Rublev: "Djokovic knows everything about tennis, I don't know what Murray can contribute"

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Andrey Rublev is not going through a bad spell of results. Finishing as the number eight in the world in 2024 on a demanding and increasingly competitive ATP circuit, however, having suffered some painful defeats in important tournaments has put him in the spotlight of criticisms. During an interview with Tennis Weekly Podcast while in London for the UTS (exhibition) tournament, Andrey reflected on his mental state and the most talked-about news in tennis in recent weeks.

- Preseason at the UTS

For the ATP circuit, the year 2024 has just ended, a period some players use for rest and preparation for the intense 2025 season ahead. Others, like Andrey Rublev, prefer to maintain intensity and compete at a high level by participating in friendly or exhibition tournaments, such as the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), a new and highly innovative format that may introduce new rules to streamline certain match situations in tennis. Andrey commented on the tournament, saying: "Playing the UTS is a good way to have intense preparation before the season. I like it."

- Current Mental State

Andrey is a very shy and reserved person off the court, although unfortunately, over the past year, there have been instances where he has self-injured on the court due to the excessive pressure he puts on himself during matches, leading to frustration and anger towards himself. However, he has learned from these situations, saying: "I have learned many things. In terms of results, I have had many ups and downs. I wish all my bad seasons ended like this. The year has been interesting; I have matured and it has helped me grow."

Now, he is solely focused on the upcoming year and wants to leave behind those negative episodes that marked his 2024: "My main goal is to be mentally well in 2025."

- Murray, Djokovic's New Coach

The big news in recent weeks has been the addition of recently retired Andy Murray to Novak Djokovic's team, to which the Russian reacted, saying: "Novak is one of the best players in history, so I don't know if Murray will be able to contribute anything, but the positive energy, stemming from their friendship, can sometimes be more beneficial than anything else at this level. Djokovic knows everything about tennis, he understands it better than anyone, and if they are friends, he may feel something different and, for example, appear fresher or more motivated."

A duo that will surely provide us with both humorous and tense moments when the Serbian faces challenging situations during matches: "It will be interesting because sometimes, Nole is too emotional on the court and speaks harshly to his team, so I am curious to see how Murray reacts in those situations," concluded Rublev.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rublev: "Djokovic sabe todo sobre el tenis, no sé que puede aportarle Murray"