Tennis

Andrey Rublev, the 26-year-old Russian tennis star, finds solace and tranquility in the serene ambiance of the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle, Germany. After the hustle and bustle of major cities like Madrid, Rome, and Paris, Rublev seeks refuge in the picturesque surroundings of Halle, where grazing cows and a majestic mountain backdrop replace the cacophony of urban life."It's a nice moment to rest mentally before I go to London," Rublev confides. "Here, it's a nice place to stay calm for a week, focus only on tennis, to recover. It's really quiet, really peaceful here."Beyond the tranquility, Halle offers another allure for Rublev: the sauna at his hotel.Rublev's journey in Halle began eight years ago when he was an 18-year-old aspiring player. Today, he is a 16-time ATP champion with two Masters 1000 titles and a consistent presence in the Top 10. Despite his accomplishments, Rublev remains grounded and finds it hard to believe how time has flown by."It doesn't feel like it at all. Looks like it's been just last year," he says. "But it's tough to realize that it's been eight years because in my head, eight years is a big number that means you have a lot of changes in life, or in general. For the moment, body wise, I feel like eight years ago."After a disappointing exit from the French Open, Rublev quickly shifted his focus to Halle. He took two days off before resuming intense training to prepare for the switch to grass."We start to practice full because we decided that it'll be the only short 10 days that we can work before it will be grass season," he explains. "Because on grass, I will not have much time to do good practices. These days I can really focus to build a little bit of game, so I was playing every day and then I came here."Rublev boasts a career 19-8 record on grass. On Tuesday, he will open his Halle campaign against Marcos Giron.

Russian sixth seed Andrey Rublev's French Open campaign came to an abrupt end in the third round on Friday, as he suffered a surprising 7-6 (8/6), 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Italian qualifier Matteo Arnaldi.Rublev, a 10-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist, was visibly frustrated throughout the match, repeatedly throwing his racquet to the ground and hitting himself in the knee with it in the third set."Completely disappointed with myself -- the way I behaved, the way I performed, and I don't remember behaving worse on a Slam ever," Rublev said. "I think it was first time I ever behaved that bad."The 26-year-old Russian had a set point in the opening tie-break but failed to convert it. He was broken in the first game of the second set but broke back immediately. However, Arnaldi's confidence grew as Rublev's frustration mounted."I was able to break back, and it looks like I started to have a bit more chances," Rublev added. "Then out of nowhere, again, I collapse with myself, I get emotional, I lost my serve, and then I lose it completely and basically I almost tank the second set, and then it was too late, because then he started to play unbelievable."Rublev never regained his composure, and Arnaldi closed out the match with a love service hold. It is the second straight year that Rublev has lost in the third round to an Italian on the same court, after blowing a two-set lead against Lorenzo Sonego 12 months ago."I was struggling, and then I had a really good result in Madrid," Rublev said. "Now I'm playing well again. I feel that I have a good game, I'm improving. The problem is the head, that today basically I kill myself, and that's it."Arnaldi, ranked 35th in the world, will face either former runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas or China's Zhang Zhizhen in the last 16."It's incredible, I think I played the best tennis in my life," said Arnaldi. "I wasn't even expecting it.""He (Rublev) didn't play his best tennis for sure, but I used my best tactics to put him under pressure."

Andrey Rublev, the sixth seed at Roland Garros 2024, faced an unexpected challenge in his first-round match against Taro Daniel. Despite cruising through the opening set in just 28 minutes, Rublev found himself trailing in the second set after Daniel took it in a tiebreaker. The Russian's frustration grew as Daniel broke serve to start the third set, but Rublev regrouped and won six of the last eight games to regain the lead.The conditions on Court Simonne-Mathieu were not ideal, with the sun and clouds alternating and some wind thrown in for good measure. Rublev admitted that it was "not easy to play in" and that it was "tough." However, he managed to keep his emotions in check and avoid the irritation that has sometimes plagued him in the past.Rublev's focus, firepower, and finesse were on display as he pressured Daniel throughout the beginning of the fourth set. However, Daniel refused to go away, holding serve and nerve to 5-5. Rublev double faulted at 15-all and couldn't handle a scorching service return, putting himself in danger of being forced into a fifth set.But Rublev showed his resilience, winning the next three points with an unreturned serve, a cross-court forehand winner, and a slice backhand that grazed the line. He broke Daniel's serve and then served out the match to secure a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5 victory."Of course, I feel a bit relieved that the match was over in four sets," Rublev said. "But still I had a feeling during the match that was giving me some confidence."Rublev's ability to end the match in four sets should inspire confidence in those who believe he can go deep in this year's Roland Garros. He admitted that he has sometimes struggled to focus on the task at hand, but he is determined to change that mindset."All the Slams, I've been thinking too much about upcoming matches, about draws, about who I have in my draws," Rublev said. "...I'm tired of it."Rublev's victory was a reminder that even the top players can face challenges in the early rounds of a Grand Slam. But it also showed that Rublev has the mental and physical toughness to overcome those challenges and make a deep run in the tournament.

