Highlight First Winner: Benjamin Bonzi | ATP Tour

First Winner

Viewing the First Winner: Benjamin Bonzi

The French emerged victorious on home soil in Metz

November 11, 2024

Benjamin Bonzi won his first ATP Tour title on home soil at the Moselle Open after defeating Cameron Norrie in the final. It was the first taste of a competitive match victory in the third attempt of the Frenchman, who in 2023 reached the finals of the ATP 250 events in Pune and Marseille.

The 28-year-old arrives in Metz after winning ATP Challenger Tour titles in Roanne and St. Brieuc in October, where he was also a finalist at that level in Brest.

ATPtour.com caught up with the Frenchman to discuss his maiden moment, his 2024 season, and more.

What does it mean to you to win your first ATP tour title?
I went through two finals last year but couldn’t win one. This is always special, making history and winning a tournament. Entering your name in the list, in this great competition, after many famous players like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or last year. [when Ugo Humbert won]. That sounds pretty good, especially after the year I’ve been through. Winning a title is always special. And I think winning our first ATP title is something very special, amazing.

He has won 21 of his last 22 games. Did you think this was possible? And what has been working so well for you?
If you had told me that six weeks earlier, I [would] I told you that you are lying. But now it’s all true. I felt amazing on the courts [in] in the last few weeks on the Challenger Tour and the ATP Tour. I think my quality came back, especially on the mental side, and how I handled all those things I went through on the court. I know that I can face many things on the field and I am ready for everything. That probably wasn’t the case all year. But 21 wins in the last 22 games was amazing. I could have signed off, sure, with both endings, but that’s a good season ending, kind of a fairy tale. So, to conclude like this, to return to the Top 100 and be [in the] the biggest draw in Melbourne.

Five years from now, what do you think you will miss most about this week?
I will definitely remember the first article. Like I said, it’s always special, the way I played is the part I’m proudest of. The way I played in the final. I went to look for it. I try to be aggressive, take my chances whenever I can. This is probably the hardest part to handle in the final. Because you are strong, and you want to win. But this was a very important game, and I got through it. I controlled all my emotions, everything [that was in my mind]. For me to play the final, I want to remember that and save it for the next games.

Can you take a moment to thank the other important people in your life who helped you reach this milestone?
My coach, Lionel Zimbler. We have been working together for five years. He is in Marseille. Another coach, Martin. He stopped in June. It was difficult to replace him. But I had more [people] next to me. There is also my girlfriend [me] all the time, supporting me, trying to make me a better person, even in and out of court. [I also have] mental coach. I have two coaches with me. Ralph, who works with me in Marseille, and Kevin, who goes with me a lot to competitions.

The tennis team has many people. Also, I had a coach this week. I worked with him maybe two years ago. He brought me back to the Tour, for two or three weeks at the end of this year. It was really good. And I had the opportunity to work with Laurent Raymond. You work for [French] Federation, and they gave him a few weeks. He is an experienced coach.

How can you define yourself as a player and define yourself off the pitch?
Off the court, I am a very calm person. I like to stay at home and rest, because life on Tour is tiring. You are always traveling, taking flights or trains, traveling and traveling. I am a very calm person. I am very close to those close to me. I am not an extremist. This is the same in court. I won’t be as popular as Corentin Moutet, for example, or other guys, but I try to do my best. I try to stay focused, and sometimes there is not as much show as people want, but this is my way of trying to play on the field. I am a calm guy.