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

Ekaterina Alexandrova: «My father is my coach and it is fine with me!»

October 15, 08:15 PM

Ekaterina, could you, please, comment on today’s match against the winner of qualifications Jana Cepelova?

The match was tough; a first round match is never easy. The surface differs from the one on practice courts. I think she wasn’t playing really well in the first set but in the second she raised her.

Your next opponent will be Anna Kalinskaya, your head-to-head is 2-0 in your favor. What do you think of this match?

Did she reach top-100?

Yes. After yesterday’s win she became №94.

I think the match won’t be easy. I will try to do my best, she will do either. Hope it will be an interesting battle.

Last time you played against her in St. Petersburg. Will you remember the details of that match or prepare somehow differently?

The match in St. Petersburg was long ago. So it is not the best idea to remember that match. Everyone is improving and changing day by day so I should just tune myself up for the match whoever my opponent is.

When we spoke with you in St. Petersburg at the beginning of the year. You have said Martin Fosaty and Petr Pekh are on your team. Any changes from that time?

Petr Pekh is still my physio. From this summer my father is my coach and I am fine with him. So no more changes.

Are you planning to search for someone to join your team or you are going to work with your father?

I don’t know yet. We will see after the end of the season. For now I am fine working with my father, hope he it’s fine by him, too (laughter).

Your father is your coach and you have said he is a real tennis fan. How did your father react to your results when you cracked the Top-50 and then became Russia’s number one?

He is very happy for me and that I have had a rather good season. But I can’t say he is getting lenient on me because of that. On the contrary, he understands that I am in the Top50 now and if I want to stay there for good, I have to work better. And I agree with him. He is happy and at the same time he understands we have to work more.

Do you have any bigger goals?

As far as I am concerned, I prefer some realistic ones. When you reach it you set a new one. For sure I’d like to become world number one and win a Grand Slam but these goals seem so far, it is easier for me when there is something I can reach and that is more real.

What does it mean to you to get the status of Russia’s number one?

It sounds nice (smiling). In general it doesn’t have an influence. It is an unofficial ranking. But it is pleasant anyway.

Do you have rivalry amongst Russians fighting for the leadership, for example, this week Kasatkina is one line higher in ranking than you?

No. In tennis it is always like that: each week everything is changing, one week you are in one position, the next one everything changes. You get used to it soon and don’t really make account of this: «Oh, no, I drop one line and tomorrow I will be one spot higher. And it is like that throughout the whole year. You get used to it.

Does this status of Russia’s number one means we will see you in the Fed Cup team?

If I’d be invited I would play. But there were no invitations. So we will see.

The Olympic Games will be held next year, so you have to play for the National team?

I don’t know. There are some complicated rules so it is difficult to enter the Olympics. I don’t pay a lot of attention to it because I have to play Fed Cup. It is not easy to get there so I don’t think about it. I am trying to keep focus on my goals. And if it happens it would be great.

Is it something special for you to play in Russia as you don’t come here often?

Yes. It is more exciting to play here. Don’t know why.

At the beginning of the season you said that your goal was to reach top-50. So you moved beyond the plan. What are the next goals?

(Laughter). For sure I’d like to reach top-30 to be seed at Australian Open, and then we will see. The further you go, the more you want.

In St. Petersburg we asked you about your social networks. And now it finally happened - you have an Instagram account. How do you cope with it and does it help you somehow?

Yes, it happened (laughter). I was obligated. It is quite complicated for me. My sister made me do it: «You have to do it!» and she did it. I forgot to post pictures in Instagram and especially during the tournaments when you live in the regime court-practice-court-practice, my thoughts are somewhere far from Instagram. I have lots of thoughts in my head but they are not about social nets. But I will try maybe I will do better.

Speaking about your family how do your sister and brother react to the fact you are a famous tennis player, you are a rather high-ranked player and you are number one among Russian girls? Maybe even there are any jokes on that topic?

I don’t think they have special attitude to that. My sister can make a caustic comment something like: «Oh yeah, you are world number 35 now» Ekaterina speaking in her sister’s manner). So their attitude is the same as before.

It is clear sportsmen try to keep their focus on tournaments but maybe you are planning to meet friends and do some sightseeing?

Depends on time. There are some people I’d like to meet and I’d like to go for a walk as well. But everything depends on time. It is difficult to look ahead.

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»