Quote of the Day: Being inside of Andrey Rublev's head is "like a scary movie"

For just over four hours, Alex de Minaur made Australian fans believe as he took a two-sets-to-one lead against Andrey Rublev with a maiden Australian Open quarterfinal spot on the line. But the world No. 5 dialed it up when it counted most, rallying for a dramatic 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-0 victory inside Rod Laver Arena.

The mercurial Russian is known for his explosive displays of emotion on the court and his self-deprecating humor off of it—and after breaking thousands of Aussie hearts on Saturday night, he quickly won many over with a hilarious on-court interview with Jim Courier afterward.

“Two days ago I said I hope that we will (play) a great match that the spectators would enjoy. Now I regret (saying) it, because I didn’t expect it would be that… enjoyable!” Rublev quipped, sending fans on Rod Laver Arena bursting into laughter.

“When I was losing two-sets-to-one down, I broke him in the beginning and then he broke me back. And then I started telling myself, ‘No. You’re going to die today, but you will do everything (you can).”

WATCH: "It's like a scary movie" - Andrey Rublev cautions Jim Courier about getting inside his head after De Minaur win

But it was Rublev’s honest admission about his mindset and myriad emotions throughout the five-set roller coaster that earned the biggest laugh of all:

Q: You treated this Melbourne audience and the global audience watching you tonight to the full “Andrey Rublev Experience”—you have so many emotions on the court that you show us. We love to see them. What’s it like to be inside your head in a match like this?

ANDREY RUBLEV: Better not to be inside my head at this time! (laughter)

I don’t know, it’s like a scary movie. (laughter) You know, a lot of emotions, ups and downs…

Better not to be inside myself!

Rublev will have to climb a mental mountain in his next match, as he faces down both Jannik Sinner—an opponent who dominates their head-to-head 4-0 in completed matches—and his own 0-9 record in Grand Slam quarterfinals.

Last year, Rublev broke his tie with Tommy Robredo and became the player who has made the most quarterfinal appearances without advancing further in the Open Era when he fell to Daniil Medvedev at the US Open.

Rublev, who started the season by lifting the Hong Kong trophy, said that he’ll be focusing on recovery after he struggled with cramping in his legs toward the end of his marathon match against De Minaur. And, in one more hilarious mic drop moment, Rublev left fans with another interview gem when asked about the quarterfinal:

“Jannik is one more player who (was) having an unreal season last year, and already amazing results this year,” he said. “He beat me last time, so… Looks like I’m in trouble!

“I will just do my best, and we’ll see what’s going to happen.”