2023-04-16 20:37:23
Finally ! At 25, and after two lost finals in the Masters 1000, Andrey Rublev definitely entered the big leagues this Sunday. By beating the young Holger Rune in three sets (5-7, 6-2, 7-5), he won his first title in this category located just below the Grand Slams, in Monte-Carlo.
After a first round dominated by the Dane, the Russian was able to take advantage of the irregularity of Holger Rune, author of 11 unforced errors in the second set.
A mental victory
In good or bad, Holger Rune did very little to let his opponent take control of the game. First by attacking on all the balls in the third set, and taking off (4-1), with an entry break. Then by chaining the faults, and letting the 6th in the world return to the meeting. Too nervous, the 19-year-old Dane then conceded his serve at 5-5 in this last set, and offered the more regular and mentally solid Andrey Rublev his first very big title.
After five ATP 500 titles, the Russian finally won a Masters 1000, having already failed in the finals in Monte-Carlo and Cincinnati in 2021. “I remember my first finals. I was not ready mentally. When I was behind, I told myself that I had no chance. But today I thought to myself: even if you lose, believe it until the end. In the third set, I was hoping for one last chance to come back. In the end, that’s what I managed to do. “, reacted the player of 25 years after his victory.
“Holger, I know it’s hard to lose in the final. But you are so young and you already have a Masters 1000! You could at least leave me one”, then laughed the Russian looking at his opponent of the day. Holger Rune, he won his first Masters 1000 last year, beating Novak Djokovic at Bercy.
#MonteCarlo #Rublev #overthrows #Rune #wins #Masters