Roberto Quiroz 'confident' after making Andrey Rublev work hard at DC Finals
World No. 291 Roberto Quiroz lost to Andrey Rublev but still he thought he did a "really good job" against the world No. 5. Quiroz, a former world No. 171, pushed Rublev into a three-setter at the Davis Cup Finals. Russia's Rublev didn't let Quiroz claim a shock win as he beat the Ecuadorian 6-3 4-6 6-1.
After losing the first set, Quiroz saved four break points in the fifth game before claiming the lone break of the set in the ninth game to force a decieer. Unfortunately for Quiroz, he didn't have the strength to keep up playing at that level as Rublev earned two breaks in the third set to avoid a shock loss.
"I think I did a really good job," said Quiroz, per the Davis Cup Finals website. "Yesterday I felt that I did the same, but it just didn't go on my side. Today I tried to leave it all out [there], and, as you say, a guy that's top 5, it's a really good parameter for me coming forward for 2022.
I have no doubts that that's not gonna be my last ranking, and I'm really hoping to have a really good 2022 and bring my country back to this situation."
Rublev insisted he didn't take Quiroz for granted
"Everyone can beat everyone," said Rublev.
"Especially at the Davis Cup, when it's a completely different feeling when you compare it to your own career. We can see yesterday Carreno also was suffering and he was able to win 7-6 in the third. Then I think also the doubles was 7-6 in the third.
"In these kinds of matches, when you play for your country, every player can beat everyone. Here we need to try the best, doesn't matter which team we play, especially here in the Group [Stage] when every match and every win is very important."