Andrey Rublev: Australian Open a matter of fitness?
Away from the big spotlight, a player is playing big. We're talking about Andrey Rublev , who hasn't lost a match in calendar year 2020 and could already claim his second title of the season in the night from Friday to Saturday.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 17, 2020, 09:09 pm
When Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov were struggling with Serbia to reach the final of the ATP Cup, very few in Russia thought of the country's number three: Andrey Rublev. At the same time, the 22-year-old had a sensational success run at the ATP 250 event in Doha and won his third career title without losing a set. Although he actually had every reason to be happy, Rublev did not spare criticism of the team event: “It is not easy with the ATP Cup. I think they have to change something because it's not fair. I would be number one in half of the countries, number two in almost all of them, but I am not allowed to play for these points because I am not among the top two in my country, ”Rublev regrets.
Instead of taking a break like many players from the ATP Cup before the first Grand Slam of the year, Rublev is also at the ATP event in Adelaide - and is well on the way to deciding for himself. After prevailing against Felix Auger-Aliassime, Lloyd Harris is now waiting in the final. Against number 91 in the world, Andrey Rublev is the crystal-clear favorite.
Rublev suddenly a favorite at the Australian Open?
Because of this victory run, Rublev should actually be given outsider chances at the Australian Open. The shape couldn't be better and Rublev also has what it takes to get far in a Grand Slam. But will the young Russian keep it up physically? With eight games in their legs, Rublev will travel to the Australian Open starting on Monday - and within just eleven days. The two days of regeneration before his first round match will bring little recovery.
In addition, he had to walk the full distance in the quarter and semi-finals in Adelaide, most recently stood against Auger-Aliassime for almost three hours. Andrey Rublev got a relatively good draw in the first two rounds with the Australian Christopher O´Connell and Yuichi Sugita from Japan, but David Goffin would probably already be waiting in round three. The Belgian presented himself in good shape at the ATP Cup and was even able to bring the world number one, Rafael Nadal, to his knees. The athletic Belgian is also known for enjoying long rallies. At the latest here, the Australian Open for Rublev could become a matter of fitness.
In an interview after his victory in Doha, the Russian stated that he was going into the first Grand Slam of the year with very little expectation: “I don't expect anything. I just want to go into the tournament and even if I lose in the first round, but I did my best, I'll be satisfied. ”Whether he thinks the same way he does in Adelaide and at the same time does not compete in this ATP 250 event a little regretted, one can only speculate about it. Optimal preparation for an exhausting Grand Slam in the heat of Australia looks different.