Daniil Medvedev tells how good friend Andrey Rublev acted after beating him last year

Daniil Medvedev felt “sorry” for Andrey Rublev following their ATP Finals match and revealed that his close friend “was shy to talk to me for one or two days” after beating him in Turin last year. On Monday, Medvedev saw off Rublev 6-4 6-2 in his ATP Finals opener. A year ago, the outcome was different as Rublev edged out Medvedev 6-7 (7) 6-3 7-6 (7) in Turin. Medvedev, 27, and 26-year-old Rublev have been great friends for many years but also big rivals on the court over the last few years. Following their most recent match, Medvedev improved to 7-2 against Rublev. Medvedev and Rublev may be big rivals on the court but their off-court friendship remains as strong as ever. 

Medvedev: I’m sorry for Rublev 

“Depends (on) the person. Me, usually – depends (on) the match – but in general, I need probably one hour, around this. Depends (on) the match. Sometimes two. Sometimes 30 minutes. I kind of laugh about it. For sure I will be disappointed, but I can talk to people, laugh about it. I think Andrey needs a little bit more time, but that’s just the way he is. To be honest, on the court, I don’t know how it is for him, for me on the court, doesn’t exist, friends, enemies. I just try to win the match. I don’t think about anything else. But when the last point is finished, it’s like I feel sorry for him, he lost the match. But it’s the same for him. If he beats me, I mean, last year was brutal when he beat me. So I felt for one or two days he was kind of shy to talk to me, taking care. It’s the same. You always try to look at him and see if tomorrow we can talk like normal. I’m going say him good luck, go for it the next matches, and he’s probably going to say the same,” Medvedev said. Meanwhile, Medvedev plays next against Carlos Alcaraz. If Medvedev beats Alcaraz, he will seal a semifinal spot in Turin.