"In the group, you have to fight for every game and every point" - Rublev on ATP Finals mindset after superb opening win over Medvedev

Andrey Rublev battled past compatriot Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals beating him in three sets to earn his first win this year.

The Russian has had his trouble against Medvedev in the past but was able to overcome a very upsetting finish to the first set to win it. Speaking after the match Rublev admitted that he was thinking about it because it reminded him of a previous match between the two:

"I was thinking about the US Open. When we played in the 2020 quarter-finals I had a similar lead in the tiebreak and when I lost that set I couldn’t play anymore. I was thinking that it can’t happen again. I have to change something and keep playing because if I lose in three sets it is good (here at the ATP Finals). In the group, you have to fight for every game and every point.”

The final set concluded in a tiebreak which Rublev was able to win despite some minor hiccups. He called it a crazy one:

“The final tiebreak was crazy. When we had a 30-shot (rally) I was already cramping but I was saying (to myself), ‘no, one more, you have to keep playing. If you have a chance go for them,’ and in the end, I was able to win.”

He then joked:

“I beat one former champion, it’s enough. I can go home now. It’s tough. I am in the worst group. I don’t know what I am doing there.”