Oh, yeah, of course, it's first it's the wheelchair tennis, then it's Nadal.
Yeah, I hope it becomes normal, and maybe it never will, but I think the way we are moving at the moment, it's just looking very, very nice at the moment.
Q. Congratulations. Obviously I think that is 13 Grand Slam titles? 14? Getting ever closer to Esther Vergeer's record. Is that something that motivates you to keep winning, keep showing up, keep beating the rest of the field?
DIEDE DE GROOT: Definitely not. It actually frightens me a little bit. I don't think I should be chasing her records. I think that will only make you very nervous and only like, what if my career stops and I only have 20 and she's got 21? I don't know exactly how many she's got. So, like, then it's like I'm a failure.
So I'm definitely not chasing any records of her. She was one of the best players I think that ever existed, and I'm just me (smiling).
Q. Obviously that's six Grand Slam titles in a row now. What are your plans for the rest of the season? Obviously Wimbledon and US Open. How much would it mean to you to win those tournaments as well?
DIEDE DE GROOT: I think for us, the Grand Slams are definitely like the highlights of the year, just like any tennis player. Wimbledon and US Open, they are definitely ahead, but also, there is quite a few big tournaments coming up before Wimbledon, as well.
I'm really just looking forward to it not being a Grand Slam and it not being very full of pressure. Just playing matches and enjoying, as well.
Q. Congratulations. Just in general, why do you think you have been so dominant in the last kind of 12, 18 months?
DIEDE DE GROOT: I think what makes me a good player is that I'm very, like, versatile. There is a lot of things about my game that are good. Like, I don't just have a really good forehand or I'm not just really fast, like, I think I try to all put it together into one player that I am today.
And obviously just trying to keep improving on that. Then just keep going (smiling).
Q. Obviously there is good Dutch representation, and has been for a long time in the women's wheelchair event, but as well it's sort of in the quad event too and in the men's with Tom Egberink and other players. What is the atmosphere like among the Dutch wheelchair tennis players at the moment? Is this a good place to be?
DIEDE DE GROOT: Oh, yeah, we're definitely a very tight team. We train together a lot. We see each other maybe four times a week, and it's really like a team spirit.
Everyone trains together. I train with the men, they train with us, the quads sometimes join us. There really is a nice place for all of us to just be and improve. I think that sort of helps each other. Like, I look at my teammate and go, Oh, they do this very well, and then I'm gonna do that too.
So, yeah, I think we are doing a really good job in just being a team, even though we are not team players.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports