ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 13, 2023

Andrey Rublev

Mixed Zone

A. RUBLEV/U. Humbert

6-2, 6-3

Q. Congratulations, you're in the semifinals of the Shanghai Rolex Masters. We noticed Roger Federer watching your game today. Did you have any communication with him?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, I saw him before the match. I know Roger for couple of years. I mean, when he got to my match, obviously, all the spectators, they stop watching tennis, because they start watching only Roger, so it was a fun moment. Nothing much, I mean, obviously, when Roger comes to the court, it's always special moment.

Q. (Question off microphone.)

ANDREY RUBLEV: Avengers? No, it was fun. I enjoyed when I watched it, and I enjoyed it. I was laughing.

Q. What is the challenge between the match two weeks ago against Humbert and now? What do you think about that?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I was trying to analyze the things that I was doing wrong in Beijing, and the things that I was doing well, and I tried to do it this time and looks like it works. So happy that I was able to win in straight sets, and we'll see what's going to happen tomorrow.

Q. This is your fourth match that you've won in straight sets here. You must be feeling very good about your game.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, today I played again really well. I don't know, nothing much to say. Hopefully, I will be able to keep this level, and we'll see what's going to happen tomorrow.

Q. Against Grigor, you have a fairly even record, and I know that you're quite good friends. How is it to play against Grigor?

ANDREY RUBLEV: It's tough to play against Grigor because he's a great player. Then, that we're friends is even better, because it will make the match more, I don't know, more with the, I don't know, it's normal that in tennis sometimes you have to play friends, or sometimes you have to play players that you don't like, or you don't like to face, maybe because it's not comfortable, because maybe there is some players that you like to play with because your style of the game fits perfect for this player. You cannot control this. Every week is different, and every week you have to play with different players, and the same time with the same players during all the year, so you cannot control those things.

Q. It seems like you're really enjoying your tennis here in Shanghai.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Looks like, yeah. Looks like sometimes I'm surprising even myself the way I'm playing. But like I said, we'll see. With me, you never know, maybe tomorrow will be completely opposite story.

Q. Can you choose one word to sum up why you win today?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Oh, today? What I did well? I played great today, I don't know. I played aggressive, I played great, I hit a lot of winners. That's it.