Breaking News

Kontaveit beats Vondrousova at VTB Kremlin Cup-2021 to avenge her Winbledon loss

October 23, 01:30 PM

Middelkoop and Heliovaara become second finalists of VTB Kremlin Cup-2021 doubles event

October 23, 01:15 PM

Photo gallery of the fifth game day, October 22

October 22, 11:45 PM

Karatsev garanteed an All-Russian semifinals at the VTB Kremlin Cup-2021

October 22, 11:15 PM

Khachanov outserved Millman with 19 aced to reach SF at VTB Kremlin Cup

October 22, 09:15 PM

Aslan Karatsev: «My goal is to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals in Turin»

October 24, 08:30 PM

Karatsev outpayed Cilic to win VTB Kremlin Cup singles title

October 24, 07:00 PM

Harri Heliovaara: «We play tennis just to have the kind of rallies we’ve had in the "VTB Kremlin Cup" finals»

October 24, 06:45 PM

Anett Kontaveit: «Ekaterina played great, it seemed I had no chance»

October 24, 05:15 PM

Ekaterina Alexandrova: «The loss to Kontaveit is very painful, but I won’t make it a drama»

October 24, 04:00 PM

Kontaveit came back from a set and two breaks down to beat Alexandrova in the VTB Kremlin Cup final

October 24, 02:30 PM

Aslan Karatsev: «I know what to expect from Cilic, I am ready for the final»

October 23, 10:00 PM

Karen Khachanov: «I made errors in the tie-break, it played a key role in the match against Karatsev»

October 23, 09:30 PM

Marin Cilic: «To reach another VTB Kremlin Cup final is a special moment for me»

October 23, 08:30 PM

Jelena Ostapenko: «I'm enjoying my freedom in Moscow!»

October 23, 07:00 PM

Ostapenko/Siniakova clinched doubles title at VTB Kremlin Cup-2021

October 23, 04:45 PM

Anett Kontaveit: «It’s going to be a tough battle with Alexandrova in the final»

October 23, 04:45 PM

Supported by

Ministry of sport of the Russian Federation

Department<br>for sport<br>of Moscow city

Evgeny Donskoy: «The main goal is to play my game»

October 11, 07:15 PM

Evgeny Donskoy, the winner of the Challenger in Kaohsiung, has returned to Moscow in order to begin his practice for “VTB Kremlin Cup” and to get used to his favorite surface. Press-center correspondent has asked him some questions about this season.

Evgeny, people say that the directorate of “VTB Kremlin Cup” is going to hand you a wild card, isn't it? I spoke to Igor Kunitsyn during US Open at the beginning of September. He said that there was a 90% chance that if all our guys got to the tournament (I mean Karen Khachanov, Andrey Rublev, Andrey Kuznetsov), I would be handed a wild card as well as [Konstantin] Kravchuk. Nobody told me that officially, and, probably, there is no updated information yet. But everything is likely to go as I said unless one of the top-10 players gives a call. But anyway they also have the third wild card, so everything should be 'OK'. Actually it is a usual story when they are waiting until the last moment because I can still get into the main draw by myself, so they will be able hand the wild card to the other Russian players. Anyway they could not say: «You will play, and only you».

Congratulations for your win on Challenger, where you have just returned from. How do you feel after it? I am extremely pleased, especially because there are additional points at the end of the year for the next season it will always come in handy. I feel great, but of course, not as great, as when you won your first Challenger ever – not such euphoric. I am really happy, but have other wins in plans and dreams, bigger ones. I am trying to work harder and improve my game.

Season is coming to the end – how do you spend your game year? Are you satisfied with the results? Each time when I asked this question, I usually answer: «Yes, it was quite hard». But I understand, that every season will be difficult, and only couple of them will be easy and full of luck. In the matter of health too. This year, after Wimbledon tournament, I got my back injured. Not that much, but it was bothering me. After that I got pneumonia. I have no idea how I could it be possible to get it… (laughs). Despite that all was quite well – there were ups and downs. The season was good only because my trainee Boris Sobkin, thanks to him. If earlier I could get points only with my best game, nowadays I can win matches even being not in my best shape.

How do you feel , are you ready for the Moscow tournament? The end of the season is always tricky and dangerous, everything could happen. But now I feel good, knocks on wood! I love that tournament, love surface and love tennis conditions we playing in. This year I came to participate in good physical shape and with positive mind, so everything suits me.

