LAVER CUP

September 23, 2023

Andrey Rublev

Team Europe

Flash Interview

T. FRITZ/A. Rublev

6-2, 7-6

Team Europe - 0

Team World - 6

Q. Andrey, tell me your thoughts on the match today.

ANDREY RUBLEV: The first set, Taylor, he started really well. I was a bit tight. I was, yeah, not ready. I was moving slower. I was not really seeing what's happening.

Then with the time I was able to calm down myself, calm down the nerves. The second set I was playing good. It was just about one, two points.

Q. Why do you think it was a little bit of a slower start? Were there extra nerves at the start?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Oh, I mean, of course you want to show great game. You want to try to win. Obviously when you see Taylor is starting that well and break down straight, of course it's not easy. Yeah, all those things.

Q. Then in that second set, you had that advantage. What happened at that stage that he got back into it? He did lift his game.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, I don't remember exactly what's happen, but I remember that I think I did only one mistake on a breakpoint when I went for the forehand.

The rest, he played well. He used the chances. I remember at 30-All he returned really aggressive with the forehand, and then he go down the line and he hit right at the line. It was great point for him.

But the same happen then at 6-5, I had really great chance to win the set and I had second serve, but I went for it and I miss. Can't happen. And then tiebreak he played really well.

Q. We just got interrupted by your captain, Bjorn Borg. You have had the experience already, but what's it like having somebody like him on the bench with you?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I mean, it's special feeling that I will never have in my life. It's honor. That's it. I really like him as a person. I really like him as a tennis player that he is. I don't know. It's just honor to know him.