There was a time when Andrey Rublev used to lick his lips at ATP 500 events. After winning his first ATP 500 title in Hamburg six years ago, the Russian has lifted four more titles at this level and made five more finals. At the age of 28, he will no doubt be looking to add to this haul. Yet, a once-consistent top-ten force, he’s been a little more unpredictable in recent times.
Rublev Finds Jolt in Barcelona
A Poor Run of Results
Now, he seems to pop up with a really positive week – like the one that just passed at the Madrid Open- but fails to build on it in the following event. Take a look at this year. After making back-to-back semifinals in Doha and Dubai, he subsequently went on a run of four losses in five matches. He fell at the first hurdle in Indian Wells to Gabriel Diallo. After winning the first set in a tiebreak, the Canadian reset well to win the subsequent sets 7-6 6-3. Two weeks later, he started similarly with an opening set tiebreak win against Alejandro Tabilo. The Chilean went on to win 6-7 6-2 6-4.
The clay season began, and Rublev ended a three-match losing streak with a 6-4 1-6 6-1 win over Nuno Borges. Yet, in the subsequent round of 32 against world No. 44 Zizou Bergs, he managed just five games, crashing out in embarrassing fashion.
So, by the time Barcelona arrived, it would be understandable if Rublev was doubting his ability to reach the latter stages of the tournament. Especially when his opening round draw was against an in-form Mariano Navone, fresh from a title at the ATP Bucharest Open.
A Return To Form In Barcelona
It proved to be a tight match all round, with Rublev’s superior return proving the difference-maker. Match point up and on the sixth shot, the former top ten regular stepped inside the court and ripped a backhand down the line. Quickly changing direction, he caught the Argentinian off guard and let out a huge roar of emotion.
In the last 16, Lorenzo Sonego awaited. The Italian was fresh from a wrist injury lay-off, having beaten Pedro Martinez in a tight first round. In the swirling conditions, he looked expectantly rusty and uneasy, and was ultimately dominated on the forehand wing. With a 6-2 6-3 win, Rublev secured a place in the quarterfinal. Thomas Machac stood on the other side of the net. Last week, the 25-year-old was the first player since Alexander Zverev last October to take a set off Jannik Sinner at an ATP Masters event. Anyhow, it was an up-and-down game, with some quality ball striking present. However, Rublev played a more controlled match, making 13 fewer unforced errors and progressing 6-3 6-4.
In the semifinal, the 28-year-old’s superior fitness shone through. Hamad Medjedovic excelled in the first set, overpowering Rublev to a 6-3 lead. His movement isn’t a strong point, but the 22-year-old is one of the deadliest power players in the hitting zone. As the second set began, Rublev was able to control the space better, getting the Serbian on the move. With Medjedovic tiring, he managed to win only 4 more games, and all of a sudden, Rublev was back in another final.
Outclassed On Final’s Day
Against Arthur Fils, he honestly didn’t play a poor match. He just came up against one of the top players in world tennis, someone who seems destined to reach the very top. Fils was slightly better than Rublev in every department and deserved every inch of his 6-2 7-6 win. Even in the few moments of jeopardy, he showed a knack for turning up the heat when necessary, winning seven straight tiebreak points from 2-0 down. It all but guarantees a seeded spot at this year’s Roland Garros, an incredibly exciting prospect for the home crowd.
From Rublev’s point of view, it was a stark reality check to end a positive week. With such a lack of variety in his game, it’s hard to see how he will compete with the up-and-coming stars of today. He has always been one step below the elite, but he risks being overtaken by the likes of Fils, Jakub Mensik, Learner Tien, and Joao Fonseca. So, it’s all about resetting expectations. After all, he has gained three places in the order of merit and bounced up to world No. 12.
As he travels to Madrid, he knows he will face either Vit Kopriva or Zhizhen Zhang, as he looks to rediscover some of the 2024 magic that brought him his second career Masters title.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
