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: «Tennis is a mysterious kind of sport!»

October 18, 08:30 PM

It was a difficult match, a long one. What didn’t work? How did your opponent manage to defeat you?

As you said - a really tough match. Maybe at the beginning I played a little better, forced him to make a little more mistakes. I know how he usually plays. He plays like a wall - right, left ... Maybe under these conditions - slow balls and a slow court everything was better for him. It’s hard to say exactly why (I lost)... At some key points I was losing, did not finish the game. Seppi was leading with a break, right? I made a mistake ... I don’t know, there is no explanation for some things. Tennis is a mysterious kind of sport!

Andrey Rublev is still in the tournament, could you evaluate his chances of winning?

I would really like him to win, I will cheer for him!

Is there particular regret for not being able to defend the title?

Every tournament I come to, I want to win it. But wanting is one thing, as they say. We must tune up for each match, because each match unfolds differently. Opponents play differently. You feel different! Sometimes there is no explanation why you lose or win. Of course, in general, I am upset that I lost today, that I could not go any farther. But, again, now I must try to forget today’s loss. After 3 days I have the next tournament. I will wait for the VTB Kremlin Cup next year.

If you compare today’s Karen Khachanov to the one from last year - what is the difference?

Today I served worse. I had a 75-80% serve percentage every match last year. Serving really helps you out. You have a lot of free points. When serve does not work and the opponent returns well, then you get a see-saw match. And there already, at least with my tennis and today's opponent signature game, these are the chances of 50 to 50. Today I didn’t really feel my strong shots. I don’t know, I didn’t feel much confidence that if you have a short ball, you come up and hit a winner. Last year I was more confident in this regard.

What do you expect from the next season? Is there pressure because you need to defend your title in Paris?

Can’t say that, at every tournament you can be under pressure and think about what needs to be defended. Ask Daniil [Medvedev] how he feels, given how many points he will need to defend next year (laughter). This is how any tennis player who is moving in the ranking lives: the higher you are ranked, the more you need to defend. Each tournament goes differently. The main thing is to be ready one hundred percent. And further along the way, trying to find a way out of different situations. And try to just win. I am in the same mood for the next two weeks. Being sad is even worse. We must try to reboot. This is what the champions of our sport do!

What are your expectations of the upcoming Davis Cup final?

There are many factors on which everything will depend. We all plan to play. But it will depend on how we play the last tournaments. Daniil [Medvedev] will definitely play London. It depends on how he plays there, how he will feel. Tired, not tired ... It is too early to talk about how everything will go. If we are all as attuned and ready, then I hope that we can perform well!

You are to play two more tournaments and the Davis Cup Finala. How do you feel, not even physically, but morally?

If you compare every year - everything is different. I remember in 2017 I played many tournaments. There were misunderstandings with the coach, I felt overwhelmed and tired. I remember pulling out Moscow’s tournament, m,y body was hurting. Yes, I wanted to finish the season and just go on vacation. I felt fresh in 2018. In this regard, I played the second part of the season even better. This year I had a roller coaster of a season. I will try to give it my best shot at the last two tournaments in the same way as here. I wanted to win, I tried to play as great as I could. I would say that I feel not like the year before last, but also not like in the 2018 - something in between. I want to play again. I'm still too young to not want to play (laughter).

These days we did not see Nikolai Davydenko in your box. Do you continue to work with him?

We agreed for some weeks. He has been working with me for six weeks now. Now he has his own things to do. If I went further (at this tournament), then Davydenko couod have come during the weekend.

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»