"The Russian spirit was 100 percent present": how they reacted to the victory of Medvedev and Rublev in the ATP Сup

"Medvedev and Rublev have reached a level that will soon cross all borders"

The Russian national team on the eve of the Australian Open won the ATP Cup.

Daniil Medvedev and Andrei Rublev did not give up a game, respectively, to Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini and decided the fate of the singles confrontation.

The first to take over the opponent was Rublev, who gave the opponent only three games - 6: 1, 6: 2.

Even unsuccessful statistics of face-to-face meetings did not prevent Andrey from gaining the upper hand.

“I played very well all week from the first match and just went out on the court thinking that I had to fight for every goal.

Before that, he met with Fabio six times and lost several times in very difficult matches, very difficult.

I knew that the score didn't matter, he always had a chance.

Fabio always knows how to win back, so he tried to keep playing, regardless of the score.

In the end, I am very pleased with my game and the way things have turned out today, ”the ATP official website quoted Rublev as saying.

Medvedev spent a little more strength to defeat Berrettini, but still did not leave him a chance - 6: 4, 6: 2.

After the end of the match, he thanked the team and was glad that he and Rublev had never lost in the tournament.

In addition, he won his 14th consecutive victory and the 10th in a confrontation with tennis players from the top 10 ATP.

“This is a great achievement.

Yes, playing 10 matches against opponents from the top 10 and not losing - this gives a lot of confidence.

Even if you lose, you know that you are capable of performing at this level.

It helps to survive next time, "Medvedev said.

Daniel was also remembered for the unusual celebration after the victory over Fognini.

The Russian bowed to the stands.

“This is what Mario Gomez did sometimes when he played for Bayern.

He was my favorite footballer then.

Sometimes he also did not celebrate his goals ... I really liked it, and I tried to repeat after him.

I don’t think I did it, but it came out funny, ”explained the fourth racket in the world.

In turn, the coach of the Russian national team Igor Kunitsyn noted that the victory at the ATP Cup will help the domestic tennis players in a good mood to approach the main start of winter - the Australian Open.

“These are both good prize money and rating points.

Plus, everyone also solves their own problems: Medvedev is fighting for leadership in the ranking, Rublev needs to gain a foothold in the top eight and come up to the top five, "the TASS specialist quotes.

And the captain of the Russian national team at the ATP Cup, Yevgeny Donskoy, admitted that for him such a role was a real honor, especially considering the final victory.

“I am more happy for the guys, because they are reaching a level that will soon cross all boundaries, show incredible tennis.

As happy as possible.

I just wish them to play in the main draw of the Australian Open as well as they played today, ”the ATP press service quotes Donskoy.

Shamil Tarpishchev, President of the Russian Tennis Federation, also commented on the triumph of the national team.

He noted the fact that the team almost for the first time approached the tournament as a favorite.

The functionary also admitted: on the eve of the final, he no longer had doubts about winning.

“And so it happened: we dominated and did not give the Italians a chance, they had no options.

For the entire match, the opponents earned only two break points, "R-Sport quotes Tarpishchev.

As for the upcoming Australian Open, the head of the FTR believes that the first two rounds of the tournament will be the most dangerous for the Russians.

“This is a competition where you need to stay in shape for two weeks.

Besides, Medvedev has an objectively unsuccessful draw in the opening match.

If they skip the first two laps easily enough, then, of course, we have the right to wait for the final victory, ”Tarpischev added.

“Medvedev has everything to take the title.

Rublev will also drink the blood of many "

The experts were also pleased with the performance of the Russians at the ATP Cup.

So, the ex-fifth racket of the world and sports commentator Anna Chakvetadze admitted that she expected them to reach the final, but could not imagine that they would deal with their rivals so easily.

“The guys won without any problems, although a fight was expected, as the Italians are very unpredictable.

Berrettini looked very good at the tournament, Fognini is better or worse, but he is still an unpredictable guy, "Chakvetadze quoted Sport-Express as saying.

