THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 6, 2025

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/A. Rublev

6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Andrey, tough one today. Could you just talk a little bit about the match, please.

ANDREY RUBLEV: For the moment, I don't know. Not much time passed, so not easy to talk. What can I say? It was a tough match. I guess that's the difference between, I guess, top players and me. Like, every set I drop a bit for one game the focus and everything. Like, second set I lost my serve without him doing anything. Was mistake back and mistake back, a double fault, and mistake in one second.

From 4-3 become 5-3 in set out of nowhere, then I was able to bring back the level. I was playing well. I had good chances in the third set. I guess, yeah, that was the moment, and I couldn't make it. That's it.

In the same way I lost my serve a bit by myself, being 30-Love up, having good position to win the rally, and I didn't do it. Then on the break point he played unbelievable shot, unbelievable passing. And that's the same story, and the set went away.

And the same story in the third set. I was a bit more mentally maybe down because after those two sets, and that's it. He was more pumped, more confident, and that's it. It was the same thing. I didn't pay maybe -- like I said, I was a bit more down, and then I didn't start well again the game. I did again double and I was able to come back, but he played well there. He was already confident because he's winning, he was understanding that it's the moment to finish the match, and he make it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Do you feel like you're quite tough on yourself? I mean, I can relate to how you are. I've been very tough on myself in the past. When I gave myself a bit of a break, things got a lot better. I was kinder to myself. I became freer.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I'm learning this. I'm also learning to be more kind to myself. That's why I was able today to be super positive, to fight until the end without saying a word. Because I'm also learning to be more kind, yeah, better with myself, yeah.

Q. Are you back to a level closest to what you hope?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Yeah, for sure, definitely the level is there. Now it's more about some details. But obviously, I don't know. I didn't remember myself feeling that way. I not talk about today. In general, the last one week and a half since I came to Wimbledon, I don't remember myself since a while on this kind of level. Maybe Madrid last year, something like that.

If I will be able to keep it, then for sure something will happen.

Q. Do you know why this week and a half was much better than...

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know. If I would know, it will be much more easier for all of us to be always at the good form. I guess everything. Better mentality, better thoughts, better mindset, more focus. In the end little by little start to be like a puzzle.

Q. You started the first set really well, racing into a 4-1 lead. What do you think the key was behind that fast start?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I think Carlos didn't start that well. He was a bit more maybe nervous or more tight. So he helped me a bit that game because I was able to return well, but also, he kind of did few mistakes, and it helped me a lot.

The same thing happened next game when he broke me. I missed two easy volleys that I don't remember since the last time when I missed those kind of volleys. Then we were equal. Even maybe he had a bit more chances because he had one more break point. So I would say he was -- he had a bit more chances in the first set, but in the end I was able to win it.

Then it's like I said, he was able to keep focus all the match without dropping anything. Maybe just the last game a little bit when he was serving for the match 30-15, he missed the easy backhand, but the rest his focus was there. He was not missing easy balls. That was the difference.

Q. Speaking about your mentality, do you feel it's holding you back from reaching your best level?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I feel, like I said before, that the way I'm playing now, the way I'm feeling, the way I'm playing on practices, I didn't since a while, I don't remember myself like this. Like I said, if I am able to keep it that way, for sure sooner or later something better will happen.

Q. For the past few years some athletes have been sharing their stories with mental health. Please tell me, what do you think about this topic becoming a topic?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know, to be honest, what I think about it because everything is personal. Everyone have his own journey. In the end it's not only about tennis. Everyone have his own struggles. Doesn't matter if you are sportsman, if you are businessman, if you are working in office, or you're journalist. Everyone have his own struggles that he's facing.

It's just athletes, they have a platform, and I guess sometimes the generation is changing. Like some maybe in the past, it was more about image. You need to show, like, you are always perfect, you are always, like, a great example, like that everybody wants to be like this. You know, like a perfect picture, which does not exist.

Then, I guess, when the generation is changing, you find out more. Media is bigger. Everything is more developed. You can see more insights. I don't know. You can put camera and see every move of the athlete and everything. So you start to see some different reactions that is not that perfect.

Now it's changing that the sportsman maybe start to be more open. I don't know because, like I say, of the platform because if you a sportsman, you talk to your friend, he knows about your struggles, or whatever, your family. So it's the same thing. It's just different situation.