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

Damir Dzumhur: «Each Russian tournament has its positive sides »

October 22, 08:15 PM

Congratulations. On two occasions you were 0-40 down in the 3rd set. What helped you to overcome the situation? Also we had the impression that you were rushing your serve. Was it on purpose? Because it looked like it helped you.

Yes, at 0-40 you are just one point away from losing the game and you need three to level the score to “Deuce”, so you don’t have a lot of options. Sometimes when you are down 0-40, you play more relaxed, that’s what I did today. I was serving well. After 1-2 good points in a game I started rushing because I felt that I found the right rhythm and I didn’t want to lose it, so it was on purpose.

It looks like playing on hard indoor tournaments suits you well, because of you great results. But judging by your technique and your style we can say that you can also do well at outdoor tournaments. Do you think you can raise your game to play well outdoors at Grand slams?

Yes, I think I can play well both indoors and outdoors on any surface. I did well at the last US Open and even during the Asian series I didn’t play bad – I lost to a top player. So I can play well on all surfaces, including clay, I just need to be well prepared physically and mentally.

Just one month ago you said, that your goal was to reach top50 and tomorrow you’’ be ranked 31st in the world. How high can you raise the bar?

After St. Petersburg (after I rose to the 36th position in the ATP), my plan was to reach the Top32 in order to be seeded at the first Grand Slam of the season, at the Australia Open. After my Moscow win I will be 31st, and will have enough points to stay higher than 32th till the end of a season. I wouldn’t like to make any more plans forthis year. It was a great season – I won two tournaments, and I don’t want to worry more. I just want to go on court and enjoy and finish that year without injuries.

Can you give some comments about today’s doubles match? Did the win motivated you to play both singles and doubles or it was tough anyway?

The only thing that was tough was my tiredness: my legs were hurting, but I still was motivated. It was my first ATP doubles finals and coming to the finals without motivation is not an okay neither for me nor for my partner whom I care about. I am very satisfied that I was [playing] well both in singles and doubles. And I am also pleased that I helped my partner to rise a little bit in his doubles ranking. Talking about today’s match, I could say that we didn’t have big chances [to win]. The only chance was in the second set, when we had 40:15. But they served well, played some good volleys. It was a great match for them and we couldn’t do much against them.

A personal question — you are a tough guy on court, but do you give your relatives a hard time in your off-court life?

Everybody who knows me say that I am two different persons: one on the court and one in the off-court life. On the court this year I broke too many rackets, and thus I could vent my anger only hitting balls up to the sky when I got nervous. That’s how I am: if I were on the court like I am off-court, I wouldn’t achieve anything (in tennis). Without that energy I wouldn’t be inspired enough to win matches like this.

You are doing really great playing against tall guys: you beat Khachanov last year in Moscow, you took one set in your match against Rublev at the US Open. You’re returning their serve very well. What’s the secret?

Yes, for sure one of my weapons is my return and it’s always good. Especially I like to return against the big guys, and when you play against the big guys, you are ready to give even a little bit more on return than you can. There is no big secret, as I said I’m trying to play smart on return against them as I cannot probably hit hard as they do. But I can run very well, place the ball where I want.

Can you compare the tournament in St. Petersburg and the one in Moscow - you won title in St. Petersburg and now one more title here back to back?

Well, they are a little bit different. I would say Moscow had more people watching than in St. Petersburg. But the one thing that I cannot forget is that St. Petersburg is one of the most beautiful cities I’ve been too. So both of them have their good sides. The tournament in St. Petersburg is one of the best on the Tour. I’ve been two times in Moscow and never had any doubts as to whether I should come or not. I knew that I would come back here because I like it all, I like the courts, the hotel is very close, that’s what all the players like. But if we talk about the status of these two tournaments, well, you always you get something from winning an ATP title. Petersburg is the city where I won my maiden title. So probably it’s the most special tournament for me in this sense. But the second one gave me a lot – I am almost a Top30 player now and I will be seeded for the first time at a Grand Slam at the Australian Open-2018. And speaking about trophies: both of the trophies are big and heavy in the direct sense of the world. Weight-wise I think there is not much difference between Moscow’s trophy one and the one I won in St. Petersburg.

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»