US OPEN

September 6, 2025

Ivan Ivanov

Press Conference

I. IVANOV/A. Vasilev

7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations. Your thoughts on the match.

IVAN IVANOV: Well, I mean, I played great, and our thoughts came through. We met Alexander in the final. Full Bulgarian final and full Bulgarian crowd. I'm very happy that this happened, and I'm very happy that I took success today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Was it strange in the beginning of the match playing someone you know well and who obviously knows your game? And were there a lot of nerves or excitement? You obviously had been in this position before; he hadn't. How about playing someone you know well and the nerves of that and the pressure of that?

IVAN IVANOV: Yes, for sure. Even there were some moments that I had, like, deja vu, let's say it, and I remember some of the moments like under-12 and that. I was, like, well, now it's going to be maybe a little bit more tougher.

Then I just managed to keep calm and keep my discipline and focus, which I think gave me the positive mentality that I was playing with.

Q. Were you expecting the Bulgarian crowd today and the support?

IVAN IVANOV: Well, I knew that it's going to be people coming, but they were very loud. I'm really happy that there was a lot of people watching, so I'm very happy about it.

Q. First of all, can you pronounce your whole name to make sure we have it correct?

IVAN IVANOV: I'm Ivan Ivanov. That's the Bulgarian pronounce. A lot of people call me Ivan Ivanov, which I don't have problem with. It's your choice (smiling).

Q. Ivan. When you're home, do you ever celebrate Bulgarian Unification Day?

IVAN IVANOV: Yes. Yes, especially when I was younger, because since three, four years I'm in Spain, so sometimes we don't have time or I don't remember, but when I was in Bulgaria, especially in Bulgarian school, every time we had to even learn which of the date.

Now that we played on that day, I'm very happy that this success came, especially now. I'm very happy about it.

Q. Can you tell us how you are related to Grigor Dimitrov?

IVAN IVANOV: I think you're missing -- I'm not related.

Q. You're not related?

IVAN IVANOV: No, no, no, no, no. I'm not the guy. Alexander is.

Q. Oh, Alexander is. Forgive me. Did he give you any encouragement, or did you talk to him? Also, what about the Maleeva family? Did you know that family at all when you were growing up?

IVAN IVANOV: Oh, yes, of course. First, about Grigor, to have an example as him in Bulgaria and to have someone to look up to is something amazing. I mean, a lot of country with our population or something, they don't have someone like this. We're lucky enough to have.

I'm very happy that even though we haven't talked or we haven't played with each other, practiced with each other, it give me a lot of positive things, a lot of things that I can take from him and positive examples.

Q. And just the Maleeva family...

IVAN IVANOV: Maleeva family, yes, especially the club that they built and everything, I was practicing a lot there, too.

Q. Obviously the US Open and Wimbledon are two very different tournaments. What was your US Open experience like, and what does it feel to win in New York?

IVAN IVANOV: Well, Wimbledon experience was something amazing, was so special, probably the most special one.

And in New York, I don't think I could find the same level as Wimbledon, but I was playing in very good level, which I'm very happy about and keep finding solutions even though sometimes I was not feeling very well or having some tough moments. But I was always finding good mentality and positive mentality.

Q. What's been your favorite part of playing here?

IVAN IVANOV: I mean, look at the city. We're in an enormous city, in such a big stadium sometimes. The crowd, the people, the organization, it's everything that makes that tournament special.

Q. The Maleeva sisters and Grigor, I think you have a great pedigree, all of the Bulgarian junior champions went to the top 10 in the professional tournament. So the great expectation is in Bulgaria, especially before the Davis Cup. 17 years ago, almost the same day, Grigor won and did the same, Wimbledon and US Open, and one month later you were born in 2008. I mean, now you are like a new Grigor in Bulgaria. How can you handle this pressure, especially next week Davis Cup?

IVAN IVANOV: First, that's a great knowledge. These things, I don't even remember. But yes, for sure, about expectations and everything, this is the believing the people for you. That's something positive. That's how I try to look at it.

About Davis Cup, I'm very excited. I'm looking forward. I think I'm going on the Friday or Thursday there, so I'm really looking forward to play and to compete for Bulgaria. I mean, if we win, we can go to world group, so I'm very excited.

Q. Singles and the doubles?

IVAN IVANOV: Maybe doubles, but my doubles are not very good. I think I focus on singles.

Q. Take me through the end of the first set if you can. It was 5-3, and then looked like you were doing well,

you were up the break, and then he caught up. Tell me about how you sort of regrouped and got yourself through that first set ending.

IVAN IVANOV: As I said, he came back. He start putting more pressure on me, and I really felt it. I tried to escape, and I tried to make those moments come as short as possible, which I'm very happy today, because I managed to do it very short. And at 5-All, I managed to break back and then take my serve. So I'm very happy with that.

Q. At Wimbledon you were looking for a tuxedo I think for the Champions Dinner at this stage. What will you do to celebrate this particular title?

IVAN IVANOV: To celebrate this title, we're taking the flight at 10:00 p.m. and going back to Spain, so not really much.

Tomorrow I have -- I mean, the day after tomorrow I have physios and everything, so I try to just relax before Davis Cup.

Q. So there will be no celebration?

IVAN IVANOV: I don't have time for that for now (smiling).

Q. At the airport maybe?

IVAN IVANOV: Yeah, at the airport maybe.

Q. You've been in Spain since you were pretty young. How often do you get home? How do you manage being away from your family like that?

IVAN IVANOV: As I say in previous interviews, that's probably one of the toughest things, to be away from your mom, from your dad, and being at such a young age and early stage of your life. That's something very tough to deal with.

I'm very happy and very glad that they manage to come a lot, so I see them maybe two or three weeks per month every month and every year. I'm very happy about that.

I'm not coming home in Bulgaria, which I don't like too much, but as I find time, I always love to go back to my home and enjoy there.

Q. Can you just sort of take us through quickly how you ended up in Spain? I know you're at Rafa's place, but what made the decision and how did it go about?

IVAN IVANOV: It was before Les Petits As when the academy invited me for trial period. There I just tried. I really enjoy playing there. I really liked it, so I stay.

Then we made the contract and we made the deal, so I start being there since maybe four years already, I believe.