ATP CUP

January 6, 2022

Gilles Cervara

Daniil Medvedev

Roman Safiullin

Alexander Shevchenko

Team Russian Tennis Federation

Press Conference

MEDVEDEV-SAFIULLIN/Berrettini-Sinner

5-7, 6-4, 10-5

Team Russian Tennis Federation - 2

Team Italy - 1

THE MODERATOR: Team Russia, congratulations again. I'd like to hear from the captain. Probably you had the toughest tie against Italy today, two top-10 players but you came through an exciting doubles. Sum up today's experience, please.

GILLES CERVARA: Yes, first of all, always exciting match, exciting team. First time that we lost the first match, so it's a new situation for us.

Daniil had to play as a leader to make the team comes back. Then the doubles has been amazing. So a big congrats to both of them, Roman and Daniil.

I wish to feel the same next time, next match, next tie. So let's go. The team is ready for the next one.

Q. Daniil, congratulations. You have had a lot of tennis for the first week of the year. Two three-setters today.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Too much, too much tennis already.

Q. How is your energy level for the remainder of the tournament?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Actually, much better today than for example the first day, because yeah, what happens that the body gets used to the heat. As I said, inside is still the same. It's humid, no air.

Before the third set I went out to change. There is a small room to change near the court. There is even less air. I was like, Oh, my God, I'm in the mountains right now doing preseason or whatever.

So, yeah, it's not easy, but my body is reacting much better today than four days ago. That's positive. That's a good preparation for Australian Open in terms of physical effort.

Q. You look like you're having a lot of fun out there still. Is winning better when you can share success with teammates?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, a lot. As I said straight after the match, you know, maybe it would be different tournament, the box is usually a little bit further away. It's a different energy around the court, so maybe I would not be doing the gestures I did.

Here, you feel that the team is behind you. There are two tournaments in the year where, you know, you feel that they are really for you, because even, let's say, I watch Andrey or any Russian player on the tour, you want them to win but you're not going to be in front of TV or standing up every point screaming, Come on. Here you do. That's what is fun. That's why I had a lot of fun on the court, for sure.

Q. Roman, when you walked out to that doubles match on a court with three top-10 players, given how well you played this week, did you feel like you belonged there?

ROMAN SAFIULLIN: Actually, I was thinking about this in the second set, that like I'm standing here and nearby is like top-10 players, three guys, like one is 2, one is 6 or 7, another one is 10, and I'm like 170. Yeah, it's great feeling, but as I said, I showed my best tennis, and hopefully the ranking will be improving and maybe one day I will be also with these guys same court, same positions, top 10.

Q. Are you hoping what you have done here this year will give you confidence to really push on and improve a great deal this year at tour level?

ROMAN SAFIULLIN: Yes, of course. This gives a lot of confidence, especially first two wins. This match today also shows where I need to work, and was also good quality match. Yes, it's absolutely giving me more confidence to work more and to improve.

Q. Final question, three set points against Jannik today. You must have really been pleased with how well you played against him.

ROMAN SAFIULLIN: Yeah, it was a very good first set, but unfortunately I couldn't close it. I mean, I had set point on my serve, and I made double fault. Then I made the next ball, I made easy mistake. Jannik finish with ace, so it was quite fast moment but nothing I can do. So I did my best, as I said. Yeah, he was better today.

Q. Alexander, what's it like to meet these guys in person? I heard you had spent time online with Daniil, but what's it like to meet him?

ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: I never met Daniil in real life, we played games together, I think we started two years ago, and other friend invited to play and I met Daniil, and today I'm in the same team with him. It's amazing, you know, to see how he plays. All the team, you know, this team went unbelievable emotions and this brings -- for sure will bring a lot of memories. Yeah, it's really, really cool for me to be in part of the team.

Q. Is he better looking in person?

ALEXANDER SHEVCHENKO: Yeah, he's definitely -- he is playing even better.

Q. Daniil, I was wondering if you could speak about everything that's gone on with Novak's vaccine exemption and the whole storm around that, and whether him not being at the Australian Open gives you anymore confidence heading into the tournament?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, look, my view on this situation is quite straightforward, I think. You know, there are rules. There are exemptions from rules. I cannot know exactly what happened in the papers, because what we know, I know the same as everybody. Two days ago, he posted a tweet and an Instastory, an Insta post, where he has an exemption.

I think, yeah, he probably went to the airport. Something was either wrong with the paper, I don't know. I don't know if it's the prime minister of Australia who went into the case, if it's maybe the prime minister of Victoria state, of Craig Tiley, I have no idea, because I'm not inside the situation.

So for me it's tough to say. If he had a fair exemption from the rule, well, he should be here; if he didn't, he shouldn't be here. To be honest, it sounds easy, but again, it seems very tough in real life, and I don't know the insides of the story, so that's why I'm just focusing on myself.

Q. Daniil, how did you find out today? Were you aware of it like before your match and then between the doubles match or did you just hear of it in the morning and you hadn't really caught up on the whole situation until you came off the court after winning the doubles match?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I mean, I really, I'm a new generation guy, I have my phone with me and definitely in the morning we all saw the news passing around, official, unofficial, getting deported or not. Actually, I don't know if it's official that he's out of the country, so I don't know this.

That's why I'm saying it's really tough for me to comment on it. Again, for me, it's easy. If he has an exemption, well, should be here. If something was wrong with the papers and they didn't let him in, well, that's what happens sometimes. I have a lot of problems with visas in my career. One time I couldn't play challenger in Great Britain. Actually this year, US Open -- U.S. swing was a big question mark because I didn't have my visa for long time and all the embassies were closed because of COVID.

We all have different situations and problems with different countries. That's his one. Yeah, it's better to ask him for sure if he gives any comments.

Q. From a tennis perspective, like him not being here, how much does that open it up? You will probably be the favorite. There's probably two guys on that Italian team you played today are probably in the running. Any guy in the top 10 without him there is a chance of winning a slam?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: Yeah, I think if he won't be there, that's minus one guy who has 20 slams, and that's a lot, because there is still Rafa, and the rest of us doesn't have a lot of slams, for sure.

But again, it's not, the situation is not over yet from what I know. Still can come and compete at Australian Open. Depends in how it's going to evolve.

But, yeah, when somebody wins it nine times, he's not there, the draw opens up a little bit. There is no secret in it.