AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 23, 2023

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/H. Rune

6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Andrey Rublev. In your last press conference you said at this level in the end, it's all about mental. Are you satisfied about your performance today?

ANDREY RUBLEV: That's why I'm laughing, because today mental was out of control (smiling). I was struggling a lot.

But, yeah, was lucky. I don't know if it was a present. Especially from 5-2, somehow I was able. I start to think it's over, for sure. Somehow I relieve myself and I was able to start to play with much more focus and much better.

In the end, it was the turning moment. Even was 6-5 and two match points, I thought, No, for sure I will make it at the tiebreak. Then already during the tiebreak, I was thinking for sure it's over. But at least I was telling to myself, like, at least not like in the Roland Garros when I completely give up. Just at least try to play better than there.

From 7-2, I played some good rallies. I catch where he was serving, and I return well. I serve also well. I make aces.

So yeah, the last point, I don't know, was never happen to me in my life. Was the luckiest probably moment. Cannot be better moment than this, to have a match point to be in quarterfinal, 10-9 in tiebreak, to make a return at the net, then the ball pass over. It's the luckiest probably moment of my life.

Now I can go casino. If I put, for sure I going to win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What was it like to be playing in the tiebreak? Was your heart racing out of your chest?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Like inside I was thinking it's over. Like, I was down. I was just telling to myself, At least please don't do the same like in Roland Garros when I completely give up when was 7-2 or something. I finished the tiebreak 10-2.

I said here at least win more than two points. If you have to chance to win three, win three. If you have the chance to win four, win four.

In the end somehow in the end little by little I win two. Then it become 7-6 and my serve. I make almost ace, ace, and was 8-7 somehow.

Then everything was different.

Q. I was wondering how you kept believing. In the fourth set, you could have served to make it 5-All. You lost your serve there. You were trailing. You had two match points. In the tiebreak you were down Love-5. Why did you keep building?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Because I was not believing (laughter).

Yeah, the 5-4 in the first set was completely stupid game. I make easy two mistakes. I was out of break. Beginning of the fifth set, I was completely frozen. Inside I was thinking that I cannot. I cannot move. I cannot hit. Like, if I don't make a serve, then the point is over. I'm going to hit to the bottom of my side.

Then the first game was Love-40 on my serve because I did three mistakes in a row for the first shot. But then, yeah, I was saying, Okay, just try point by point. Then somehow I was able to save the game.

Then at the 2-1, Rune played, I don't know, some full-power forehands down the line on 30-All, and good return at break point. Then I was thinking it's over. He's playing much better than me. He deserve to win. He going for the shots. He's doing something that normally I supposed to do if I want to win the match. I let it go.

Somehow the stress that I had, I was able by thinking this way I was able to relieve. At the end of the match I played much better than during all the match.

Q. Novak Djokovic has won the first set. A good chance it might be him. Talk about the challenge you will face. Is he unbeatable? The injury that he's carrying, do you read much into that?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know. I know that Novak is very tough player to beat, especially on the slams. He have, I don't know, best experience to win these kind of matches. He's one of the best in history.

The only chance I have is if I play my best tennis, just fight for every ball, and that's it. That's the only chance.

Q. Do you look at the injury?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No, no. Not at all. I don't know. He's playing. He's winning, so...

Q. How are you feeling after such a stressful match?

ANDREY RUBLEV: In the beginning, I was okay because still adrenaline. But now I start to feel a bit, yeah, down, mentally and physically tired.

But I will have enough time to recover.

Q. I know you spoke about that match point, you seeing it on the side, then seeing it roll over. Can you talk about that a little bit?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No, the second serve, I was thinking, like, Don't shy, just think that is not your match point, think that you are losing, and just hit the return. Then if you will make it, you will have chance.

When I was returning and I see the direction that it's going, I say, Yes, amazing. Waiting for a moment like this to completely screw up (smiling). I see how the ball touch the net. So I see on my side. I was thinking for sure it's net.

Then somehow, I don't know. Normally if it's touched like this, then yes. But the ball was completely at my side of the net. I have no idea how he passed.

That's why I'm saying, I don't know, is the luckiest day and the moment because cannot be a better moment for this.

Q. This is the seventh time you've been in a quarterfinal of a major. Not quite managed to make it to the semifinal. Why do you think it's not worked for you the last six times?

ANDREY RUBLEV: In the beginning was because the players just were...

I was answering this question already a couple of times.

In the beginning, I was not ready because the other players were much better than me, the players like Rafa. I was teenager, no physical-wise, nothing.

The other times that I had chances was mental part. I couldn't handle it. That's it. Simple, so...