ATP Masters Miami: Andrey Rublev is still waiting for a big hit: "Didn't know how to handle the pressure"
Andrey Rublev won the most titles on the ATP tour last year. For the Russian, however, it was not enough for the really big coup. Nothing changed at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Apr 04, 2021, 12:41 pm
It was a 23-win streak that Aslan Karatsev was slated to end on March 19 this year. It was the series of his compatriot Andrey Rublev, which had its origin at the ATP 500 event in Hamburg - and after four titles in this category should finally come to an end in Dubai. And it was a series that put the young Russian in the position of at least one of the favorites in almost every tournament.
This was also the case at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Miami, in which Rublev was number three on the seeding list. And the Russian, he underlined this role as a favorite: After clear victories against Cilic, Sandgren, Fucsovics and Korda, the 23-year-old was in the semifinals - and was suddenly considered the big favorite. Especially since Daniil Medvdedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas have already said goodbye to the tournament.
Rublev: "Couldn't handle the pressure so well"
The latter against a 24-year-old Poland named Hubert Hurkacz , with whom Rublev himself should now face in the semifinals. And with 3: 6 and 4: 6 should draw the short straw. "It is clear that today was not my day and Hurkacz played very well so he deserved the win. That's it, there is not much more to say. Now is the time to work hard again for the clay court tour to be ready, "said Rublev, visibly dejected after his surprising appearance.
For Rublev it was clear that the wait for the big hit outside of the ATP 500 category would continue, that the big title win would not happen in Miami either. A situation that is obviously putting the world number eight under pressure, as he explained: "I couldn't handle the pressure as well as on other days and he played a very good game. Still, I was close, but it wasn't enough. I didn't play as aggressively today as usual, he was a bit more defensive. But yeah, the key was that I didn't know how to deal with the pressure, the emotions. "
#VIDEO#
It wasn't so much about his opponent, but more about himself, as Rublev pointed out: "I couldn't handle the emotions, so the real reason was this. I wasn't on the pitch, I wasn't that aggressive, me I didn't land my forehand as often as I always do, nor did I put him under pressure, "emphasized the 23-year-old, who, after his first entry into the semifinals of an ATP Masters 1000 event, continues to win the title one has to wait.