St Petersburg Open recap: Rublev on a roll; Querrey’s flight and what you might have missed
It was another eventful week on the ATP Tour as Andrey Rublev took his fourth title of 2020, becoming the second straight Russian winner of the tournament. Here’s what happened and what you might have missed.
Andrey Rublev St Petersburg
The victor: Andrey Rublev’s fourth title of 2020
Andrey Rublev‘s 7-6, 6-4 victory over Borna Coric not only gave him a sixth career title and second on home soil, but it also secured him a fourth ATP Tour title in 2020. When you think about the limited playing opportunities because of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, it’s a pretty amazing feat and the Russian is now in pole position to claim a spot in the season-ending ATP Tour Finals in London for the first time. Rublev began the year with wins in Doha and Adelaide and having picked up the title in Hamburg, he joins world No 1 Novak Djokovic as the only other man to win four events this year. He’ll enjoy a career-high ranking of No 8 on Monday and with a few more weeks to go, who’d bet against him adding to his tally before the year is out?
And spare a thought for Borna Coric. After another excellent week, the Croat lost in the final for the second year in a row but he’s now heading back towards the world’s top 20, a target he could achieve before the end of the year.
Make that 4️⃣ titles in 2020 for @AndreyRublev97! 🏆🏆🏆🏆
He delights the home crowd in 🇷🇺 by defeating Coric 7-6(5), 6-4.@Formula_TX | #spbopen pic.twitter.com/fBDNYxgQF9
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 18, 2020
Querrey’s flight
St Petersburg 2020 will be an event that Sam Querrey would rather forget. First, The American tested positive for Covid-19, which meant he was unable to play in the tournament. That would have been bad enough, especially considering he was travelling with his wife and eight-month old son. And so, with fears he could be made to stay in Russian custody, he and his family embarked on a journey that will surely one day be made into a film. It’s a flight that might well land him in trouble, too, and the details remain to be fully revealed.
Medevedev’s racquet smash
Daniil Medvedev’s title defence did not exactly go to plan, the Russian following his first-round exit at the French Open with a second-round defeat on home soil. And though he found time to congratulate Reilly Opelka after the American’s three-set victory in their second-round encounter, Medvedev then let his anger out on his racquet.
It was that kinda day in St Petersburg…
😳 #spbopen pic.twitter.com/GX7JeDDVHY
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 15, 2020
Countdown to London
With just three weeks of regular ATP Tour competition to go, the field for the Nitto ATP Tour Finals is gaining speed. Seven men have already qualified, but with Roger Federer out until 2021 as he recovers from knee surgery, six are assured of their spot. Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev have already qualified, and Rublev looks likely to grab the seventh of the eight spots. Diego Schwartzman is next in line, though Matteo Berrettini and perhaps Denis Shapovalov, a semi-finalist in St Petersburg this week, could yet make it if they have a big run.
Melzer heading for The O2
- Melzer heading for London
Jurgen Melzer’s stunning revival has continued apace in 2020. After three titles in 2019 and having quit singles at the end of 2018, Melzer and Eduoard Roger-Vasselin of France won their first title together with a 6-2, 7-6 win over Marcelo Demoliner and Matwe Middlekoop to take the crown in St Petersburg. Melzer, who was ranked as high as No 8 in singles and No 6 in doubles, and Roger-Vasselin could well now find themselves in the eight-pair field for the season-ending Nitto ATP Tour Finals, which is some effort.
