MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 5, 2021

Alexei Popyrin

Press Conference

A. POPYRIN/J. Sinner

7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A big win for you today. What do you think was the key for you, particularly in that first set?

ALEXEI POPYRIN: I think it was to stay level-headed after I got broken in the first game. We had a tactic that I tried to implement in the first game. I couldn't quite get my aim. But I knew I would have chances, like most do. I just had to capitalize on them when they came.

That's what I did, I guess. I got my first breakpoint at 5-4, and I capitalized on that one. From then on, you know, I felt confident that I would be able to keep on the serve.

In tiebreaks, I have had a pretty good record in tiebreaks this year. You know, I felt confident going into the tiebreak. You know, I just tried to stay level-headed. Even going down 3-Love, 4-2 down, just stay level-headed and keep doing the tactics that we put in place.

Q. Where do you rate that? Is it up with the Goffin result, just behind? What would you say when you consider that...

ALEXEI POPYRIN: I think I heard most of your question so I'll answer it. I don't really put it -- I don't know. Like it's hard to rate this match. You know, he's a good player, but, you know, I don't think he's miles ahead of my level.

You know, I came into the match feeling confident. I didn't go into the match thinking I would lose or that he would blow me off the court. So I think his ranking might be higher, but I think my game is up there with the people who are ranked inside the top 20. It's just a matter of time until I figure it out and not give away cheap points when I don't have to.

You know, I think that's been my main downfall and that's something I have been trying to work on. When it does come together, you know, I'm not surprised.

Q. Rafa next. Your thoughts there?

ALEXEI POPYRIN: I'm just going to go out and have fun. He's the greatest of all time on clay court. I would have preferred to play him maybe on grass or hard court, but that's not the chance here.

I've got to play him and on his favorite surface and, you know, he's the greatest of all time on this surface and one of the greatest of all time ever.

So I'm just going to go out there, have fun, going to put a little bit of tactics, maybe watch a little bit of his 2009 loss against Soderling (smiling). Maybe I can get some tips from there. Other than that, you know, I'm just go out there and have fun.

Q. Going back to sort of your self-belief, you never walk on the court thinking someone else is going to beat you. You go thinking that you're bringing X, Y, Z to challenge them. How important is that playing Rafa, worrying about what you're doing rather than that you're playing Rafa?

ALEXEI POPYRIN: Yeah, that's very important. That's why I'm going to watch the match that I said I was going to watch. You know, try and build some tactics on how to play against him.

I'm not going to go out there thinking I'm going to lose 1-1. I'm going to give it my all, put in a fight. I'm going to go out there believing that I can actually play because I believe I do have the level to play with him, even if it is his favorite surface, if he is playing at home.

All the cards are in his favor right now, but, you know, I don't mind being the underdog. I have been the underdog for most of my career, so I'm glad to be able to be one.

Q. Would you say that's one of your strong points, the way that you relish these matches against these top players? Seemed like you had a really positive level of belief against Medvedev in Miami, as well.

ALEXEI POPYRIN: Yeah, definitely. With Medvedev, I practiced with him a couple of times during preseason, and, you know, the hitting, the point play in the practices, they were high level. I was able to match his level.

So I came into the match against him feeling confident I could match his level. That's what I did, apart from a few sloppy points what I said earlier that I want to get rid of in my game. In important moments, not to play sloppy points, that's what cost me the match against him. That's something that I want to get rid of in my game, and once I do that, I think I'll be fine (smiling).

Q. You mentioned the Soderling match. Is that just because he beat Rafa on clay at Roland Garros, or do you see some similarities a little bit with the big hitting game?

ALEXEI POPYRIN: I think I see similarities. I think I see big serve, big forehand. You know, I'm not gonna watch how Thiem beats him or how anybody else, like anybody who is not big, maybe Del Potro, but I don't know if he beat him on clay.

So that's a match I can think of from the top of my head that the games are pretty similar, and that's what I want to watch. You know, hopefully I can do what he did, but that's going to be tough. But we'll see.

Q. How do you feel about yourself in general on the clay surface? You don't have that many experiences on the tour level. Just a question of you making what works in your game on all surfaces also work on clay?

ALEXEI POPYRIN: Yeah. To be honest, coming into this week I didn't feel too confident on the clay courts, didn't have the best results in the tournaments leading up. I had some matches that I probably should have won, some situations where I should have won.

All the matches that I lost have been three-setters apart from one, have been tight matches, and it's just a matter of getting everything to click together, you know, not to lose that belief.

But going into this week, I didn't have the best confidence, especially playing the first round qualifying. I think that was my hardest match mentally to kind of get the motivation to, you know, qualify again and then to play on clay court.

But I think I brought my confidence back now, to be honest. But, you know, I'm just excited for tomorrow.