Andrey Rublev’s Sunday semi-final against Matteo Arnaldi at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers has the semblance of being a full-circle moment.
It was at the French Open in May where Rublev suffered what could have been his lowest ebb of 2024, slamming his racket against his knee four times and kicking his chair during a straight sets loss to the Italian in the third round. Many would have found it hard to watch since Rublev — his own harshest critic — is mostly well liked by fans and peers alike due to his humour and gentleness off court.
“I can’t remember ever behaving worse in a Grand Slam tournament,” Rublev said at the time.
His internal battles have been an ever present and in recent times perhaps a function of being unable to make his Grand Slam breakthrough — he has lost all 10 of his quarter-finals at the Majors. A more peaceful Rublev is playing in Montréal, which is proving to be his best week since winning the Madrid Masters on clay in May while being sick. The world no. 8 had gone 7-7 entering Montréal since triumphing in the Spanish capital. Rublev’s peak came Saturday when he beat World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. It was the second match of the day for both players after Friday’s rain washout.
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The 26-year-old has spoken in the past about how tough losses have left him reeling, even using the word “depressed.” Further elaboration came Saturday night in his briefing with reporters. But for the time being, things are turning around.
“It start to explode more and more on the court because in life I was able to stay calm, but inside the court I was burning everything,” Rublev said. “In the end, yeah, I was struggling. Now last months I feel really good, and straight away tennis is better.”
Rublev picked up his second career win over a world No. 1, having previously beaten Novak Djokovic in the latter’s home patch of Belgrade in 2022.
The key moment of his Montreal quarter-final came at the start of the third set, when Rublev saved five break points to hold for 1-0 before breaking in the next game the first time he had the chance. When they faced off in the Australian Open quarter-finals in January, Rublev recalled the exact opposite happening.
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Sinner saved two break points at 1-2 in the first set, broke in the next game and the rest in Melbourne was largely history.
“Maybe (another) day will be completely opposite match because of this,” said Rublev. “At this level it's just a little, little one, two points decides everything.”
Sinner hunched over at times during the outing. He played his first tournament since Wimbledon, subsequently skipping the Olympics due to tonsilitis. He admitted the match fitness just wasn’t there yet.
“Yeah, let's hope to get back in shape. Obviously now making miracles in the next five days, it's not possible, but being ready for Cincinnati and 100 percent, I don't think is possible,” he said, referring to the Tour’s next stop. “But then for U.S. Open for sure I want to be back, which is also the main event for the U.S. swing, last Grand Slam of the year. So, I'm aiming for that.”
Rublev had never won a match in Montréal prior to this week and was 1-5 overall at the marquee event in Canada.
Now, he is two wins away from hoisting the trophy.
Featured photo by: Patrice Bériault
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