In the rain-delayed National Bank Open, Andrey Rublev defeated top-seeded defending champion Jannik Sinner 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 on Saturday night to advance to the semifinals. Earlier in the day, Rublev had defeated Brandon Nakashima 6-2, 6-2, while Sinner was playing his second match of the day after defeating Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 6-3 in the afternoon.
Rubblev has won twice this year in Madrid and Hong Kong. The 26-year-old Russian will play Matteo Arnaldi in the semifinals. Sinner missed the Olympics due to tonsillitis following a Wimbledon quarterfinal loss.
Sinner seemed to be dealing with a right hip injury throughout the match, especially in the decisive set. This could be a reprise of a problem that has troubled him for the whole of the 2024 campaign.
The Italian player leaned over onto his racquet after multiple tough points, and he even massaged his hip area between changeovers without calling for the trainer. Coach Darren Cahill was heard on the microphones before the third set began, instructing Sinner to contact the trainer in case of emergency.
Rublev was quite happy after beating top-seed and said: “It was a really great match of mine. I was playing really well today. I’m happy I was able to win. I don’t know, not much to say. Because I still, for the moment, really don’t understand what’s happening. Jannik is an amazing player. He’s been playing unbelievable for the last 2 years.”
He added: “I was just hoping I’d be able to fight with him and to show great tennis. In the end, I think we had a lot of great rallies. A lot of long rallies. To be able to win this kind of match is always special. I needed this match. Especially after some bad moments this year. Of course, I’m happy.”
Andrey Rublev after beating Jannik Sinner in Montreal:
“It was a really great match of mine. I was playing really well today. I’m happy I was able to win. I don’t know, not much to say. Because I still, for the moment, really don’t understand what’s happening. Jannik is an… pic.twitter.com/NC0jQ8t0K2
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 11, 2024
Rublev in Montreal, ranking, and results in 2024
Currently ranked no.8, the Russian achieved an overall 31-15 record in 2024. Andrey is currently competing in Montreal where he ousted the world no.38 Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(3) 6-2, the world no.52 Brandon Nakashima 6-2 6-2 and the world no.1 Jannik Sinner 6-3 1-6 6-2.
Andrey Rublev will fight against the world no.27 Frances Tiafoe in the Round Robin. Their actual head to head record is 3-1 for Tiafoe.
The Russian conquered 2 titles in 2024 in Hong Kong and Madrid.
Rublev won 16 titles in his career: 4 on hard courts, 6 on clay courts and 6 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Rublev has scheduled to compete next in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open). He will start the tournament from the main draw that will commence on the 12th of August.
Sinner in Montreal, ranking, and results in 2024
LWWLWWWWWW Currently ranked no.1, the Italian owns a compiled 44-5 win-loss record in 2024. Sinner is competing in Montreal where he beat Unknown Player bye, the world no.94 Borna Coric 6-2 6-4 and the world no.21 Alejandro Tabilo 6-4 6-3.
Sinner has won 4 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami and Halle.
Sinner won 15 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Sinner is scheduled to play next in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 12th of August.
Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner played each other 8 times. Their head to head is 5-3 for Sinner. The last time they locked horns, Andrey Rublev won 6-3 1-6 6-2 in the quarter in Montreal (National Bank Open) on the 10th of August 2024.
In the following video you can watch the key moments of their match.
