Andrei Rublev: “Tennis can be compared to boxing: one against one, psychology is very important”

Russian Andrei Rublev shared his expectations from the game at the ATP St. Petersburg Open tournament.

– In the first match of the tournament you have to play with the winner of the pair Laszlo Dzhere – Ilya Ivashko. What can you say about these tennis players?

– It's hard to say anything about Jerry, because the last time I played with him was a long time ago. I know that he can play very well, show good matches, I can't add anything more at the moment. And about Ilyukha – I see how great he plays, how he tries. Due to the fact that we are close friends and are often together, I can see his progress, that he plays much better than he has a rating, although now he has the best in his career. I think he will stand even higher.

– In the future, Sebastian Corda and Adrian Mannarino may become your rivals in the tournament …

– I definitely don't think so far, considering my last week (I immediately flew out) and considering who I have to play with this time. I do not exclude that history will repeat itself. I do not want to guess, I want to prepare as much as possible for the match and do everything that depends on me.

– How different are the coatings in Moscow and St. Petersburg?

– The surfaces are completely different, but in terms of speed, both are not as fast as in some other tournaments. When you move from one tournament to another, the surfaces are always different, the bounces are different, as are the balls and conditions – this is something normal. I am nailed down.

– Congratulations on your past birthday. Did you manage to celebrate this holiday?

– I did not celebrate my birthday at all. It was Wednesday, Thursday I had to play. It turned out that I just practiced, then went with my father to pick up the car for the Olympics, because there was no way to do it earlier. While we were in traffic jams in one direction, while in the other, it was already evening. We ate quickly and I went to my room.

– What kind of car were you given?

– BMW was given for the Olympics.

– Now the problem is when to ride it?

– It's not for me to ride it …

– We know that you are writing music. Does it somehow help you in tennis?

– No, probably not. These are just two things that I like the most, and that's it. True, I am so delusional about it all that in my head – especially when I am asleep or when I really want to sleep – it all intertwines somehow, but this cannot be explained to a healthy head. If tennis can be compared with another sport, then it is impossible with music. But when the wagon goes completely or is very tired, this also happens.

– What kind of sport can you compare tennis with?

– Even with the same boxing: one against one, psychology is very important, the body works in a similar way, in boxing, endurance is needed even more …

– I remember the photo session where you appeared in the image with a mustache. What kind of project was it and is there any desire to repeat something similar?

– It was a promotional video for Gucci, which was made by Alexander Gudkov. There was an actor Alexander Pal, musicians, and it so happened that I was also called. There was an idea to do everything in the style of the old times.

– Didn't you want to grow a mustache after that?

“No,” said Rublev.

The ATP St. Petersburg Open tournament runs from 25 to 31 October. Rublev is the first seed.

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