QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN

February 19, 2026

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/S. Tsitsipas

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: First question, please.

Q. It was a tight match against Stefanos. What do you think made the difference today?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Just few points, I guess. He also had break points in the first set. I manage to have one break point and to make it. He had a couple of opportunities and he didn't make it. So I guess that was the case in the first set.

Then second set was, again, little details that, in important moments, especially like tiebreak, I played really well. That was the difference. Both of us, we like to take the forehand and dictate. So it was this type of match, who will, yeah, take the forehand first one and will start to dictate.

Q. The match needs to be played, but in case you are facing Alcaraz in the semifinals, how difficult is that challenge, considering that he's unbeatable in the season and No. 1 in the world?

ANDREY RUBLEV: So, I guess your question is the answer as well. Of course it's going to be super difficult. What else to say? It's going to be good challenge for me to see how far I am from this level.

Q. Great level today. You played really well in the clutch moments. You are one of the guys who have one of the most explosive games on tour. You have the game to beat anyone on any given day.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Thank you.

Q. Especially against Alcaraz, I see that your game is really evolving very well, and in the past three or four games it was really close, you won one of them. You have a potential semifinal against him. Of course, he didn't win yet today. But when you go with him to the very last mile, let's say the match is the best-of-three, you go to the third set, approaching tiebreak, how do you approach these moments? I feel he's really good in these clutch moments and this is what makes the difference between winning and losing in the big events. So how do you approach such critical moments, especially against players like Alcaraz and Sinner?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know how I approach it. I just try to do my best when I'm playing against them. Try to, yeah, to be focused. With them, if you lose a little focus, the match is done and that's it.

Then the rest, the difference is that they are playing tennis. Me, sometimes I'm playing tennis. Sometimes I'm fighting with my thoughts. Sometimes I'm fighting with the fears. Sometimes it's like, Oh, please, I hope I'm going to make the serve. I hope I'm not going to miss the return. I hope I'm going to make it.

They're playing tennis. No matter the score, they're doing what they need to do, and that's it. And then in long term they know that they win more matches, and that's it.

Q. Yesterday, Medvedev and Tsitsipas had some problems. Did Daniil told you anything?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I didn't even see the match. Which problems they had?

Q. Today with the shoelaces you were disturbed a little bit?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No.

Q. Because he took time?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No.

Q. No? Okay. One question about the Olympics. Apparently for the Paralympics, Russia will go back with the National Anthem and with the flags. This will be on the 6th of March. Are you happy about that? What is your comment on that? Are you hoping to be able to represent Russia again since it's seven, eight years you cannot do it?

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know. You're the first one who tell me this news. I am fine. Of course, if there is a chance that all the athletes they can compete again, it's amazing moment. So of course I am happy that if the juniors or the athletes that they were not allowed to compete, finally they will be able, so, yeah.

Q. Do you think that being the defending champion here can be a boost of confidence if you end up facing Carlos, and maybe Jannik after that?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No, it's nothing to do with the game, no.

Q. The other day you were fishing in the port with Daniil, Carlos, and Jannik. Did you talk with them a little bit, did you enjoy it, and how was it? Did you get closer to some of them and you became more friends or not?

ANDREY RUBLEV: First of all, how you say? In tennis terms, I'm quite close with them anyway. With Carlos and Jannik I can say any things to them in terms of tennis kind of relationship. So, yeah, we were making fun, we were talking stupid things, yeah, it was a fun moment.