DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 25, 2021

Shamil Tarpischev

Daniil Medvedev

Andrey Rublev

Karen Khachanov

Aslan Karatsev

Evgeny Donskoy

Team Russia

Press Conference

TEAM RUSSIAN TENNIS FEDERATION

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. A question for Captain Tarpischev first. Your team is favored to win the title here on paper with four Top 30 players. Firstly, do you agree that you're favorites? Secondly, how do you cope with the pressure?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: What Shamil said is that the season was long, so we cannot know, to be honest, in which shape everybody is right now. There were a lot of teams that came early to prepare well, so for him, there are no favorites in this tournament in the first rounds.

So, yeah, that's where it's going to be the most important.

Q. Daniil, you arrived yesterday. How are you feeling after what's been a long season for you, as you say, but how are you feeling and are you looking forward to this week?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, definitely tired part of the season, not gonna lie, but every tournament that I play I try to do my best. Had just one practice, so didn't really yet feel the conditions too much, so cannot talk too much about my tennis.

But in general, had two really good tournaments with Paris and Torino, so looking forward to trying to play my best for the team, trying to gain the points, because that's the most important, to win your match to gain one point for your team, because every point counts. That's what's gonna be my goal.

Going to practice today more, tomorrow, and get ready for Saturday. Of course Friday we are gonna decide who plays and all this stuff. Let's see.

Q. Karen, it's been a great year for Russian tennis. At the Olympic Games, you were the most successful nation there. Billie Jean King Cup, obviously the girls just won. What is it about representing your country that brings out the best in you?

KAREN KHACHANOV: Yeah, you're right. I think that's what we were discussing yesterday in the team dinner that this year was a success for Russian tennis, and we had good results in Olympics. So girls, they won the Fed Cup, and now here we are. Also we will try to do our best.

I think, you know, it's just great that slowly all the players they are rising up. We have better and better players like rising up and being closer to top 10. I think that's one of the best years again for Russian tennis to shine again. That's just great.

Q. Andrey, you played so well two years ago here. I don't know if you arrive at the same shape, better, worse?

ANDREY RUBLEV: We'll see. I mean, we have enough days to adapt. So I think this is my third day, so every day is better and better. So we will see. We have a great team, and I will try to do my best. Yeah, that's it. And amazing.

Q. Andrey, have you had any messages from the Billie Jean King Cup, the girls team, from Anastasia or anyone? Does their success put pressure on you, or does it inspire you and motivate you to win?

ANDREY RUBLEV: First of all, I'm really happy for the girls. They did amazing job. Yeah, I mean, I'm staying in touch with Anastasia, because, yeah, she text me sometimes and I text her when they won the Fed Cup.

Now while I'm here, she text me couple of times. Yeah, just typical things. Not much.

Q. The question is for Daniil. What do you think about Ecuador? Maybe is the easiest team of the group, but do you feel that it will be easy by your level, or do you think that you have to take care of the same about Ecuador and Spain?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, as I just said, I think every point is really important. Doesn't matter who we play, which ranking. You know, that's why Davis Cup is a special tournament, because we saw a lot of successions (phonetic) throughout the year.

I practiced with Emilio a few times, so if it's going to be me playing against him, I think we both know what to expect from each other. As I say, every match is a new challenge where you don't play just for yourself, you play for the country, and you try to get the point and move on.

I think it's going to be, no matter if you play Ecuador or Serbia with Novak or Spain who are the hosts, you just need to win every point in the encounter, and that's how you can win the whole thing.