Félix Lebrun in the mixed zone: “I gave the maximum of myself. He played incredibly well too. It was a very difficult match. Very happy, very proud of the whole team. There's still a step to go tomorrow. We're going to enjoy a little bit now, but refocus for tomorrow. He played really well, it was really hard. I had the upper hand at the start of the match, as I often do over him, because my serve works well at the start. The more the match progresses, the less so. walk, so it's getting harder and harder. In the end, I managed to get this last set. He very well could have won it too. I tell myself that I lead 1-0, 10-6. Ok I lost the set but I know I have solutions. I also took a little time to breathe and left. He starts pretty well in the third. I'm a little lucky.
He has a very aggressive game, he tries to hurt me with his power. He's very big, quite heavy so he throws it very, very hard, I try to bring him back into speed. Often the one who loses the set manages to change a little bit at the start of the set and disrupt the other. It's a little chess game and that's what's fun to play too.
Since the start of the year, we have ticked it off in the calendar, we know that we have a very strong team, we believed in it, we have never been European team champion, we as a team have never been and it has been a very long time as I said. So it was a goal for everyone. We're in the final, there's still one step to go because it's not going to be easy. Above all, you should not think that the other half is less strong than this one, even if on paper that is the case, it is clear. But it's a European final and it can change quickly so we'll be really careful, we'll try to be as ready as possible.
These are the European Championships. In the quarter and half, the intensity clearly increased. It's only every two years, so we don't have opportunities like in WTT every week to perform. You have to be ready for the event: condition yourself physically, mentally and physically everywhere to give the best of yourself.
We will try to get a 4th title for France. Very happy, I enjoyed the match, individually I had a lot of fun. Obviously when you win it's simpler, but even in the playing era I was really good, quite well calibrated. I hope we will go for the title with everyone. We are in the final and we will try to get a title rather than defending. We never had it as a team, the five of us.
The fans? We hear them really loud. I think the French are very good at setting the mood. It's a treat to play here, to see French people who have made the trip. I know they also took days off. It's not so easy to come to Croatia. They pay for the plane ticket. Thanks to them for the support. Each time, we try to thank them for going to see them, for going to talk to them. I hope they make even more noise tomorrow.
I have always played very well as a team because I like that atmosphere. I feel good, I have that support that I may need from time to time in more difficult times.”
Léna Marjak, from Zadar
