ATP CUP

January 4, 2022

Daniil Medvedev

Roman Safiullin

Gilles Cervara

Team Russia

Press Conference

MEDVEDEV-SAFIULLIN/Peers-Saville?

7-6, 3-6, 10-6

Russian Tennis Federation - 3

Team Australia - 0

THE MODERATOR: Another impressive performance. Couple of word from the captain. How proud are you 3-0 against the host country?

GILLES CERVARA: Very, very proud of them. Individually and in the team they showed tonight how good they were, so, yes, I can be only so happy. Happy to go back to the hotel with this win. And, yeah, congrats to them. Very good.

Q. Roman, another one great day for you, two more wins, 4-0 since the start of the tournament. How happy are you?

ROMAN SAFIULLIN: Yeah, I'm absolutely happy because, honestly, I didn't expect -- in the beginning I knew that I'm going to come to ATP Cup, but I wasn't expecting to play the ATP Cup, only like maybe doubles, but now I'm super happy that I could bring two points in singles and help in the doubles. So, yeah, I'm happy.

Q. Daniil, better performance in singles today and now no deciding match against Italy on Thursday?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: What do you mean?

Q. To get to the semifinals?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: You said no deciding.

Q. All deciding.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: All deciding. Yeah. Yeah.

First of all, about today, really happy about the team, first of all, but really proud of myself also because I was not feeling easy after the match with Ugo in the doubles, I played straight away, the body was suffering, so to come through this I'm really happy about myself, and, yeah, the way Roman played because, again, before the match I was not sure how I'm going to feel on the court and I wanted Roman to win. He made it look quite easy. And doubles would be the amazing top players playing unreal level. Can only be happy and looking forward to playing against Italy, which is a really strong team, one of the favorites I think also. We need to be at our best.

Q. Daniil, you mentioned the doubles about how you've beaten some of the top teams. It seemed like you guys were having some strategic conversation and everything. Like how much are you sort of learning about the doubles just even from these couple of matches you've been playing?

DANIIL MEDVEDEV: A lot. I mean, tennis is about playing matches. The more matches you play, the better you get. And then it depends which level can you go to.

Same with doubles. I don't play a lot, so of course it's not easy for me because it's different tactics, different shots you need to make, and I'm learning every day and these two matches showed some great strengths I have, I can have in doubles.

And I think, yeah, so far really good connection with Roman in terms of what we should do as a team on the court. So in a way every shot we play we know who is going to play it where and why and there was almost no points where it would be some misunderstanding or bad choice from us. It all comes to where they can also serve good, play good volleys and, well, the point is over.