Andrey Rublev, the Russian tennis star with 16 Tour-level titles to his name, recently opened up about the emotional and mental struggles he has faced on the court. After delivering an outstanding performance to defeat Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals of Montreal, Rublev reflected on the challenges that have plagued him for months, revealing the depth of his struggles with depression and the toll it took on his game.
Rublev, who has had a turbulent season, shared that he had been grappling with depression for several years. This season, in particular, had been especially difficult, as he found himself increasingly unable to control his emotions during matches. “I had to fight depression for several years. This season, I felt that I couldn’t control myself anymore and I started to explode,” Rublev admitted.
The emotional turmoil that Rublev experienced off the court began to manifest more frequently during matches. While he managed to maintain his composure in everyday life, the pressures of the game led to intense outbursts on the court. “It’s happened more and more on the court, because in life I manage to stay calm. On the other hand, when I was on the pitch, I burned everything, so in the end, you could say that I was suffering,” he added.
Despite these challenges, Rublev has recently noticed a positive shift in his mindset, which has translated into better performances on the court. “For a few months now, I’ve been feeling better, and all of a sudden I’ve noticed it, and I’m playing better tennis,” Rublev noted.
His victory over Sinner, who had only lost five matches this season, marked a significant moment for Rublev. The win helped him regain confidence and reminded him of his capability to achieve good results. This resurgence in form is crucial for Rublev as he prepares for the hard-court swing, including the upcoming US Open.
Rublev’s journey back to consistency began with his triumph at the Madrid Masters in May, where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz on his way to the title. However, earlier in the season, Rublev’s struggles were evident when he was disqualified in February against Alexander Bublik in Dubai for yelling at a line judge, an incident that triggered a poor run of form.
As Rublev heads into the US Open, he faces the challenge of breaking his Grand Slam quarter-final barrier, having fallen at this stage in all 10 of his previous attempts. To achieve success, Rublev will need to retain the newfound calm and serenity he has discovered in recent months, using it to fuel his quest for a breakthrough at the majors.
Andrey Rublev in 2024
Ranked world no.8, the Russian played his last match on the 11th of August when he overcame world no.46 Matteo Arnaldi 6-4 6-2 in the semifinal in Montreal (draw).
At the moment, during this season Rublev has achieved a 32-15 match record. Rublev conquered 2 titles in 2024 in Hong Kong and Madrid.
Andrey Rublev will face the world no.27 Frances Tiafoe in the Round Robin. Their actual head to head record is 3-1 for Tiafoe.
Andrey clinched 2 titles in 2024 in Hong Kong and Madrid.
The Russian won 17 titles in his career: 5 on hard courts, 6 on clay courts and 6 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Andrey Rublev |
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