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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

Andrey Rublev: «After I won this match, it was a load off!»

October 15, 11:00 PM

Please, share your impressions from the match, the atmosphere and the court.

In fact, the match was difficult, because you play at home, plus there was that thought in my head haunting me - that I have never won in the first round in six years in Moscow, it made it even harder. But I knew before the match that I could possibly lose, so somehow, probably, it gave me a little confidence. The match was difficult, as I said on the court, Sasha is a player who does not give you much rhythm. He serves incredibly well. He makes the second serve better than the first one. Today in the match, he served two second ones as a normal first serve, and the rest were as strong as the first ones. And he did not make as many double faults as he could have. It is very hard to play like this when the opponent feels the serve so well. It is necessary to stay focused, you will have maybe one small moment to hold on to it. I'm glad that everything turned out that way. As to the court, I can say that for two years in a row, when there was a purple court, in 2017-2018, it was worse. It was fast, and bounced off a little askew and slipped. And this surface is a bit slower than before. Now I like it.

You said that you were mentally ready to lose, is it because of that 6-year long losing streak or because of Sasha Bublik?

It is because I didn’t win a single match in Moscow for six years, and because Sasha is playing his best tennis now, he is confident, and he recently played in a final. Plus he usually plays in Moscow so well. Even when he was not so high in the ranking he’s been showing good results in Moscow. I realized I could lose. If I were to lose, well, let it be, I said to myself.

You hugged each other warmly after the match; did you manage to discuss something?

Not really. There was a moment when he went for a knock-out serve, I ran immediately to the left service court. Everyone thought the ball was in, and I thought it was in. But it was out. After the match, I told him that I thought so, and that I would still take a challenge to check just in case. But after the match they told me that it was long.

And how do you feel about (Bublik’s) under-handed serve?

I do not care. Actually it worked more against him. If he did this at an important moment, I would even like it. Because you get that slow ball, and you have the advantage, you can attack. I would choose an under-handed serve rather than a (normal) first serve or an ace. This type of under-handed serve would work well with players who are very, very far away behind the back line. Especially when it

is a key moment, when no one expects it. Or a nervous moment. That might work. And with players who are not that far from the baseline, this is more of a gift.

Such serves do not stress you out? Comparing with last year’s match against Kyrgios.

As matter of fact, he didn’t go for an under-handed serve last year.

But he put mental pressure on you. Yet, this year we see a «new Rublev» who can control himself?

It is all about emotions… My emotions which I couldn’t control back then. When we sat down and discussed everything about the match with a cool head, I was asking myself - what is the big idea of reacting to anything he does? If he keeps doing it, sooner or later he will be the one offering me points. It’s better for me when he behaves like that rather than plays professionally. When such players as Nick do so, I am even happy.

Who do you prefer to play with in the second round? Egor (Gerasimov) or Fabbiano? And looking ahead, how did you take the news about Daniil(Medvedev)pulling out from the Moscow tournament?

Regarding Egor and Fabbiano, I don’t know what to answer. I have played against Egor a while ago. The last time we played was back way when – we were still playing futures. He won all the matches. And I played recently one match against Fabbiano. It was a tough one, but I beat him. It is a hard question also because Egor has a good level of tennis, he demonstrated that he can be high in the rankings, but he always missing a little something. He is not in the Top100 and doesn’t play in the main draws, what Fabbiano actually does, he is ranked high enough despite his physique. He won some good matches at Grand Slams this year, outplayed Top10 players. It is also hard. Anyway, I will get to play the one who wins. And regarding Daniil [Medvedev]withdrawal, well, I was not surprised.

And having won this long-awaited match in Moscow, didn’t a flash of a thought cross your mind - that you can go father in this tournament, that it was already a good start for you?

No, there was no such thought. There was only one thought: «At long last!». What a load off, I exhaled.

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»