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

Natalia Vikhlyantseva: «I enjoy every moment of this tournament»

October 19, 12:00 AM

Natalia how was today’s match going?

Today I managed to pull myself together. I had a high percentage of first serve won and aces, but also I had many double faults, too. Mainly I am satisfied with these statistics and I hope that tomorrow I also will be ready to show my best and win. When the first serve is in with every rally I became more and more confident in my game.

Did that long wait before your match play a role?

Of course, it played a role. There were 4 three-set matches before our match but I knew that it was going to be a late night match and was ready for it. I arrived at the “Olympiysky” stadium around 12 AM and never left the stadium. But we need to remember that we were in the same situation with Elena — it was a long wait for both of us. When I play against someone, I always try to remember that if I am in hard conditions, so is my opponent.

Can you briefly describe the tennis academy where you practice?

This is the Patrick Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, located in the South of France, and it is under his personal control. He is also the head coach. Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh is a coach there and once he accompanied me on the tournament. There are lots of good fitness trainers as well who even work with David Goffin. This is a pretty nice academy where I spent much time this year – I haven’t much opportunities to return back home. This academy has completely different [practicing] conditions as compared to home. You know when everything is in one place, the courts are nearby and every problem is solved. But when you at home, you have to deal with all it by yourself: call a trainer, then find an available court, later find a nice gym — it’s much more difficult.

In which company you arrived here?

I practice here with Anton Zaitsev. This week many players took coaches along to practice with, but I’ve done that in the last moment, so no one coaches me here. When I went to Linz, my main coach accompanied me and it doesn’t happen that often: usually he travels only to Grand Slam tournaments. Anton Zaitsev said that he will practice together with me with great pleasure. My mother also arrived with me, and also my friends came along. My father and younger brother stayed at home.

Shamil Tarpishchev in the interview to the tournament official booklet praised your playing style, which reminds him of the style professed by Alexander Volkov who didn’t let the opponents to finds their rhythm. You need to develop that style, he says. Don’t you agree?

Yes, my style is attacking. If I can stick to it and be successful I shouldn’t go in defense and play the style which is not mine. I need to be confident in my style, I should practice it. When I will be confident enough my style will be win-only: fast play with powerful serves. I can’t but agree with him.

You had only one break-point in the first set and failed to convert it. But in the second set there were 11 break-points with one converted. Did you find a way how to successfully return Elena’s serves?

Yes, Elena’s serves are quite uncomfortable for me — she is an experienced player and an Olympic champion. I was expecting the match to be tight – but in the second set I managed to adapt to her serves and read her leg movement. One converted break-point out of eleven is really not that much, no doubt.

Today almost every seeded player lost. In your opinion, why did it happen?

It’s almost the end of the year. The players are tired, especially the seeded ones, those who definitely performed well throughout the season and played a lot [of tournaments]. And some will later play in Singapore and in Zhuhai. Maybe they played against players who played here couple of matches already and have time to adapt to the surface. I think, it’s really hard to be a seeded player — everyone is getting ready to the match against you and wants to beat you.

Many players mentioned that they are tired at the end of the season. How do you feel towards the end of this first big WTA season for you?

I am trying to enjoy that tournament. Next week I will return back home to take some exams and meet friends. After that, in the mid-season, I will go back to that tennis academy. I just try to enjoy my matches and put all my efforts into it to show my best tennis, especially because I will have take a break from tennis soon. It’s an interesting feelin, when you play at the «VTB Kremlin Cup» – a tournament with such a rich history: you remember how you watched it in your childhood and now I will be playing here in the quarterfinals.

Did you like the fan support? Does it have some influence on you?

I was thinking that the crowd will support Elena more, but the fans cheered for both of us. I am glad that we got support. I played lots of times on the big courts with a large crowd: each time I try to abstract from it – there is only me and my opponent on the court. Many things depend on you, and if you could stay focused, you definitely will win, but if you will get distracted by fans, the coach, the opponent — it will be much harder.

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»