DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 28, 2021

Alexander Bublik

Team Kazakhstan

Press Conference

A. BUBLIK/V. Pospisil

6-2, 7-6

Kazakhstan - 2

Canada - 0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Would it be fair to say you really enjoyed that today?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: Yeah, I mean, sending a country to the quarterfinals for the first time in my career, been there before, but I never been on the team.

Having the first quarterfinal, the way we played, we won two singles, which is great. We don't have any nerves when the doubles guys is on.

Yeah, very happy with the way we played.

Q. Some players would hate having the crowd against them. In that situation you seemed to actively encourage it. Does playing the villain bring out the best in you?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: I think it's all part of the big show. The same guy who boos you, 20 minutes later they ask for autographs. I have nothing against them. I think tomorrow they will be for me or against me. It's a show. They coming in. They're enjoying the time.

For sure they enjoy to boo. I would do as well, why not? That is just part of the game. I find it funny. I mean, trust me, these people will see me on the street, say, Good play. I would be happy to see them as well. That's part of our game. So no hard feelings, I guess.

Q. Daniil Medvedev, is he someone that you look up to with his on-court demeanor?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: Definitely not. I remember making so many jokes with him about it. It was a funny situation. It's turned to when the whole stadium was against me, I want to say that, because I find it very funny. We were joking about it for probably two years. I mean, that was a funny situation with him. I think it's the same with me. That's why I said that.

Q. It seemed to be the underarm serve which sparked some of the crowd reaction. What made you do it at that moment?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: I just wanted to do it at the moment and I did it. Simple.

Q. You said at the start of the press conference you're through to the quarterfinals. What is it about this competition that seems to bring out the best in your country?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: As I said many times, you play not only for yourself, you play for the country, play for the people. I think that's why many guys, even when you can see the guys ranked 250 in the world, playing tiebreaks in third set against one of the best players in the world. That's what Davis Cup is all about, bring the best out of you. On one side is more pressure, on the other side is less pressure. That's the mix that brings the best out of people.

Q. How did you feel about your own performance today compared to yesterday?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: I think I did a solid game. Yesterday I was a bit shaky in the beginning. Today I was good for the start. I kept my level, was waiting for my chances.

Q. You were talking about the fact what Davis Cup might do for you when you're on the court, playing for country. How much does your level actually lift when you play Davis Cup compared to playing a regular tournament?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: I wouldn't say that my level is lifting on a Davis Cup. I think I just play more seriously. I let myself do less things that I would do on the court. I mean, there is like maybe 20 weeks on tour when I play good tennis, then 10 weeks I play bad tennis.

In Davis Cup, I don't have 30 weeks to have good behavior, bad behavior, good match or bad match. I think just go on court and try to be the best now, what I can do now at the special moment. That's what I try to do, stick to the game I currently have in a specific moment.

Q. Is it a conscious decision to try and keep things more on an even keel as far as emotions, trick shots, some of the amusing stuff you might play as a regular tournament?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: I don't really understand the question.

Q. What I'm saying is that you say 20 weeks you may be playing great tennis, and 10 weeks you don't play great tennis. When it comes to Davis Cup, is it a bit more of a conscious decision and mindset that you need to be more even?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: I mentioned this like three times already in this press conference. You play for more than yourself. I don't want to go through it again. You just play for more than yourself. You must, I would say must, bring the best out of yourself in order to perform and in order to make your country proud. Otherwise there is no reason to come here.

Q. You're a guy who you like to be yourself, you have a lot of personality. Are you sensing the younger generation of tennis players are getting more comfortable showing who they really are, or do you still think the majority of players prefer to stay between the lines, not show too much personality?

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: Was not doing a big research. Let me ask you a question. What's the young ones? What's the young age for you? So I can answer the question.

Q. 25 and under, let's say.

ALEXANDER BUBLIK: 25 is not young. Let's put it this way. I believe if you're over 18 or over 19, you still have a mask that you put on and behave good, say good things, even if you don't think -- go for something you don't like because it's good in a way of the world or whatever, I think this is showing clearly your personality, who you are.

Kids, the young generation, I think is really kids from 12 to 16, 17, then they can have a mistakes, not saying what they really think. Of course, sometimes what you really think is stupid. But being themselves is very important for the young people because in the end, when the tennis is over, what they going to do? They going to take off the mask or they going to live with it? That's the question.