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

Elina Svitolina: «Here every match is very important for me!»

October 14, 08:00 PM

Elina, with what attitude have you come to this tournament? What expectations do you have?

I am feeling good and I am ready to fight! I hope to play a couple of matches here. Today I received good news, I qualified for the WTA Finals in Shenzhen.

Why only «couple of matches»? To claim the title of VTB Kremlin Cup is not on your “to-do-list”?

I am trying not to look too far ahead. Here every match for me is important as it is important to claim the title. I set the top goals for myself at every tournament.

The season is coming to an end, how was this year for you? How successful was the season?

There were good tournaments and matches, but there were also many matches and tournaments, which I wish I could play better. For example, Roland Garros, but the injury didn’t let me prepare myself as well as I wanted. I was sad that the clay season went bad. The ranking would have been better, and I would have been happier if everything were different during clay season.

Elina, you played at the “Olympiyskyi” stadium. Now the tournament has moved to a new place. What is your impression from the new stadium?

I just arrived last night. But it looks very good. I think this is a good location, there is a lot of space. And this is very important for the players, as many people are involved, in addition, men play here.

We have long known you as a high-level player. What does a top-level player need to do during preparation or in general, being at the top-level, to take another step forward?

Consistency is paramount game and physical fitness, too. If there is no consistency, you cannot move forward, you cannot play big tournaments, you being to doubt, you lose confidence. You build up your confidence when you play successfully, then you can play the Slams with confidence. Grand Slams always mean extra pressure. You must always be prepared and seize every opportunity.

Why did you choose this week's tournament in Moscow, and not the one in Luxembourg? And how do you like Moscow as compared to other cities?

This tournament is big, it was important for me to enter this tournament because I wanted to get to the WTA Finals. For me, any big tournament is always very important. To be honest, I didn’t spend much time in Moscow - in the city itself. It's hard for me to judge. Everything looks very good. When I was here the last time, everything was different in Moscow. Now the city is blooming.

Last year, you won the WTA Finals. Tell us how the year end tournament differs from Grand Slam tournaments?

In general, there are no differences, because the best players play, and when you play with them, you have to beat them and there can be no so-so rounds. Sometimes it so happens that you can lose in early rounds, maybe you were not psychologically ready somewhere, and because of this, you lose before the quarter finals. Consistency is all about psychology. It comes with experience. Everyone overcomes this in their own way. It’s important to find some way to tune up yourself up for all two weeks.

What can you say about your physical form? And psychologically, do you think you're ready? And don’t you really have any desire to win the tournament?

I didn’t say the right thing at the beginning (laughter). Don’t get me wrong, I do want to win the tournament, and I said what I said because I need to think about every match. Each match is a special match for me. You have to try to give your best in every match, as if it were your last. Regarding my physical form - I feel better, I had a week to take a break after Beijing, I feel much better. There have been a lot of tournaments played this year. Psychologically, I feel a little better after I qualified for the WTA Finals. There was a lot of pressure involved as I was trying to get into the Top8. For me, this was the goal of this year, which put a lot of pressure on me psychologically. But now I have already rested, I feel good and will try to be ready for this tournament.

How are you fighting with thoughts about holidays?

I am not thinking about holidays to be honest. I know that men’s tournaments finish later. So when I finish this season I wouldn’t be the end for me as Gael Monfils will still be playing and I will follow him. I am a very active person. I can’t just lay on a lounge and do nothing. It is important to be always in a good shape for the top players. I will have a short break from tennis but I will keep my physical shape. I have to recover from my injury. So there is something to work on.

We know you wanted to do some business in real estate. Would you like to get any education in this field?

I have made several investments. For me it is very important to do something off-court too. Now I am having nutrition classes, I like them and this is something I can develop in the future.

You are rather active social net user, you have an account with Gael Monfils. Whose idea was it? And what do other players on the tour tell you about it?

It was Gael’s idea. I don’t know how it happened. We are trying to share some content as much as possible. But sometimes we play at different tournaments, so it is not really easy. We are trying to make it fun for our fans. Sometimes it is interesting to learn the difference between WTA and ATP Tours. Even Novak Djokovic is joking about us.

We are following your social networks carefully, so did you manage to learn a couple of words in French?

I have been studying French for quite some time, so it is not absolutely new to me.

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»