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

Karen Khachanov: «I am happy my wife is again with me at the stadium and can cheer for me»

October 16, 11:15 PM

Karen, what thoughts crossed your mind when in the 3rd set tie-break the score was 5/6, you threw a racket, and then after a few seconds everything turned upside down?

A complete chaos.The whole match I was containing myself, I led 5/2 and suddenly it became already 5/6. At that moment, I had nothing in my head. I played the next point in the same manner with the way I had saved the previous match-points.

Karen, you dedicated this victory to your wife Veronica and your son David. Have you already managed to talk with Veronika after the match?

Veronica was not able to support me from stands for a long time, more than 4 months after the "Roland Garros" . I'm glad that she is with me again at the stadium and can support me. We had a little talk after the match and she immediately went to David. Now, as soon as I am free, I will also join them.

A year ago, you had a great match vs. Nadal at the “US Open”, this year you had a perfect one vs. del Potro at the “Roland Garros”. Can you compare these matches with today in terms of emotional intensity?

No, I played many matches with the same energy. But for a long time I haven’t pulled-off matches saving match-points. My game today was obviously worse than in the matches against Nadal and Del Potro.

Can you evaluate the game of your opponent, Philipp Kohlschreiber. He seemed to have played a great match.

My respect to Philipp. In fact, I lost our 3 last matches in a row, so for me it is a very significant victory. Before that, all our matches were tough, sometimes we played 5 tie-breaks . I am so glad that I could defeat him today. As to my game ... For me, as for everyone, the first rounds of the tournament are always tough. New balls, new courts. So to some extent, the fact that I spent 2.5 hours on the court is positive.

Will it be right to call him an uncomfortable opponent?

I don’t really like to play him, he always beats me in key moments. You are comparing your style to the style of your opponent, there are rivals that are convenient to play with. For example, Mannarino. It’s more comfortable for me to play with him. But Kukushkin, for example, cannot play with him.

What bothered you most about the Kohlschreiber game? The return, the serve or that he read all your serves?

I think that, first of all, his serve is not very convenient to return. He serves everywhere. His outswinging serve is very short, I try to return it, but with my grip it is not very easy. And at the same time, it can serve quite a flat serve. You need to combine and guess. And today he served very well in the add court, and also outswinging. I was preparing more fro down the line serve, but he served outswinging serve. And, probably, in general, the style of his game is inconvenient, he often changes the pace and rhythm.

How do you like all the support at «Krylatskoye»? And did you manage to congratulate Philipp Kohlschreiber on his birthday?

This is a bit strange question, I don’t think that my congratulations will be very pleasant for him now. And the support at «Krylatskoye» stadium is incredible. This is the second round, and there are a lot of people, full stadium. And the audience supported me to the end. It is so nice to play at home every year.

If we compare the two comebacks, which one is more spectacular - from 15:40 on return against Philip Kohlschreiber, or Federer and Djokovic at Wimbledon?

Of course, Djokovic. Firstly, this is the Grand Slam finals, and secondly it was on grass, on Federer's serve, and also a fifth set. It makes no sense in this case to compare those two matches, but today was also a good comeback.

How convenient Andreas Seppi is for you as an opponent?

I played with Seppi three years ago in Vienna. He is more convenient because he plays with lower bounce. He makes the same shots to the right and to the left, he serves great. But he is like Kohlschreiber - a very experienced tennis player, a grown-up player. He played a lot of matches. He won in Moscow. It will be a serious match. I will be recovering and preparing for tomorrow.

Just a month ago, we in St. Petersburg congratulated you on a wonderful event - the birth of your son. How did this month of paternity go for you? How does this new experience feel? Obviously, it was not entirely possible for you to spend a lot of time with the family.

Wonderful experience. The best moment of life when you see a small miracle born. As you noticed, I did not have much time to spend at home. Before the tournament in St. Petersburg, I spent the day with my family. Then after the match one day. Five days before China, and now four days. I hope this week will be longer. And then after Paris I will spend time with my family too.

In St. Petersburg, we managed to find the synergy between two amazing sports - football and tennis. Today in your box the Russian footballer Alexander Kerzhakov went crazy as he never did, perhaps, in his active career. Did you invite him personally? Are you talking?

Before the tournament in St. Petersburg, I met with Alexander Kerzhakov and Andrei Arshavin during our visit to the Gazprom Arena sdadium, and then I met Artem Dzyuba, already on the court. Just after we got acquainted with Alexander, we began to keep communicating. He watched all my matches in China. Congratulated me, wrote, got up early in the morning. He said that he hadn’t woken up so early for a long time. But now he has time to sleep off, because he doesn’t play anymore [laughter]. He himself said that he really wanted to come to Moscow to support me. So I invited him to this match.

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»