World No. 8 Andrey Rublev spoke to journalists at a press conference ahead of the Madrid Masters, sharing his thoughts on various topics.
He began by expressing his pleasure at returning to Madrid. “It`s great to be back in Madrid. I really enjoy this place, the city, and everything around the tennis club. Returning here brings back wonderful memories from last year and previous years. Right now, my expectation is simply to enjoy being here. We`ll see as the matches get closer.”
When asked about his collaboration with Marat Safin, Rublev stated, “It`s still early to say much because we`ve only been working together for two weeks, which is a very short period to draw conclusions. However, I`m enjoying everything so far, including his insights and what he`s trying to show me. We`ll see how it develops over time.”
The conversation then shifted to the newly published ITIA rules concerning doping control. Rublev revealed his anxieties about this aspect of professional tennis. “For me, doping control is a very significant and frankly, quite frightening issue. Like most players, I have to submit my whereabouts every day, detailing my location hour by hour. We must constantly remember to update this information. Forgetting to do so, or if doping officers arrive when you are not where you indicated, it counts as a missed test. Three missed tests can lead to a two-year disqualification. I believe this is unfair and creates a lot of stress for us players. For instance, yesterday I completely forgot to update my location to Madrid, and I was lucky no one came. It was a close call, pure luck. In recent years, I`ve become afraid to take any medication at all.”
Rublev continued, “If I feel unwell, I prefer to avoid taking anything just in case. Fortunately, I have access to a doctor I can consult about whether a medication is permissible. But many players don`t have this option. They might go to a pharmacy, ask for something for a fever, for example, and be given a medication that could result in a doping violation and subsequent disqualification.”
Marcus Prine