ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 18, 2021

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/A. Rublev

6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You've had so many matches with Stefanos in recent months. How would you describe today's match? What made him so difficult today?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, depends from which side to see. If is just about today, he was just better than me. If we talk deeply, of course, I mean, I feel tired after all the matches that I play, exhausted. But this is not excuse. He was just better than me, and that's it.

Q. Do you feel sad today or do you feel some happiness about all your tournament that you made in Monaco?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Of course, I feel both things. I feel happy with the week, and I feel super sad with the final, that I couldn't show the game, I couldn't show fight, yeah, I didn't win.

But, of course, I'm happy with the week because I beat so many great players. I beat one of the best players in history. So, of course, anyway it's a special week. Doesn't matter the final.

But still, of course, even more after the matches like this, you want to win the title. Not always everything goes by your way. It's happen today. I was completely exhausted. Stefanos, he showed great game. He was just better than me, and that's it.

Q. Stefanos said some nice words on the court, that he imagines you and him will play many matches on the big stages in the future, help the sport grow together. From your point of view, how do you describe this budding rivalry with Stefanos?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, is like I said yesterday: for the moment he's the one from the top players that I was playing the most. We play already couple of finals, couple of important matches. So, yeah, for the moment we have -- at least from my side, for sure, I have more stories of matches with him than compare other players.

So we'll see. I hope it's the beginning of something. I hope I will be also be able to win some of them.

Q. How do you feel about the clay court season moving forward?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Can you repeat the question? Some of the words was without sound.

Q. You had a great week in Monte-Carlo. How do you feel about the rest of the clay court season?

ANDREY RUBLEV: We'll see. I mean, it's my first tournament on clay and I did already final, my first final on Masters. It's a great beginning. We'll see. I hope I can show great game every week. We'll see what's going to happen.

Now I have great opportunity because last two years I was injured during the clay court season, so I have nothing to defend. I have only big way to earn points. I will try to do my best.

Q. You're widely seen as a 500 Series specialist on the ATP Tour. After this first Masters final in your career, do you feel we'll be seeing a new streak in the Masters, the ones that are coming up, Rome and Madrid?

ANDREY RUBLEV: We'll see. I mean, I'm not thinking this way. Yeah, I just want to do my best, to do my job as best as I can, to focus on the things, on the practice, that I need to improve, to focus on the things outside the court that I can do better.

In the end, when I will do this much better and better, the tournaments is already little details because everything is going to transfer to the tournaments.

Of course, I would like to play really good in Madrid and I would like to play really good in Rome. I would like to play all the weeks good. But it's impossible. Some of the weeks for sure will be better. Some of the weeks will be worse. Some of the weeks will be amazing.

For the moment I'm playing really consistent. I'm really happy I'm doing my best season so far. We'll see what's going to happen next.

Q. You say you're exhausted after a very long week. You're due to play in Barcelona. Are you going to be okay for that? Surely you need a rest.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, when I confirmed to play Barcelona, it was right before match with Rafa (smiling). I was thinking in my head that Friday probably I will be already in Barcelona.

But, I mean, I think I can play on Wednesday, so I have like two days off, which is more than enough. We'll see how I will feel. Yeah, I think everything is going to be okay because two days is more than enough to be ready. Then I'm not playing nothing, I have only Masters.

Q. Obviously you're extremely disappointed, as we could also tell on the court with the ceremony. Is this something that will sit with you for quite a while or can you get over it in the next day or two ahead of the next event?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, when I'm losing, I'm always taking it deep. It takes time for me to recover. I mean, for sure tonight and maybe tomorrow I will be disappointed. I mean, if I want to compete well in Barcelona, I will need to be ready to recover. I cannot think about today during the matches in Barcelona.

Of course, somehow I will focus on the tournament and I will forget. But, yeah, for the moment is not easy.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.