US OPEN

September 3, 2022

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/D. Shapovalov

6-4, 2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Five sets, 10-7 in the fifth-set tiebreak, four hours on the court. Your thoughts on today's match.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Obviously was crazy match. Obviously Denis deserve to win as well. As we all know, he deserves to win. Both of us deserve to win. After when you play these kind of matches, there is no winner, in my opinion. Obviously it's a game, so has to be someone. But both players deserve to win.

There is no who was better or who was worst. He had maybe a bit more chances than me, especially in the fifth set. In the beginning I had one break point, I couldn't make it. During the set, two more break points. But I played them really well.

The rest was nothing, just unreal match. I'm really happy I'm able to win it, even though I couldn't finish 6-4 when I was serving for the match and having match points.

Like, I feel even double proud that even after that moment, I was still able to win the match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Seeing all those match points come and go, how much of a mental victory would you consider this for you?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Of course, I mean, when you serve for the match after four hours thinking that, I don't know, not even thinking that you will win.

Here the moment, 5-4, 40-15. When you're losing those match points and you have one more, you're losing your serve, the feeling is like you were so close, you were feeling already is done, now looks the match is completely back again. The feeling was only worst inside.

But then I start to say, Okay, is like I want to have feeling after the match that I did my best because if I start to think about it, I'm going to lose maybe 7-5, then I will regret double that I didn't fight till the end, yeah, that I was not able to do my best.

So I was just telling to myself, Just finish the match, do your best. You go outside of the court, you have no regrets. Then we'll see what happens.

In the end I was able to win. This moment I feel double proud of myself now.

Q. You got Cam Norrie next. Talk about the challenge you're going to face with him. He's a very fit bloke. Do you expect to do a lot of running?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Obviously it's going to be tough match. Especially our last meeting I lost to him.

The way he play, he make you go for extra shots, to take extra risk. If you take extra risk, normally you miss more. The way he play, he play really low, he play long rallies. He move really well. So is going to be tough match. Is going to be long rallies. Is going to be mental. Match is going to be really physical match.

Then it's going to be smart tennis because to beat him you have to play really smart.

Q. Do you worry the fact you played such a grueling match that it will affect your next match?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know, to be honest. First of all, I have one and a half day now to recover. I think you can do good recovery.

Then I had different situations. I had situations that I was playing till quarterfinals without losing a set, then in the middle of the match I was feeling completely dead. I was playing all the matches three sets, less than anyone until quarterfinal.

Some matches I was also playing really long, coming from another tournament, in the quarterfinal I was feeling the same.

You never know how is better. The best is to win matches. Doesn't matter how, five sets, three sets, to win. Then the rest doesn't matter.

Q. Did you go and watch Harry Styles?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Twice, yes.

Q. What days where those and why?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I went Monday, yeah. Not this one, like before. The quallie week. Then Tuesday I went 21 Pilots, then Friday again I went to watch Harry Styles.

Q. Are you a big fan?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I really like the show. Plus they were helping me a lot with the tickets. The tickets were really good. I didn't know what to do.

I like music. In the end I was enjoying. I had really good seats. I was alone. Just to enjoy my time.