There is a question about surface. This year “VTB Kremlin Cup” decided to change surface. Did you get used to it? How can you evaluate new courts after the first practice? It’s not that different from the last year one. I often play on that surface, it’s comfortable for me. And color is one of my favorites. So – yeah, that new surface is a good one.

It’s not your first “VTB Kremlin Cup” tournament. Please tell us, do you feel some special nice atmosphere playing at home? Do Olympic Stadium and Russian fans helps you feel better? Now it helps, but earlier, when I was young, despite that I still want to consider myself young (laughs) – when I was handed my first wild card, I felt pressure. My friends and relatives came on match, they wanted me to win and tried to cheer me up, and it weighted me a bit heavily. But now I enjoy that attention. I love being in my home town, love playing tournament here, and anyway – I am at home already.

This year, despite playing singles tournament, do you have plans to play doubles? If so – will we see the duet of Donskoy and Gabashvili, or it will change? This year we will play doubles with Andrey Kuznetsov. We specially wanted to participate with Andrey, so as much Russian players will play, as possible. We were the last ones. Kravchuk and Rublev will participate, Teymuraz Gabashvili will also play, but I don’t know with whom. So you will not see duet Donskoy – Gabashvili, but you will see Donskoy – Kuznetsov.

What goals did Boris Sobkin set for you before tournament? In what mind set are you now? Boris Sobkin always has a plan and keeps all the goal in his minds and makes no pressure on us. I am sure that he wants to maximize all the results, and I think he considered it's possible. Instructions are to play, because I am in a good physical shape, so I need to enjoy game, that I can show. The main goal is, as usual, to play my own game, that I practiced. I got some things I should improve, but there are always some. Before the match Boris Sobkin will also give a lot of advice.

Breaking News

Photo gallery of the final game day, October 24

Schedule for October, 24th

Karatsev sails into VTB Kremlin Cup finals after beating Khachanov

Cilic became the first finalist of the VTB Kremlin Cup

Alexandrova reached the VTB Kremlin Cup final as Sakkari retired

Kontaveit beats Vondrousova at VTB Kremlin Cup-2021 to avenge her Winbledon loss

Middelkoop and Heliovaara become second finalists of VTB Kremlin Cup-2021 doubles event

Photo gallery of the fifth game day, October 22

Karatsev garanteed an All-Russian semifinals at the VTB Kremlin Cup-2021

Khachanov outserved Millman with 19 aced to reach SF at VTB Kremlin Cup

Breaking News

Photo gallery of the final game day, October 24

Schedule for October, 24th

Karatsev sails into VTB Kremlin Cup finals after beating Khachanov

Cilic became the first finalist of the VTB Kremlin Cup

Alexandrova reached the VTB Kremlin Cup final as Sakkari retired

Kontaveit beats Vondrousova at VTB Kremlin Cup-2021 to avenge her Winbledon loss

Middelkoop and Heliovaara become second finalists of VTB Kremlin Cup-2021 doubles event

Photo gallery of the fifth game day, October 22

Karatsev garanteed an All-Russian semifinals at the VTB Kremlin Cup-2021

Khachanov outserved Millman with 19 aced to reach SF at VTB Kremlin Cup

Aslan Karatsev: «My goal is to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals in Turin»

Karatsev outpayed Cilic to win VTB Kremlin Cup singles title

Harri Heliovaara: «We play tennis just to have the kind of rallies we’ve had in the "VTB Kremlin Cup" finals»

Anett Kontaveit: «Ekaterina played great, it seemed I had no chance»

Ekaterina Alexandrova: «The loss to Kontaveit is very painful, but I won’t make it a drama»

Kontaveit came back from a set and two breaks down to beat Alexandrova in the VTB Kremlin Cup final

Aslan Karatsev: «I know what to expect from Cilic, I am ready for the final»

Karen Khachanov: «I made errors in the tie-break, it played a key role in the match against Karatsev»

Marin Cilic: «To reach another VTB Kremlin Cup final is a special moment for me»

Jelena Ostapenko: «I'm enjoying my freedom in Moscow!»

Ostapenko/Siniakova clinched doubles title at VTB Kremlin Cup-2021

Anett Kontaveit: «It’s going to be a tough battle with Alexandrova in the final»