NITTO ATP FINALS

November 14, 2022

Andrey Rublev

Pala Alpitour, Torino

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/D. Medvedev

6-7, 6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: You've had great matches against Daniil. Is it the best one you've played against him so far?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Let's say the best one emotional-wise, yes, because we had so much dramatic, especially after the first set, being 5-2 up, having seven set points, 6-2 in the tiebreak, not being able to win a set I think never happen to me that.

Normally after something like that, I don't think I would win a match. Being able to turn around a match and win - win not only like second and third set, but win third set on a tiebreak 9-7, being against 6-3 up, this is something that never happen to me.

So emotional-wise, for sure.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I'm sure it's never easy to play your friends like Daniil or Karen. When you look at this, is this one of the most satisfying wins you've ever had?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know if the most I ever had. But for sure, knowing Daniil, being one of the best players, winning slam, being so many times in the final, winning here, last year he did final. And win, like I said, such dramatic match on this level, losing one set down after being 5-2 up, having seven set points, for sure is something that I never win matches like this before. If we talk about the level of the opponent and the situation that I was, yeah.

I mean, I was beating many top players, but I was always winning first set or losing second and winning third or winning in straight sets, but never in this scenario. It's for the first time.

Q. Usually in the past in these kind of matches, we saw you breaking racquets, being a bit angry. Today you did very good. Are you working on that?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Of course, I want to believe that I'm working on that, then I'm stupid (laughter).

But, yeah, I'm trying to work on it. Obviously I think the match today shows that I have improvements. Is just not easy to do it like this. It takes time. Especially me, myself, I have so much fire inside, it's double tougher for me.

Every person have his own weaknesses. For some players it's tough to play aggressive. It takes time for them to learn how to play aggressive. Or opposite, to play more defense, to learn how to play defense. For some players it's tough to improve serve. For some players it's tough to improve mental part.

I guess I'm one of the ones who is tough to improve mental part, and it takes the most time. I mean, I'm improving it. I think the US Open show it already. Today match also show this. But it takes time.

It's like the same with the forehand, backhand. If you have not good forehand or weak backhand, it takes really long time to improve it. I know it by myself because all my life I had really bad backhand, and it took me years to improve, to be able to be solid or hit sometimes winners. It took me years to improve.

So it takes time...

Q. I don't know if you want to elaborate a little bit more of what you wrote on the camera at the end, and if you shared some thoughts with Daniil about this. Today is an important today, G20 in Bali, two presidents shaking the hands. We all hope for peace.

ANDREY RUBLEV: No, I didn't know about the special day.

Not much to say. I think I did already many statement this year. I don't know, I had opportunity. I don't know, I did what I feel. I didn't even had idea or something in my head before. Just come natural, that's it.

I think it's important, especially in our time, like I was saying many times, to have a peace. We have Internet. We have easy life. We can fly, travel, do sports, take care of the family. No one wants to suffer or struggle. I think it was already many, many years ago. I don't think that we need to. Many countries are suffering, and that's it. That's why I think it's important to be together and have peace.

Q. Still I'm wondering, do you have to worry as a Russian pointing out a statement like that? Obviously it's not allowed in Russia, to point out statements like that.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know. I mean, like I said, I did what I feel. During the year I think I did many statements already. There is not much I can say something new. I think I did already many statements very clear.

Today I did what I feel. I don't know. It comes natural. I don't know. Both of us from the same country. I don't know, just feel this way, and that's it.