A. RUBLEV/S. Tsitsipas
3-6, 6-3, 6-2
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. What do you think about your serve in the third set? Why didn't it help you?
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I was serving well. I found the spots, you know? I mean, he's a good returner. Nothing to take away from him. He played a lot of returns in. I tried to mix it up at the end.
I didn't really feel threatened. I just wanted to try something new, to see if it might work, throw him off a little bit.
Yeah, we had a very long game towards the end where I kept trying new things. I can say things were coming off the racquet pretty good from his side.
It's a shame. I feel like the better player. I felt like I could do more with the ball today. I felt like I could just be much more creative. I don't even have to say that. I think it's quite obvious.
But, yeah, he prevailed with the few tools that he has. He was able to really take advantage of them and win today.
Q. Was it harder today to try to attack, try to apply serve-and-volley strategy against an opponent and such a good returner or not?
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Look, I mean, yeah, it's not a bad tactic against any opponent. It's just when you have an opponent standing so close to the baseline, he gives you less time to come to the front of the net. I didn't really do it. I think I did it twice today.
I mean, I wouldn't say it would have perhaps changed the game, but I could have used it a bit more. He hits the ball slightly more powerful than my previous opponent and has better passing shots, I would say.
That's the reason why I chose to play the game I played today.
Q. It might be your last tournament this season because you don't have Davis Cup next week.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I'm playing some challengers next week in France.
Q. What is your look at the achievements this season? What do you intend to do in 2023?
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I don't even know how the rankings are right now. My goal was to finish in the top three. I don't know if that's going to remain or not.
Q. We are going to tell you.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: That was my goal from the beginning of the year, which I was still kind of not fully convinced that I can do it because of my injury at the end of the previous year.
But after having kind of a few good results in the beginning of the year, I thought maybe I can actually do it this year and break into the top three again, as I did earlier that year.
I don't know if the guy behind has gone to the top three, but he has more wins than me.
Q. Casper might prevail. You might be four at the end of the season.
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Close. It's a good reaction. I've come far, a long way. Sorry, not far, I've come a long way to get to No. 4.
My goal for the pre-season is going to be perhaps a bit more consistent with my returns because I think if I'm able to improve on that aspect of my game, I can do more damage.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports