"A fairy tale", says Russian Andrey Rublev after his first Masters 1000 victory in Monte-Carlo

Europe 1 with AFP 21:22 p.m., April 16, 2023

It is a "fairy tale" that Andrey Rublev lives after winning the Monte-Carlo tournament by reversing a badly started match against Holger Rune, Sunday in the final in Monte-Carlo. At the age of 25, the Russian won his first Masters 1000 title.

Interviewer: How does it feel to win your first Masters 1000?

Andrey Rublev: "It's a great feeling. After trying so much, so many times, losing in the final, in the semis and even before... finally I won my first Masters 1000. I did it in Monaco, in a truly historic tournament. It's a pleasure to be a part of this story. And then to be leading 4-1 in the last set, saving a break ball for 5-1 and finally winning the match, it's really a fairy tale."

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Interviewer: Did you think you would never be able to win such a tournament?

Andrey Rublev: "I never thought that. I always told myself that if I did the right thing off the court, if I trained properly, I would have a chance to win great titles. On the other hand, I didn't know when it would happen. Especially since I had played two finals, semis, and I had not yet succeeded. And finally, it happened, here. Just last week, I didn't imagine winning the title. And then, game after game, I started winning... and I end with the title!"

Interviewer: Now the goal is a Grand Slam title?

Andrey Rublev: "I don't know... In fact, the goal is always the same: I do very good things in training, I like the way I work with my new team in terms of physical, recovery, tennis and mental. I think that is the right way to go. I feel like I can improve a lot. I do very good things in training and I don't know when it will affect in the match. Finally, today, I won the title. So the goal remains the same: to work hard and in the current direction to try to improve as much as possible."