WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 21, 2021

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/D. Medvedev

2-6, 6-3, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you just explain the importance that this win is for you on a couple of fronts, really? The first time you have beaten Daniil in the five matches that you have played, but also the fact you have beaten a fellow Russian who is the No. 2 ranked player in the world?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, I think for me it was important this win, because to beat Daniil, only to show great game is not enough. You need to be physically ready, because you will have to run a lot, and you have to play each point long rally. There will be almost no free points. You have to be also mentally strong.

So to beat Daniil, you have to do these three things really good. It's nice today I did it well, both game-wise, physical-wise, and mental-wise, which some matches maybe I can be mentally and physically not good, but because I'm showing great shots, it's enough to win sometimes. Or sometimes maybe my game is really not good, but because mentally I'm focused is enough to win sometimes.

But here you need to show all three things, you know. I'm happy that I showed them today.

Q. Have you spoken to him since to ask him how he is physically, or also, if the collision with the camera shook him and rattled him, and if that affected him? Because he hasn't come in to speak to the media.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, of course I think it's, how you say, tough situation, because happens often even to me or to other players sometimes. When you run far away, you can hit some, or referee sometimes or chair that stay next to, you know. Here happens that Daniil, he hit camera.

Of course in these moments it's really dangerous because something can happen. It's not good for athlete, because he might get hurt and might get injured, you know.

But I hope, first of all, everything is fine with him, hopefully. I mean, at least the way he was playing, looks like things, that nothing serious happened.

I think the rest was just emotions, because he get frustrated a bit that he could hit this ball and he hit camera and is for sure in the moment it hurt him, but, yeah, it's happens often. I think happened to Goffin in Monte-Carlo when he twist an ankle also running beside, and he step I think on the thing that they cover the court if it's rain, and I think he twist the ankle and he missed couple of tournaments.

Hopefully Daniil is healthy and he's gonna be ready for New York.

Q. But you haven't spoken to him at all?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No, no, no. We haven't spoke.

Q. I think you were up 4-3 in the second set when that really long service game of Daniil's transpired. I think it was like 15 minutes. I was wondering, can you explain the importance of that game and how you think that game sort of may have changed the match?

ANDREY RUBLEV: In that moment, I feel that was like the turning point for both of us, because was so humid and so hot. That game we play so many great rallies, long rallies.

I could feel that Daniil was a bit already tired, because sometimes he was doing mistakes that normally he was not doing. He start to do some doubles I think also because he was a bit tight in this moment.

So I feel that this is the moment for both of us, because if he would win, I also was really tired, already I feel to go and serve after the game like this it would be so tough for me that I might do some mistakes. I was also feeling the same, I need to win, because I feel that then I might have good chances to win the set, because then he will be a bit even more down.

And thanks that in the end I won that crazy game, and in the end I could -- not easy. Still it was two breakpoints he had at 5-3, but I was able to win the second set.

Q. What would it mean to you to win this tournament?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Of course it will be special, because it's gonna be my first Masters 1000, and especially this place that I have such great memories that many things happen here that help me also and change a bit myself.

But we'll see. I'm not thinking this way. This week was already, is amazing for me. It's one more amazing memories in my head. I'm going to do my best tomorrow, and that's all I can say.

Q. In terms of the situation with the camera, what is your thinking? Do you think cameras should be removed from right there in the center of the court at the baseline? What is your thinking?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I think of course it will be better if we have more space on court that allowed us to run everywhere we can, because sometimes happens also to me that I want to hit and I cannot hit because the referee is standing there. So sometimes the space, we don't have enough space, you know.

I don't know how if it's easy or not easier to do more space on the baseline and on sides. I don't know if it's possible. If it's possible, then of course it would be much better for all the players, because like this, we will be less, you know, less thinking that we might get hurt or we might get hit one referee with the racquet or something like that, because sometimes it's happen often.

Q. Two years ago you defeated Federer in Cincinnati. I would like to know, what was the importance of this win in your career?

ANDREY RUBLEV: You mean two years ago or today?

Q. Two years ago. Sorry.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Two years ago, is like I think the importance of that win was because that match I played like a perfect match. Let's say my mood was perfect. The mental part was perfect.

And the way I played, I think it's like they show me what can I achieve if I will work hard and I will do everything right, that these kind of mood I can achieve.

And then, after that match, then it's like, Okay, we show you if you will work hard what can happen, so now go and do it and then bring me back to my normal, you know, mood and level, because I think next day I lost to Daniil maybe 6-2, 6-2 without any chance, already complaining, doing some stupid things.

Now, after two years, I can see that more often and often happens that I'm playing with this kind of mood like I played two years ago with Roger. Now, if with Roger happens only once, now happens already couple of times like in maybe, I don't know, every couple of times in couple of tournaments, you know, it's happening now.