She also suggested which of the Russians will be stronger if Rublev and Medvedev meet at the Australian Open.

Their confrontation can take place already in the fourth round, since both hit the same half of the grid.

“Now they just note that Rublev won too easily, but certain difficulties may arise, because the tournament is very responsible.

If Medvedev clashes with Andrei, then Daniel has more chances.

He is higher in the rating, in the game.

In personal meetings, the advantage is also on the side of Medvedev.

But in the course of the tournament, everything can change: the form can be either lost or acquired.

Predicting such things is a thankless task, ”added Chakvetadze.

In turn, another well-known commentator Alexander Metreveli, on the contrary, urged not to attach too much importance to Russia's victory over Italy.

According to him, the opponent brought the "second-third" line-up to the tournament. 

“Of course, there was a breakdown.

Team rosters played an important role in this competition.

We had the main one, the Italians did not.

The organization of the tournament, the training of athletes were blurred due to quarantine.

Surely, everyone appreciated the preparation for the Australian Open.

Someone entered the ATP Cup, someone played in small tournaments.

Of course, it's great to win the cup, it doesn't detract from the merits of the Russian team.

But I would like the teams of the opponents to be stronger, and then it would be possible to really assess the strength, ”Metreveli said in an interview with Sport24.

In turn, Roland Garros semi-finalist and famous coach Andrei Chesnokov explained the reasons for the Russians' victories over the Italians in the final.

In his opinion, Rublev turned out to be much faster than Fognini, and Berrettini simply approached the tournament not in the best physical shape.

“Have you seen his belly?

With this, he can beat players in the hundredths, fifties, even maybe tenths.

But when you play against Medvedev, you need to be not only in good shape and have bomb strikes, but also to move left and right.

With Medvedev, you need to move especially easily.

The guys are now in very good shape and can go far enough on the Australian Open grid.

But you need to ask yourself the question: “Where do I want to win more?

Win the ATP Cup or as far as possible in the Australian Open bracket? "

- noted Chesnokov.

In turn, another well-known specialist Boris Sobkin found it difficult to predict the performance of Rublev and Medvedev at the Australian Open.

He stressed that although they looked decent at the ATP Cup, the level of resistance at the Grand Slam Tournament will be very different.

“This is the top.

Nothing is worth near.

The nervous tension will be completely different.

We can only root for the guys.

But, in any case, they are great.

The level of tennis is very decent and allows us to look to the future with optimism.

Especially considering the fact that Dania plays well in series.

He catches the confidence from victories, which allows him to act well despite fatigue, "- quotes Sobkin" Championship ".

In turn, FTR board member Vladimir Kamelzon called the victory of the Russian national team in Australia deserved, since the domestic team was the only one of all who managed to bring two tennis players from the top 10 of the ATP rating to the tournament at once.

“Rublev is great, because he played first and won all the time.

The Russian spirit was 100% present.

I liked it very much too.

A good and needed victory.

As for the Australian Open, the tournament will be difficult.

Everyone missed the game, everyone is looking for a form.

I don't like how Danya comes into the game, but then he just picks up and everything becomes fine.

Dani has very interesting tennis.

Sometimes he has such pranks that I think: "How do you find this?"

This is a game from God.

Medvedev has everything to take the title, we will root for him.

In the absence of Roger Federer, everyone will try to win.

Rublev will also drink blood from many, he shows a great game, although there are also breakdowns, ”Kamelzon said.

Finally, the famous coach Viktor Yanchuk not only called the victory of the Russian national team deserved, but also was glad that domestic tennis players are progressing.

“It was a complete and final victory.

This is now the expected result.

This is not to say that a sensation has occurred - this is a well-deserved success and evidence that our guys have made progress.

If we talk about Medvedev, he was already practically at the top, but Rublev added noticeably.

And now he is also one of the candidates for victories in the largest competitions, not excluding the Grand Slam Tournaments, "the specialist summed up.