CHINA OPEN

September 30, 2024

Bu Yunchaokete

Press Conference

BUYUNCHAOKETE/A. Rublev

7-5, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: When we saw you walking down the tunnel onto the court today, we saw a player that was very serious but determined. Can you share with us what was going on in your mind before, during and after the match.

BUYUNCHAOKETE: Well, before I just really enjoy because I see sky, playing the nighttime. Full fans. We have holidays coming. I play also after Qinwen. Would be really good day for me, against top 10. I think also maybe it's my second time against a top 10. Maybe first one ways Casper Ruud. Just in Beijing here.

I mean, no more pressure for me. Just enjoy on court and just show the best tennis level. Nothing to complain. Just focus on the match and I see what's happen.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. During the match you won all 11 of your service games. What were your keys to success during those games?

BUYUNCHAOKETE: Well, I mean, some games real lucky because he have some break point. I think also some game we play really long, long game, like so many deuce.

Yeah, I mean, I just focus on my serve and my game. I have the advantage because I make the break first. I mean, I can do something dangerous thing to give him more pressure. I just try my best.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in Chinese.

Q. At the end of the this match, Andrey was very tough. When you were close to a victory, when you were serving for the match, any changes in your mentality?

BUYUNCHAOKETE: Yes, in that game he had a break point. I was feeling the pressure. I was a little bit nervous compared to previous games, as well as the first set.

Very happy my first-serve percentage was good. I was able to adjust. I won the first point. I made mistake the next two points. There was a break point for him. If I dropped that game, I think that would have been a turnaround for him. I think I played very well at the end.

Q. Of course you're happy with your serve today. Can you talk about your return. How did you adjust your return? You did not come to the net. Did you do that on purpose?

BUYUNCHAOKETE: Let me talk about return first.

In the first set I wasn't happy with the return because this is my first night match. The night match is a bit different. The speed of the return wasn't that good. I wasn't feeling that solid. I don't know how much force I should put into it.

In terms of return, I felt like the ball was slow. But when I was seeing it, it was above 200, pretty quick. I didn't know whether it was because it was a night match or if I didn't adapt. Then I made the changes. I improved my first serve as well as my return. I was able to return.

In terms of approaching the net, he has a very aggressive style. I need to be on defense. If you want to be more aggressive than him, you have to be really good on your serve. It's really difficult to find an opportunity to come to the net. Coming to the net will be really tricky against this type of opponent.

Q. In the past two weeks you've heard a lot of congratulations. You're making history. Next round you are facing the world No. 1. Any preparation you will make for the semifinal?

BUYUNCHAOKETE: Against Jannik Sinner, of course. You're in the semifinal. It either Medvedev or Jannik Sinner. What I can do is to enjoy the match. I remember when we were junior players, he killed me within an hour. That's all I can remember. But now it has been many years later.

I really look forward to this match. It's a night match again. With the experience of tonight, I will do better tomorrow. Of course, my opponent will be stronger tomorrow.

Of course, playing the world No. 1 is something I look forward to. He is a leader of this new generation. I will be really proud. Of course, many fans will be supporting me. All I need to do is enjoy and perform my best.

Q. (Question about a question from a fan.)

BUYUNCHAOKETE: I wouldn't lie to her. I never thought about this. I just made one goal recently. Now I'm trying to elevate my goal. Probably top 50.

When can I become top 10? I don't know. It's a little bit far away. Top 50, top 30, top 20. We have to go step by step. Of course, today playing him as well as playing Ruud, I could feel the difference playing against the top 10 versus playing against the top 20, top 30.

The best you can do is to be yourself.

Q. The past two weeks you've been talking about the power of self-confidence, which is based on the breakthroughs of other Chinese players. You made the semifinals in a previous tournament. Now semifinals in the China Open. You're probably at a very high level of confidence. You can be ambitious when playing top players. Could you talk about that.

BUYUNCHAOKETE: I think it really depends on your level of confidence as well as your physicality, mentality. In the past two weeks, my schedule has been really packed. I did not have really much time for social activities to focus on other things.

Every day you really need to do a lot in order to perform your best, to avoid too much distraction, to build up your own zone so that you can focus on your performance.

I do not really have much time for other things. If I did not that have that packed of a schedule, I might not be distracted. It's hard for me to explain to you.

Q. In the previous press conference you talked about your focus on the first set, to continue your form for two or three hours. How did you do today? After the two tournaments, the two weeks, what kind of experience did you gain for recuperation?

BUYUNCHAOKETE: I don't even remember the first question. Did you ask three questions? What was the first question?

Q. (No microphone.)

BUYUNCHAOKETE: I'm still exploring. I'm trying to learn. What I did well, of course I did better today. The first set went by really quick, 7-5. I thought it might take 60 minutes. The actual time was only 40 minutes because it was a lot of pressure. He did not rest that much.

A lot of pressure in the first set. I was facing a lot of pressure. I was wondering whether I could maintain that kind of intensity. I tried to adjust myself after the first set.

In terms of my power, confidence level, I hoped that I could do better in the second set, maintain that kind of intensity. I'm happy I did that.

In terms of post match rest and recuperation, of course I had some issues with my body. I don't know what kind of stress is coming from. Is it because of the matches or my schedule. I need to find the root cause to avoid it from happening again. I am really tired.

Next we have Shanghai Masters as well as an event in Hangzhou. I can't really imagine why there's so many weeks in the future.

All I can do is focus on right now because it will be really busy. It's a lot of power, you need to really focus on what you can do today, to enjoy what I have achieved today, then make preparation for tomorrow.