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Daria Kasatkina: «I always dreamed of winning the Kremlin Cup at the «Olimpiyskiy» Stadium!»

October 20, 04:30 PM

Daria Kasatkina wins the VTB Kremlin Cup

October 20, 04:00 PM

Daniil Medvedev: «I hope that tomorrow we will be able to find out who is the strongest!»

October 19, 11:00 PM

Karen Khachanov: «Rivals on court, friends – off-court»

October 19, 10:45 PM

Daria Kasatkina: «Tomorrow I will come out on court and will try to play my best tennis!»

October 19, 08:45 PM

Panova and Siegemund plan to celebrate win with Netflix and chocolate

October 19, 06:45 PM

Panova and Siegumund win the doubles tournament «VTB Kremlin Cup»

October 19, 02:00 PM

Supported by

Ministry of sport of the Russian Federation

Department for sport and tourism of Moscow city

Panova and Siegemund plan to celebrate win with Netflix and chocolate

October 19, 06:45 PM

I suppose it was your first time teaming up together and here you are winning your first title together. What was the reason for being such a successful duo at «VTB Kremlin Cup»? Chemistry?

Alexandra Panova: Well, firstly, yeah, chemistry is really important. We always play together, we do not have situations where somebody is covering this area or that. We felt each other well, game-wise.

Laura Siegemund: And, yeah, we complement each other very well, but I think it is something you are looking for in a partner before you create a doubles team. I knew she has a good serve, that she likes to hit really hard, and that was something I needed.

What was the toughest match in the tournament?

AP: We agreed on the first one.

LS: I personally find the third match really tough [against Mladenovich/Voskoboeva].

AP: Yeah, the semifinals and the first round against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Vera Zvonareva, because they are specialists, they were both ranked high in doubles, so they know how to play doubles.

LS: Vera and Anastasia had that solidness, even if they are behind, they keep improving their tennis throughout the whole match.

In the second set you were serving for the match, but your opponents made a break and then you made it to the tie-break. How did you manage to go all eth way to the title?

AP: We were having super close matches. That is why we were playing point by point, fighting in every rally. We were focusing on what we needed to do. That was the key to our win, I think.

LS: The problem in doubles is even if you win the first set you can just switch quickly you can never be really safe or sure. And we have been managing well…

AP: And it was close, we had so many decisive points.

LS: We kind of improved our ad percentage during the tournament because in the first matches we lost all of them but I think for me at least it was important we had a lot of chances that we didn’t take, no necessary to win the game but to go up 40-15 and we didn’t take them, we could make it easier.

AP: But at the same time it is positive because creating chances is half of the job.

LS: Exactly. That is what you always said. I was telling myself just to stay calm because if it is 4/4, it is the same for everyone. If you think negative about not being up, for example 5/3 or something, it is hurting you more. So I tried to leave it all behind - whatever happened.

Right after the match you were sitting on the bench and discussing something. What was it?

LS: Plans to have lunch and stuff like that (laughter).

AP: The plans (laughter).

LS: When you are playing and have a result like this and basically you are playing together for the first time, you are talking about how you continue…

AP: This tournament gave us both a good boost in the rankings so now I am back to top-100. And I was like - do you want to play more together?

LS: We were speaking about further tournaments to play or what the situation is. Because I am still wanting to get back in singles.

Will you celebrate together? A nice dinner or something?

LS: I am flying tonight at 1 a.m. but till then I have time. Since I left court we did not see each other. We need to have some kind of celebration. We can buy some sweets at the supermarket…

AP: … and have Netflix and chocolate in the room. It sounds good (laughter).

You both said that it had a great meaning for you because you both came back from your injuries. Will you come back to defend the title next year?

AP: Knock on wood. Knock on wood. You do not want to look too much in the future. So let’s stay in the moment.

LS: We hope so. Absolutely. But for you it is a home tournament.

AP: As I said, I was not here for two years.

LS: You played here every time you could, right?

AP: Yes.

LS: And for me it was my first time. Because every time after Asia I went home to play Linz and Luxembourg. And I always got sick there. I said this year I am not going to do this anymore. Since Moscow is kind on the way back home from Asia I decided to try something new. Some tournaments are really nice and if you keep coming back it is nice. But sometimes you want to try something new. So this was my trying. Went out well, so I can see myself coming back. Also I really like the city, I said it on the court, too. I really love this city. In the summer I was here on the tournament and I am a fan. I really like the Red Square.

AP: Me too. We walked from here to the Red Square with mom.

LS: It was a little bit far.

AP: It took us maybe one hour and a half to get there. You just go straight and every building is so beautiful.

Did you advise Laura to visit any places in Moscow?

AP: I think she is going to advise me (laughter).

LS: I know the Red Square like... Well, in German we say like “the pocket of my jacket” [inside out].

Press-service of tournament

Breaking News

Photo gallery of October, 21st

Khachanov routs Mannarino in the VTB Kremlin Cup 2018 finals

Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram win the doubles title at “VTB Kremlin Cup 2018”

Schedule for October, 21st

Photo gallery of October, 20th

Khachanov reached his first Kremlin Cup finals

Mannarino advances to the finals

Daria Kasatkina wins the singles title at the 29th VTB Kremlin Cup

Tennis clinic with Mirnyi and Oswald

Schedule for October, 20th

News

Breaking News

Photo gallery of October, 21st

Khachanov routs Mannarino in the VTB Kremlin Cup 2018 finals

Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram win the doubles title at “VTB Kremlin Cup 2018”

Schedule for October, 21st

Photo gallery of October, 20th

Khachanov reached his first Kremlin Cup finals

Mannarino advances to the finals

Daria Kasatkina wins the singles title at the 29th VTB Kremlin Cup

Tennis clinic with Mirnyi and Oswald

Schedule for October, 20th

Karen Khachanov: «I will always remember this title!»

Krajicek and Ram – winners of «VTB Kremlin Cup 2018» in doubles

Karen Khachanov: «I want to win the title match»

Daniil Medvedev: «it’s impossible to play at your maximum every time»

Daria Kasatkina: «I always dreamed of winning the Kremlin Cup at the «Olimpiyskiy» Stadium!»

Daria Kasatkina wins the VTB Kremlin Cup

Daniil Medvedev: «I hope that tomorrow we will be able to find out who is the strongest!»

Karen Khachanov: «Rivals on court, friends – off-court»

Results of the day: Friday

Daria Kasatkina: «Tomorrow I will come out on court and will try to play my best tennis!»

Panova and Siegemund plan to celebrate win with Netflix and chocolate

Panova and Siegumund win the doubles tournament «VTB Kremlin Cup»

Panova and Siegemund plan to celebrate win with Netflix and chocolate

Karen Khachanov: «I will always remember this title!»

Krajicek and Ram – winners of «VTB Kremlin Cup 2018» in doubles

Karen Khachanov: «I want to win the title match»