“Federer looks like Messi”: Rublev about childhood idols, Medvedev’s unique style and famous namesake

“There are few tennis players who can be compared with Medvedev”

- Do you regret that you will not be able to take revenge from Daniil Medvedev for defeats in tournaments in St. Petersburg and Cincinnati?

- It is difficult to talk about whether our paths would intersect or not. Danya starred, his choice is clear. He had already scored points, so the Kremlin Cup would have taken more power from him than would have been beneficial. Now he will have to perform at the ATP Final Tournament, which must be approached ready and fresh. Therefore, his decision is explainable.

- If you compare Medvedev with Roger Federer, whom you defeated in Cincinnati, how much stronger is the Russian Swiss?

- They are too different. There are few tennis players who could be compared with Danes. I would name Gilles Simon and Adrian Mannarino. Their playing style is similar, but Medvedev has it in an improved version. He knows how to tightly enter both the first and second feed. At the same time, it holds the ball well, flat enough and sends it deep above the net. It is very difficult to respond to such an attack with an attack; there is always a risk of making a mistake. We have to adapt, wait for moments, be careful. In addition, he himself can score, if required. Federer’s ball just flies in a completely different way, he actively cuts punches, often breaks the rhythm and runs to the net.

- Stefanos Tsitsipas calls tennis Medvedev boring. Is that the best praise?

- Hard to say. Perhaps this was done on emotions. I don’t know, they have their own relations, so it’s hard for me to judge. Or maybe he really thinks so.

- Marat Safin, who commented on the US Open final with the participation of Daniel and Rafael Nadal, clearly did not think so. By the way, did his work impress you?

- In my opinion, it was very cool. Safin is talented, and talented in everything. Whatever he does, it turns out incredibly original and stylish.

- Should the double winner of the Grand Slam tournaments continue?

- It seems to me that Marat himself does not want this, although we did not communicate with him on this subject. He did not plan that time, as I understand it. He was asked, he had the opportunity, so he gladly responded.

- Announcing the refusal to participate in the Kremlin Cup, Medvedev said that he would come to your match with Alexander Bublik. Did he keep his promise?

- Honestly, I don’t know. I myself did not see him, and then we did not communicate. But if he said so, he probably kept his word.

- The match of Karen Khachanov was attended by Alexander Kerzhakov. And which of the players would you invite?

- In fact, it would be great if Sasha came to support me, because I also know him well.

“The end of the season turned out to be productive”

- What place in the world ranking would you like to be in order to record a year in an asset?

- Everything proceeds as it should. If I am in 31st place, then it is deserved. It can always be worse or better, but I will certainly strive to progress as long as possible. I can say that the second half of the season was productive. Let's see how it all ends.

- There is a feeling that, starting from Hamburg, you added. Is it so?

- I want to believe that this is so. Thank goodness the results are not bad.

- Set yourself a specific task for the remainder of the season?

- No, there were no goals and no. I most likely face tasks related to training and working on myself. Because in the current season, everything has turned out practically out of nothing. No one expected me to reach the final of the tournament in Hamburg. I was not supposed to speak in either Montreal or Cincinnati, because I forgot to apply for them, but I got in at the last moment, because someone else had not arrived. Therefore, it was not without luck.

- After your victory over Federer, one of the Russian newspapers came out with the headline “Andrei Rublev made the icon” ...

- I have not heard about this.

- Do you like such a pun?

- I don’t even know what to say.

- Did not have to study the biography of the namesake of the icon painter?

- I am sure that my parents know her well, but, unfortunately, he is not so familiar with it. Of course, I know who it is and who it was, could name his main works, but no more.

- Often you are asked about him?

“Now I’m gone, but at school, of course, when they passed, they remembered me.”

- And who is the real tennis icon for you?

- Now no one, because I want to be myself, to develop my own potential. Previously, it was Marat Safin and Rafael Nadal. Fanatel from them, copied their style, bought up all the collections.

- And if you compare the current icons - Federer, Nadal and Djokovic with the legendary players, then who is who, in your opinion?

- It’s hard to say, I’m not so familiar with the playing style of the players. Roger - probably looks like Lionel Messi. It is very easy for both of them, that one scores in the place, that the other puts the balls beautifully on the court. The rest is harder.

- The organizers of the Kremlin Cup brought several foreign tennis players on an excursion to the Tretyakov Gallery. You, as a native of Moscow, what would you show your colleagues in the first place?

- It all depends on what a particular person likes. If he is interested in art, history, then the Tretyakov Gallery is a great option. I myself would have looked there with pleasure. And if the painting is not interested, then you should choose something else. Kremlin, Red Square - I will not name anything new.