"It's going to be maybe 30 shots one rally" - Andrey Rublev on facing Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships
Ahead of their upcoming final clash at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Andrey Rublev spoke about the prospect of facing compatriot Daniil Medvedev.
The 25-year-old came a step closer to defending his title at the ATP 500 tournament as he booked his place in the final with a 6-3, 7-6(9) win over Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. He thus reached his first final of the 2023 season.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Rublev said that he was expecting a third set during the second set tiebreak and that he was lucky the match finished when it did.
"To be honest, I don't know. I was just thinking that it's going to be third set. I just need to accept it, like I don't know, keep preparing myself for the third set. Then if somehow, if it's not going to happen, then perfect. It means that I win the match," Andrey Rublev said.
"I was thinking more this way. In the end, yeah, we had dramatic. I had in the beginning 6-4, two match points, I didn't make it. Then he had set point. He missed a bit out. Again, him and my set point, match point. In the end I was able to make it with a last crazy rally. Then, yeah, was two sets so I was lucky," he added.
Andrey Rublev will face his compatriot and friend Daniil Medvedev in the final. The 27-year-old booked his place in the title clash by handing Novak Djokovic his first defeat of the season in the semifinals.
Speaking about how the match against Medvedev will unfold, Rublev stated that a rally between the two would last 30 shots.
"Daniil is like to the one that counterattacks, waits for the right moment. I mean, with Daniil, it's going to be basically, if I'm going to play Daniil, it's going to be maybe 30 shots one rally," Rublev said.
Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev will lock horns for the seventh time
Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev will meet for the seventh time when they lock horns in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Saturday. Medvedev currently leads 4-2 in the head-to-head between the two.
However, Rublev has won the last two fixtures against the former World No. 1, most recently during last season's ATP Finals.
Medvedev is currently on a 13-match winning streak and will be eager to win his third successive title of the 2023 season. If Rublev comes out on top, he will lay hands on silverware for the first time this year.