Russian tennis player Andrey Rublev created an unusual moment at the US Open on Wednesday when he refused a mid-match interview request from ESPN, leaving analyst Sam Querrey in an awkward position.
During his mixed doubles match alongside partner Mirra Andreeva, which they eventually lost in the semifinals, Querrey approached the players for a brief interview during a break. However, as Querrey directed a question towards Andreeva, Rublev was seen shaking his head and indicated he did not want to participate, asking the interviewer to stop.
Querrey, a former professional tennis player turned analyst, responded by saying, "No questions? Sorry, sorry. Okay, good luck," before backing away. Andreeva also appeared to react awkwardly to the exchange. The incident has since gained traction on social media, dividing fans.
Some social media users defended Rublev's actions, citing the high emotions during competition. One commenter suggested that players should not be expected to engage in interviews during intense matches, especially in mixed doubles, which they described as a "mockery."
Another user praised Rublev for maintaining his focus, stating, "He's not a circus clown." Conversely, other fans criticized Rublev's abrupt refusal, with one calling the behavior "weird."
Reports indicate that Rublev apologized to Querrey after the match, with the analyst heard saying, "Don't worry about it." The official ITF Grand Slam rulebook does not contain specific mandates for mid-match interviews.
ESPN's vice president of production, Linda Schultz, previously discussed the initiative with The Athletic last year, describing it as a way to provide "great access" in partnership with the USTA and players. The intention was for these interviews to occur only at the end of a set and be limited to one or two questions to avoid disrupting the competition. Schultz also noted that the length of interviews would be gradually increased as all parties became more comfortable.
