US OPEN

September 5, 2022

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/C. Norrie

6-4, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Straight sets, not even two-and-a-half hours. Assess your performance this afternoon.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, I think today was everything going my side. Like when I need to play, like to make a good serve I was making good serve. Every time when I need him to miss he was missing.

So everything was like today on my side. On top of that, I was playing good. I don't know. I was making good shots, good winners. Yeah, and in the end I was able to win in three sets so I'm really happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. We all notice that after matches you stay for at least 15, 20 minutes signing every autograph and taking photos. Big tournaments, small tournaments. Why is that so important for you and does it ever get too much?

ANDREY RUBLEV: The beginning of the question was doesn't get too much? I forgot.

Q. Why does it mean so much to you to do it, because you do it no matter what.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I think, I mean, first of all, this is the easiest way to be grateful for the people that they came to support players, tennis, and this is the easiest way to be grateful.

Yeah, so in the end I'm doing this. And of course I'm not getting bored because it's part of the job. I don't know. It's like recovery or play match, warmup, or to do press conference now is part of the sport. I think you have to be grateful for the things you have in your job, and that's it.

Q. Obviously we don't know for sure who your next opponent will be, so I'd like to ask you about the two possibilities separately. First, Rafa, how would you describe your history against him and your thoughts about the possibility of going up against him?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know. There is no history. I mean, we played three times. Once here when I was a kid, then one more time when I was already top 10 at ATP Finals. I was not ready mentally. And the last time our meeting in Monte-Carlo I was ready already mentally and game-wise, and I was lucky that match he didn't play his best and I was able to win it.

So we will see. I mean, if it's Rafa, especially during the Grand Slams, I have nothing to lose. I have to go for the match, and that's it.

In case if it's Frances, it's a tough player. We play couple of times. I lost to him last year here at the US Open. So for sure he will try to use the energy, the crowd to be more pumped, to play better tennis. I just, with him, I need to wait for my moment and use it.

Q. What do you remember most about that match with Frances?

ANDREY RUBLEV: That he was trying to use crowd to play better tennis, to take energy from the people, to make better shots, I don't know, be better physically.

He was using crowd really well.

Q. On today's match, were you surprised by Cam's level today? Didn't seem to show his usual consistency. How much was that down to how well you played in your tactics?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I think, like I said in the beginning, today was everything on my side. I played really good match, consistent match. Plus Cameron maybe, like I said, all the important moments, when I need to make an ace or to make a first serve, always happen that I was making it.

Every time that Cameron, he had a chance, every time he was missing or a beat or something I was playing good shots. Every important moment that something was happening, it was always to my side.

Normally when you play matches, especially these kind of matches, always goes for both sides, and then is different match. Today since the first breakpoint everything was like on my side, you know. And that's why it helps me to be more confident.

Probably for Cameron opposite. He start to get more tight and tight and tight. When you are losing two sets to zero and you know you are playing to be in quarters, it's also mentally tough. You start to be even more tight.

Q. When you played Cam I think for the first time in St. Petersburg two years ago, you beat him very heavily 2 and 1, I think. While I appreciate you won quite comfortably today, I wonder if you can compare the player you beat very heavily then and now. They are obviously quite different players, I think.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, for sure it's two different players. At that time I don't know which ranking he was. Maybe, I don't know if he was top 50. Maybe around top 50. He was just upcoming.

Now he's top 10. He win one ATP Masters and then he played so many good tournaments, finals, against top players.

He improve a lot. I mean, obviously he start to serve much, much better, harder, better directions. He improve his forehand, because I remember in St. Petersburg he was not really playing aggressive with the forehand, and he was struggling a bit. When you play hard to his forehand he was not able to, you know, keep the same intensity of the speed.

Now he play aggressive. He change directions. He play harder. He improve a lot his forehand.

Obviously physical-wise he's much faster, he's physically much stronger, he's able to play on a good level, on a high level for long time. Not only one set. He able to play for three hours, four hours and keep high level. Yeah, that's why he's top 10.

Q. If it is Rafa in the next round, you played him Monte-Carlo in 2021. How much of a better player are you since that match?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know. We'll see (smiling). In my case, there is no -- I hope I'm better player, but with me you never know. We'll see. The only one good thing, that I have nothing to lose if it's Rafa. I can go for the match, and that's it.

Q. You haven't been past a quarterfinal of a slam. It's the one thing missing for you. Why is that? What do you think you need to do?

ANDREY RUBLEV: In the beginning like I was playing Rafa or some player at that moment I was not ready to beat. Other matches, mental.

Q. Over the summer you haven't had your best results, obviously in Cincinnati and Canada. Wondering just how you are feeling then and what are you most happy about with how you performed, come to the US Open and obviously won four matches in a row.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, I mean, first of all, happy to be in quarters. It's a great result. I'm happy that every match I'm playing better and better. Like if you compare first round, second, third, fourth, my level increasing. I'm really happy with that.

Nothing much to say. Just we'll see who will win, Frances or Rafa, and then I will try to go full and to give my best again for the quarterfinal.

Q. Before this tournament, you lost your last four five-setters. This week you've won both of them. Wondering what's behind that change and is that helping your confidence as you keep going?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I was not even thinking that last ones I lost. It was not even in my head because I'm not counting how many I win five sets, how many I lost five sets. The only thing that I know for sure I will lose also so many five sets in the future and for sure I will win more five sets in the future.

The difference this tournament, that I was able to keep myself better, was able to keep my emotions in the right way, and that was the difference.

Q. After the US Open, either Rafa or Alcaraz or Ruud will be No. 1 in the world. Curious, how much are you paying attention to the race at the top, and what would it mean for a teenager like Alcaraz to be No. 1 on tour?

ANDREY RUBLEV: First of all, I'm not paying really attention because it's not me (smiling). Is like less pressure, like, Okay, let them fight, let them feel this pressure. Better for me, like this, all of them will get more tight.

I mean, for teenager like Charlie to be No. 1, I think it's something unreal. Like something that every player dream to achieve. I think in his case, it's just a matter of time. Even if it's not gonna happen this tournament he will still have many more chances later on. So it's not about only this US Open.