“It’s not that enjoyable” – Rublev not fond of lightning-quick courts at Cincinnati Open
The Russian is enjoying a recent resurgence, reaching the final in Montreal last week, but he faces a daunting rematch against Jannik Sinner in the last eight in Cincinnati
Andrey Rublev, Cincinnati Open, 2024 © Zuma / Panoramic
In many ways, it has been a puzzling season for Andrey Rublev.
The Russian has endured some of the worst slumps in his career across the course of the year, with on-court acrimony remaining a persistent theme of his tennis – nowhere was this more evident than in his extraordinary outburst in Dubai, resulting in a default.
Yet, as we approach the final few months of the season, Rublev can already point to a second Masters 1000 title – only clinching his first in 2023 – as well as another run to a 1000-level final, having reached the showpiece match in Montreal just last week.
Each of Rublev’s Masters successes this year came on the back of relatively poor form for the world No 6. In Madrid, he arrested an alarming four-match losing streak with a highly unexpected title charge. While in Montreal, another four-match losing streak preceded an indifferent start to the North American hard-court swing, before his impressive run to the final in Canada.
En route to that final, Rublev’s greatest scalp was the world No 1 Jannik Sinner, whom he ousted in the quarter-finals.
Now, down in Cincinnati for the second instalment of the late-summer Masters tournaments, the Russian will once again have to get past the top-seeded Italian in the last eight if he is to reach his third 1000-level final of the season – a feat Rublev has yet to achieve in his career.
“It’s always super tough to play against him,” Rublev said of the match-up, speaking to Tennis Channel following his victory over Brandon Nakashima in the round of 16.
“I want to rest well today, to enjoy the day, and to enjoy the match tomorrow. I just want to try to compete like I did in Montreal and we’ll see what happens.”
quelling on-court demons key to rublev’s recent success
To Rublev’s great credit, his aforementioned on-court combustions – more often than not directed at himself rather anyone else – do appear to be under much greater control since another early exit at Wimbledon. He has spoken openly about his mental struggles, and is evidently doing good work behind the scenes to address these – both on and off the court.
This calmer demeanour was a hallmark of his success in Montreal, a run which Rublev himself admits took him by surprise.
“Overall, it was an amazing tournament for me. No one expected it, especially after so many months struggling, not feeling well, not playing well at all,” he explained.
“It was a huge present for me to reach the final, and here I am feeling great as well. I think that final helped me a lot to be more calm in the important moments and trust myself more.”
unique cincinnati court conditions proving a challenge for rublev
Heading into his second meeting with Sinner in as many weeks, Rublev will need to get to grips with the lightning-quick conditions of Cincinnati’s Centre Court.
Despite a faster surface usually complimenting the Russian’s high-octane, aggressive game style, the unusually high-bouncing courts are something that Rublev admits he is still grappling with.
“We are practising, working hard, preparing our bodies, doing different drills and exercises, and then when you go to play and there’re no rallies? Only one serve and one return? It’s like going to the casino. It’s just fifty-fifty, and it’s not that enjoyable,” was his candid summation.
“When you’re playing long rallies, you are thinking, you are defending, you are counter-attacking, those things make it more special and more fun to play.
“It has more meaning, because also you can see the things that you’re working on outside the court, and now we are here doing them (on the match court).”
After a somewhat tumultuous season during which the highs and lows appear to have largely cancelled each other out, Rublev has a golden opportunity to reaffirm the narrative of his mixed year as one that has ultimately been positive.
Should he defeat the world No 1, on Sinner’s favoured hard courts, for a second time in two weeks, then the complexion of the Russian’s whole campaign this season looks very different.
Aside from that, a second consecutive Masters 1000 semi-final is also a tantalising prospect to motivate Rublev to find his best tennis once again.
It is a tall order, yet one that is eminently achievable. But only if the powerful Russian can get to grips with the unique speed and bounce of these Cincinnati courts.
After all, “fifty-fifty” is nowhere near a sure enough bet against the leading men’s player of 2024.
