THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2023

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/M. Purcell

6-3, 7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: A question about today and how you feel about it, Andrey.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I'm happy that, yeah, I was able to win the match in straight sets. In the beginning was a bit tough, because the practice courts are a bit different compare the match one (smiling). It took a bit time to feel the rhythm to start to hit more clean, and then, yeah, I start to play better and better. By the end of the match I was playing only better.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Obviously after last year does it feel more special winning now that you're back in the tournament?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I hope I understand the question right. If after last year that to be back to play Wimbledon?

Q. Yeah, to be back and win after last year, does it feel more special?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Of course I feel, I mean, obviously I feel really happy to be back after, because in general I didn't play much Wimbledon or I was injured or was pandemic or then they ban us. So of course I feel really special and really happy to be back in London to play at one of the best tournaments and. To get a win today was a nice moment.

Q. You have spoken about the grass causing you tension. Doesn't look like it caused you much tension.

ANDREY RUBLEV: We will see. We will see (smiling).

Q. Does it take any getting used to, or were you nervous?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Of course I was nervous. The first match is always, you don't know what to expect. Like I said, after the practice courts, the match ones are a bit different. So you stress a bit more. Plus was windy, you know, and when you are on the match, all these little details start to stress you much, much more than if it's practice.

But, yeah, I'm happy that I was able to, with the time, get used to conditions and to finish match on a good level.

Q. You have had actually best results on grass, notably at Halle these past years. How do you compare the grass courts, how different they are, how do they play?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I would say in Halle compare Wimbledon, the grass is faster. In Wimbledon is slower, and you can play more rallies. You can return more serves. Yeah, that's the difference.

But I don't know. Today on Court 3 that I played, I don't know, maybe because they didn't practice there a lot or something, it feels faster than the practice courts, because the grass was a bit higher so was feeling that the court is a bit faster compare to practice ones.

Q. If courts were a bit slower shouldn't it be to your advantage?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, and that's why when I start to practice Wimbledon, I say, Oh, that's good that the courts are slower. I feel that I can play rally. I feel that I return better.

Yeah, looks like Wimbledon is completely different conditions compared to other grass tournaments.

Q. Can I ask you about Max and his game? Quite an unusual game that he plays. There was a moment during that match where he was sort of kind of outplaying you really.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah.

Q. Maybe early in the second set before you blew him away. How tough do you think he is?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, I know Max for a long time because, I think he's one year younger than me, and he was like upcoming junior in Australia and I remember I played him first time when we were both still juniors playing quallies of men's Australia first round and I beat him three sets. It was super-tough match. They were saying, like, it's a young guy, he's talented, and all those things.

He was talented. I mean, the way he served, the way he's playing at the net. But then, I don't know, after one or two years he start to play only doubles. So for me was really strange because he was young, talented, he had really great serve. I don't know, at 20-something, 21, 20, he start to only play doubles. Obviously he achieve great results in doubles. They won slams. But still, he could try a bit more.

Now, after four or something years, now he start to play back singles. And of course, now he's I think top 100? No?

Q. Gone from 200 to 60 in about...

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, he's 60. Which means if he would try a bit at that time maybe he would be 60, top 100 much earlier.

And yeah. Then I play him once couple years ago on grass, and I know that it's tough to play against him on grass, because, like I said, the way he served, the way he play at the net. Then he do a lot of slices. For grass it's perfect combination.

So I was preparing for really tough match. I'm happy that I was able to win in straight sets.

Q. You can see more improvement coming from him?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Obviously. I mean, if he, like I said, from 200 to 60 in the world, he arrive really fast, then obviously you have to improve a lot to do that jump.

Q. How long did it take you to get comfortable today?

ANDREY RUBLEV: During the match?

Q. Yeah.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I would say when he broke me in the second set, I think from 4-1 I start to feel that I start to return better, I start to feel conditions better, that even I was losing still games on his serve, because he played that moments well, but I start to feel that I'm always there now. Now I feel it more depends on me if I will play or I will return good or if I play one more good point or, yeah, something can change.

Even if I lose second set, doesn't matter, because now I start to feel that I'm, I don't know, I start to feel more stable on return and more confident on the serve.

In the end, I was able to break him at 5-3, to break him, that everything went well. I played good game and he didn't play that good game so it was perfect combination for me.

And from 5-4 I start to feel that I completely, yeah, controlling the match.

Q. Do you get the sense that back home in Russia that tennis, and Wimbledon in particular, remains popular and people are watching Wimbledon? Just in terms of the crowd today, it was a very welcoming atmosphere. Is that reassuring for you to see?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, for sure. I mean, Wimbledon was always -- I mean, all the slams are always special. Wimbledon, as well. Like you said, to play at 11:00 a.m. and to see full stadium, it's always nice and special feeling, especially Monday, 11:00 a.m., which means normally everyone is working.

About the first part of the question, I hope, I hope that obviously in my country they are watching more and more tennis, because I hope it's getting more popular. But it's more I think depends on results from every player, because in one moment we were doing good, and I think it was more and more getting better.

I remember in the past when Kafelnikov and Safin was playing, at least me, I was watching everything possible about tennis. I hope maybe there is some case that they are doing the same now.

Q. Do you think Wimbledon made a mistake by forcing the ban on Russian players last year?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I think that, I mean, we were talking, and I think we could find the solution. Yeah, if we really want to help or do what is better for tennis and for the people, I think obviously there was better options. Not just to ban. Because in the end, was no difference. They did only worse to themselves.

So in the end, I think, yeah, that there was for sure there was options to do much better for everyone. For Wimbledon to, how you say, to take all the benefits from some actions, but it is what it is. Now we are here, and like I said, I'm really happy to be back and to compete.

Q. It seems you have been quite sympathetic to both sides of the war in Ukraine. Do you feel that playing here you are given an opportunity to make that clear?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't really think that they care that much if I play or I don't play. I mean, in my case, I did everything very clear already many times, but I don't think that their focus on me, to watch if I'm playing or not, and if what it means if I'm playing or if I pull out.

Q. I think lots of people are very interested in how you're doing for that reason.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, the spectators, I hope, yes (smiling). But, I mean, I don't know, to be honest.

Like I said, I mean, my opinion is very clear, and I did it many times.

Q. I know that your doubles partner, Denys Molchanov, sadly can't be here this year. Are you still in touch with him?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, I mean, we are in touch. I saw him, I don't remember when -- I saw him in Banja Luka and was perfect. We are great.

Q. But do you know what he's doing in Ukraine now?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I think he move to Croatia now.

Q. Oh, did he?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah. Because I know that he practice in Zagreb so I think he's more time there.