Andrey Rublev's recent victory at the Madrid Open marked a significant turning point in his career, as he overcame a string of losses and physical ailments to claim his second ATP Masters 1000 title. However, the Russian star acknowledges that maintaining the mental composure necessary to consistently perform at his best remains a work in progress.In an interview on the Tennis Insider Club podcast, Rublev discussed the challenges of managing his emotions on the court. He explained that his aggressive playing style requires intense focus and energy, which can be difficult to sustain when he feels mentally drained."When I feel like today is not my day, then I'm getting too tight and I start to push the ball," Rublev said. "There is no middle. I start to play too passive sometimes without hitting at all."Rublev's struggles with emotional regulation have been evident in his recent performances. After his Madrid triumph, he lost four of his next five matches, including a disappointing first-round exit in Barcelona. However, he believes that his mental fortitude is not the primary obstacle to his success."I wouldn't say mental (is my biggest challenge) but to put emotions in the right way," Rublev explained. "Because the mental part? I would say I don't give up, I try to fight, it doesn't matter who I play."Rublev's determination was on full display in Madrid, where he battled through physical discomfort and illness to reach the final. He credits the support of the medical staff in Madrid for helping him overcome these challenges."I'm grateful to the doctors in Madrid," Rublev said. "They helped me a lot. I had a problem with my toe, and then I had a problem with my throat. They helped me to recover and to play."As Rublev prepares for the upcoming Internazionali BNL d'Italia, he remains focused on finding the right balance between his emotions and his performance. He believes that harnessing his emotions in a positive way will allow him to reach even greater heights in the sport."Those little moments when I was putting them in the right direction, it was amazing," Rublev said. "You feel like you're just playing amazing and everything is working."

Andrey Rublev's triumph at the Mutua Madrid Open was a testament to his resilience and determination. Despite battling illness and injury, the Russian emerged victorious, capturing his second ATP Masters 1000 title.Rublev's journey to the title was far from easy. He entered the tournament on a four-match losing streak and soon began experiencing symptoms of illness. A persistent throat infection left him struggling to swallow, forcing him to subsist on baby food. A headache, fever, and insomnia further compounded his misery.Adding to his physical ailments, Rublev's left toe became severely swollen, making it difficult to wear shoes. The pain was so intense that he required anesthesia to numb the area.Despite these setbacks, Rublev refused to give up. He fought through the discomfort and illness, determined to prove his worth. His unwavering spirit was evident in his performances on the court.In the final, Rublev faced a formidable opponent in Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian had been in impressive form, but Rublev's resilience and determination proved too much to overcome. After dropping the first set, Rublev rallied back to win the next two, securing the title with a 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory.Rublev's triumph was a testament to his mental and physical toughness. He overcame adversity and defied the odds to achieve a remarkable victory. His performance in Madrid was a reminder that even when faced with challenges, anything is possible with determination and perseverance.

Iga Swiatek's dominance on the WTA tour continues as she extends her lead at the top of the rankings after claiming the Mutua Madrid Open title. The Polish star has increased her advantage over Aryna Sabalenka to 3,412 points, her largest lead since March 2023.Swiatek's victory in Madrid marks her fourth WTA 1000 triumph this season, following her wins in Doha, Indian Wells, and Miami. She has now won 28 consecutive matches, the longest winning streak on the WTA tour since Serena Williams' 34-match run in 2013.The 21-year-old has an opportunity to further extend her lead in Rome, where she has only quarterfinal points to defend. Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, her closest challengers, can also make up ground as they both fell early in Madrid last year.Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime have made significant gains in the ATP rankings after their performances in Madrid. Rublev, a former world No. 5, has risen to No. 6 after winning his second Masters 1000 title, while Auger-Aliassime has surged from No. 35 to No. 20 after reaching his first Masters 1000 final.Marta Kostyuk has broken into the WTA Top 20 for the first time, while Mariano Navone continues his meteoric rise in the ATP rankings, moving up to No. 31 after winning the Challenger in Cagliari.In doubles, Spain's Marcel Granollers and Argentina's Horacio Zeballos have become the new co-No. 1s, replacing Australia's Matthew Ebden. The duo has won five Masters 1000 titles and reached three Grand Slam finals together.

