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 am so glad I won that I forgot I played for 3 hours!»

October 20, 12:00 AM

The match was very long. What were the key moments that led you to victory?

I think the key moment was in the second set, when the score was 4:5. I lost the game and it was my serve. But we didn’t come match-points yet. I managed to win the game and it gave me a lot of power. When I broke her service I set myself on playing and winning every ball. In the third set the score was 1:3. Again it was a bit nervous but there are some situations when it’s even better to lose because you let it go and play calmly.

Cornet’s coach always told her to play your forehand, and you actually made errors from your forehand. Is the forehand your weak point or it’s just a matter of the moment?

My backhand is better and everyone knows it. But when I have a good serve and backhand, my forehand is also getting better in any case. But today there were some stressful situations. In the Academy [in France] I played against Alize very often and I always lost the training set. For example the score would be 4:4 and she would win two more games. Then if we played a couple of days later and she did the same at 5:5.

That’s why when I missed this opportunity in the first set I tried to forget about it and tuned myself up for the next set. I know that when you are playing against Alize you have to fight till the end to win.

When there was a long medical time-out you could lose your focus. How did you manage to keep it?

Yes, the break was quite long: at first the doctor came up to me, then to Alize. While I was waiting, I got an idea to take some balls and serve a bit, but then decided not to stress my shoulder and just do some movements.

I felt pressure but I knew that if I win there would be a third set. That new set required a lot of energy but I believed that I could find it.

The communication between player and coach can become public. Have you ever told anything to your coach in the heat of the moment or you always control yourself?

It happened that I don’t have the only one coach who travels with me to the tournaments. Every person has emotions. Today I told my mom something like that: she was constantly smiling and talking with someone. The coach can stay with me for several days or a week but my mom is always with me. Today I took it out on her. Of course, after the match I apologized, but in my opinion everything depends on you and not on the person who wants you to win, who supports you and worries about you. It’s better to hide the emotions, not to show them off. Modern technologies give the possibility to see and hear everything.

When you prevailed over the Olympic champion Elena Vesnina, you said that you couldn’t believe it. Today you outplayed the experienced Alize Cornet. What do you think about your next opponent Julia Goerges?

I’m trying not to think about it. Because sometimes when you don’t expect anything from the match, you win it. I believe that you should tune yourself up for every single match regardless of the opponent. Sometimes you are under pressure like I was in the match against Elena Vesnina. I had some mixture of feelings and emotions but I came over it. The same happened in the match against Alize but I managed to win.

I think in the match against Goerges I will step on the court, serve, play my game and we’ll see what happens.

After the match against Chinese Taipei you said that it’s always possible to find a week to play for the national team. Do you still think the same? The forthcoming Fed Cup match is against Slovakia, do you have any thoughts about it?

I still think the same. I’m always ready to play for the national team if they call on me. I don’t care where I will be in China or Australia or if I have a tight schedule. Why not? I’m 20. And playing for the national team is something different. When you have such kind of experience, you come to the court, you like and enjoy it.

Matches like this siphon off a lot of emotional and physical energy. Do you feel like you are out of gas now? Maybe the victory makes up for the loss of energy?

Yes, because when you put all your might into a match and you don’t achieve anything, everyone says it was a good match and feels sorry for you. Now I feel a bit tired [at the press-conference] but I’ve already forgotten that I spent 3 hours on the court. These three hours of emotional and physical efforts which brought me to the semifinals are worth being spent.

Some of the tennis players are tongue-tied but the way you speak impresses even the journalists. What books do you read?

I’m a third-year student of the Sport Institute and attended also the Architectural Institute. My mom considers that the education is essential even if you are an athlete. If you can find time tom play for the national team, you also definitely can find time for studying. While you are playing a tournament why not pick up a book and read it. The last book I’ve read was «The basics of medical knowledge» which dwells on the subjects you need in life and sport.

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»