ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2026

Andrey Rublev

Press Conference

A. RUBLEV/N. Borges

7-5, 7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Well done, Andrey. That was a solid match. What aspect of your game are you the most happy about today?

ANDREY RUBLEV: That I was able to win in straight sets, and in some crucial moments when he had opportunity to lead or something, I was able to stay there, and I was able to recover and to play well or serve well or hit a good winner, something like that. So I was able to always come back.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. A question about the locker room right now. It's kind of chaos with Jannik Sinner not being in the draw anymore, so we don't have Carlos or Jannik. I know you are in a different half of the draw. Does it really matter to you how things play out? Do you feel like there's a little bit more hope that guys think they can maybe win their first major title here, guys that haven't won one before?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Let's see in two weeks, one week. I'm in a completely different part of the draw, so in my case nothing change, so let's see.

Q. Andrey, you keep battling, and every year you're getting closer and closer to breaking this barrier of the quarterfinals. How do you feel this year? You might have Alex de Minaur or Mensik next, but is this barrier of the quarterfinal something you feel you must get past?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No, I don't feel I must or not must. First of all, I'm not in the quarterfinal yet. So let's see. There's a long way to go.

No, I don't feel I have must or no, because I know if I will do the things right, I will do it. Doesn't matter this time, next time, or in couple of years anyway, because in the end, ten quarterfinals I have. It's bigger than many players who did one or twice semifinal, and I will not replace those ten quarterfinals for one or two semifinals.

More semifinal, quarterfinal is the same. It's not final. Final, yes, I will do replace (smiling), but semifinal, no.

Q. Can I just also add to that that Alex de Minaur has also had seven quarterfinals. Between you, should you meet, one of you is going to be very happy.

ANDREY RUBLEV: Of course. So let's see, because Alex have today tough match. Let's see how it's going to be, but Alex, his level, it's obvious that his level is to be in the semifinals and to compete for the slams. He prove it, and he beat players who won slams, who won finals and things like that. So his level is there.

It's just, okay, happen, he's in quarterfinals. But it's just question of time.

Q. I want to ask, despite all the sweat and the clay and also the stress on court, how do you manage to make your hair look so good-looking? What is your hair care routine or your secrets?

ANDREY RUBLEV: No secrets. I guess I was just lucky, and the way I wake up. The way I wake up, the way they are. No, to be honest, of course I'm taking care of my hair.

It's funny, because when I was kind of far away from top 10 and things like that, it was opposite. Can he have a normal haircut? What is this with his hair? He looks like a monkey. He have no money to have a haircut?

Then when you start to be a better player, somehow you appears to the top 10, it's, like, Wow, what hair he have, what a style, he's a rock star. I had all my life, this hair. How that opinion change, you know?

But, of course, I'm taking care, but not crazy.

Q. We found out that the barrier is not a wall, so you can go ahead. What players think about what happened yesterday with Sinner, because all journalists were supposed to find an answer, and it was difficult for us, because 6-3, 6-2, 5-1, Sinner says it's not the heat. We say, Then what it is? Another player, you've been in many different situations. I remember when you were beating Fognini in Monte Carlo, and then suddenly you lost, and he won the tournament. So certain things are very difficult to explain. As a player, how can you explain what happened yesterday after two hours to Sinner?

ANDREY RUBLEV: But he had conference. What he said? Did he have press conference? What he said?

Q. You know, the explanation he gave is that it's not the heat, because it was not so hot, but we have to try to explain to the readers.

ANDREY RUBLEV: I'm in the same then position like you. How can I know?

Q. You are a player. You are much more experience.

ANDREY RUBLEV: You think I'm talking with the players? I'm doing my job.

Q. You are a player. You have more experience than us, so you should...

ANDREY RUBLEV: I don't know if I have more experience, because you have been on tour asking questions much more than me playing, so I don't know who have more experience (smiling).

No, I mean, me as a player, what can I say? First of all, I'm not talking much with the players. I'm doing my job. I'm coming here, practicing, and I'm leaving. I'm not really spending much time here.

But from experience, I don't know, obviously something happened with him, because if he was 6-3, 6-2, 5-1 up and then he lost 6-1, 6-1, the next fourth and fifth set, obviously something happened.

I don't know. I think he had a little injury or something is my guess, and maybe when he was 5-1 up, he was feeling it, but not as much, and at 5-1 he relax. Then maybe one easy, stupid mistake, something like that, and then maybe the injury get a bit worse.

I saw some videos. He was not really moving, but I don't know. This is more question to Jannik what happened. I hope everything is okay, and he will be able to play, I don't know, in next tournaments.