In the heat of a thrilling match at the Rolex Paris Masters, Andrey Rublev found himself in a situation that nearly had tennis fans witnessing a rather unexpected turn of events. While it wasn’t a high-stakes, life-or-death scenario, it certainly provided a moment of humor and relief for all involved.
As the match against world number one Novak Djokovic intensified, a seemingly ordinary ball boy unintentionally became the center of attention. Just as Rublev swung his racket with gusto the ball boy darted across the court. In a comical twist of fate, the ball boy narrowly escaped a close encounter with the speeding tennis ball, thanks to quick reflexes and a well-timed duck.
The incident could have been a lighthearted disaster, potentially resulting in a default due to endangering the safety of the ball boy. However, in this case, Rublev managed to “stop in time,” preventing any mishap and adding an amusing anecdote to the match.
Si è fermato in tempo 😬 https://t.co/HcNwB84MHG pic.twitter.com/L41b8N4Obg
— Fla (@Fla_Sinn) November 3, 2023
While the competition on the court remained intense, this unexpected moment reminded everyone that in tennis, as in life, sometimes it’s the unscripted incidents that bring a smile to our faces and provide a memorable break from the tension. Andrey Rublev’s narrow escape from default turned out to be an amusing twist in an already gripping match.
Andrey Rublev in 2023
At the moment ranked no.5 (career-high), Andrey played his last match on the 4th of November when he was overcome by world no.1 Novak Djokovic 5-7 7-6(3) 7-5 in the semifinal in Paris (draw).
Currently, during this year the Russian has achieved an overall 56-23 win-loss record. The Russian clinched 2 titles in 2023 in Monte-Carlo and Bastad. Andrey reached the final in Dubai, Banja Luka, Halle and Shanghai.
