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.

Grass Court Season Heats Up with Wimbledon Tune-Up TournamentsAs the tennis world shifts from the clay of Roland Garros to the lush lawns of Wimbledon, the grass court season is reaching its peak with four key tournaments taking center stage.Halle and Queen's Club: Men's Contenders EmergeOn the men's side, the Terra Wortman Open in Halle and the Cinch Championships at Queen's Club are attracting top talent. Halle boasts a star-studded field led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who will face a tough opener against Tallon Griekspoor. Other contenders include Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Andrey Rublev.At Queen's Club, reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz is the top seed and will aim to repeat his 2022 triumph. He faces a potential challenge from Francisco Cerundolo, Jack Draper, and Tommy Paul. Alex de Minaur, Holger Rune, and Andy Murray are also in the draw.Berlin and Birmingham: Women's Stars ShineThe women's circuit features the Ecotrans Ladies Open in Berlin and the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham. Berlin boasts a strong lineup including Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and Naomi Osaka, who will face Zheng Qinwen in a rematch of their Rome encounter. Other contenders include Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Ons Jabeur.Birmingham, a WTA 250 event, features Jelena Ostapenko as the top seed. Barbora Krejcikova, Sorana Cirstea, and Katie Boulter are also in the draw. Former Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova will be looking to make a strong showing after reaching the final in Nottingham.Wimbledon Preparations IntensifyThese tournaments provide crucial preparation for Wimbledon, which begins on June 26th. Players will be fine-tuning their grass court skills and building momentum ahead of the prestigious Grand Slam. The results from Halle, Queen's Club, Berlin, and Birmingham will offer valuable insights into the form and potential contenders for Wimbledon glory.