Andrey Rublev's triumph in the Madrid Open final against Felix Auger-Aliassime was a testament to his resilience and newfound composure. Despite a frustrating start, Rublev displayed remarkable patience and determination to overcome the Canadian's powerful serve and secure his second Masters 1000 title.Rublev's frustration was evident early on as he fell behind 1-4. However, he remained focused and began to dominate the rallies, holding his serve with ease and returning Auger-Aliassime's shots with precision. Despite creating numerous break point opportunities, Rublev's inability to convert them left him feeling helpless.Auger-Aliassime, buoyed by his 14 aces, managed to hold on to his serve throughout the second and third sets. However, in the crucial moments, he faltered. In the second set, he made three unforced errors to hand Rublev the break. In the third set, with the title on the line, he double-faulted twice, including on match point.Rublev's victory was particularly significant given the challenges he had faced in recent weeks. He had been suffering from a mystery illness that left him physically drained and unable to eat or swallow. Despite the pain, he managed to play through the discomfort thanks to injections and painkillers.Mentally, Rublev had also been struggling after being defaulted for unsportsmanlike conduct in Dubai. However, he showed remarkable composure in Madrid, never losing his cool even when faced with adversity.Rublev's triumph is a testament to his growth as a player. He has learned to control his emotions and channel his frustration into positive energy. Whether it was overcoming Carlos Alcaraz, battling through illness, or facing down Auger-Aliassime's aces, Rublev remained calm and collected, proving that he is a force to be reckoned with when he keeps his head.

Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime Set for Thrilling Madrid Masters FinalDespite a tumultuous week in men's tennis, the Madrid Masters has produced an intriguing final between Andrey Rublev and Felix Auger-Aliassime.Rublev, ranked 8th in the world, has endured a recent slump, winning only one match in the past two months. However, he has rediscovered his form in Madrid, defeating Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz en route to the final.Auger-Aliassime, once ranked 6th, has also struggled with injuries and has fallen to 35th in the rankings. He has benefited from opponent withdrawals in Madrid, but he also recorded a notable victory over Casper Ruud.This will be a rare opportunity for both players to win a Masters 1000 title. Rublev has reached four previous finals at this level, winning one in Monte Carlo last year. Auger-Aliassime is playing in his first Masters 1000 final.Their head-to-head record stands at 4-1 in Rublev's favor, but four of those matches have gone to a third set. Their last encounter in Rotterdam earlier this year was a three-set thriller.Both players possess powerful forehands and two-handed backhands, relying on pace and placement rather than spin or variety. The rallies are expected to be long and fast-paced.Rublev appears to be in better form than Auger-Aliassime, having backed up his win over Alcaraz with a victory over Fritz. However, Auger-Aliassime has the potential to upset the odds, especially if he can capitalize on his strong serve.Regardless of the outcome, the Madrid Masters final promises to be a captivating battle between two talented and determined players.

Andrey Rublev's journey from a default and slump to a Masters finalist and major-title contender has been a remarkable turnaround. After a disappointing start to his match against Taylor Fritz in Madrid, Rublev's familiar death glare towards his coaching team threatened to escalate into a meltdown. However, he composed himself, broke back, and ultimately secured a 6-4, 6-3 victory.Rublev's ability to control his emotions has been a key factor in his recent success. After being defaulted from a semifinal in Dubai for allegedly cursing at an official, he appealed and was granted his ranking points and prize money. The incident seemed out of character for Rublev, who is known for his fiery but generally respectful demeanor.In the aftermath of the default, Rublev has focused on channeling his emotions positively. He has been able to stay composed throughout matches, even in the face of adversity. This newfound self-control has allowed him to play some of the best tennis of his career, culminating in a win over defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in Madrid.Rublev's resurgence has not only earned him a place in the Madrid final but has also boosted his chances of success at Roland Garros. His powerful baseline game and improved mental fortitude make him a formidable opponent on clay.Rublev's journey serves as a reminder that even in the face of setbacks, it is possible to turn things around quickly in tennis. By learning from his mistakes and controlling his emotions, he has emerged as a major contender for the biggest titles in the sport.