Andrey Rublev
Andrey Rublev
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Andrey Andreyevich Rublev[a] (born 20 October 1997) is a Russian professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as world No. 5 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he first achieved in September 2021. Rublev has won 17 ATP Tour singles titles, including two Masters 1000 events at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters and the 2024 Madrid Open. He has reached the quarterfinals of all four majors. Rublev also has four ATP Tour-level doubles titles, including a Masters 1000 event at the 2023 Madrid Open partnering Karen Khachanov, and a gold medal in mixed doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics partnering Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Key Information

In his junior career, Rublev won the 2014 French Open singles. He won the bronze medal in singles and the silver in doubles at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing. Rublev broke into the top 10 in the ATP rankings in October 2020. He was part of the victorious Russian team at the 2020–21 Davis Cup. Rublev has a career-high doubles ranking of No. 44, achieved on 6 November 2023. He won his first doubles title at the 2015 Kremlin Cup with Dmitry Tursunov, and among his singles titles are home victories in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Early life

[edit]

Andrey Rublev was born in Moscow to Andrey Rublev Sr., a former professional boxer turned restaurant manager,[6][7] and Marina Marenko (née Tyurakova; Russian: Тюракова), a tennis coach at the Spartak Tennis Club.[8] His mother worked with tennis players such as Anna Kournikova and received the Medal of the Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" in 2009. She is also the mother of Anna Arina Marenko, Rublev's older half-sister and former professional tennis player.[9]

Rublev has Austrian ancestry on his paternal side, through his grandmother Larisa Genrikhovna Rubleva.[10] He often credits his paternal grandparents for raising him as a child for five days a week until he was 15.[11] Rublev denies the claims his mother used to be harsh towards him: "She was definitely not harsh. My parents always did everything for me. They love me very much".[12][13] His maternal grandfather, Andrey Fyodorovich Tyurakov was a pro-coach in Greco-Roman wrestling, an amateur tennis player and doubles partner of Boris Sobkin, a coach of professional tennis player Mikhail Youzhny and sparring partner of Grand Slam doubles champion Olga Morozova in her prime years.[14][15]

In 2013, Belarusian Sergey Tarasevich became his other coach. Then Tarasevich was replaced by Fernando Vicente from Spain.[16]

Junior career

[edit]
Rublev playing at the 2013 junior US Open

Rublev debuted in Luxembourg at age 13, getting his first win in his second competition in Phoenix.[17] In the following years, Rublev could climb the third rounds in singles, and in December 2012, he won one of the top junior competitions, the Orange Bowl.[17]

Next, in spring of 2013, Rublev achieved the NWU Pukke/RVTA Junior ITF 1 cup in Potchefstroom, South Africa. He successfully competed in following tournaments, especially on clay surface, including the Trofeo Bonfiglio in Milan, and became quarterfinalist at the 2014 Australian Open junior singles. At the doubles competition, he paired with German Alexander Zverev, reaching the quarterfinals. The first notable win was at the 2014 French Open junior singles, crushing Jaume Munar.[17] There he also reached the semifinals with partner Stefan Kozlov, before being knocked down by Frenchmen and future winners Benjamin Bonzi / Quentin Halys.[18] He became world No. 1 ITF Junior player on 9 June 2014, after winning the 2014 Junior French Open.[19]

Shortly before Wimbledon, Rublev captured the cup at the Nike Junior International in Roehampton, England. In the Wimbledon Championships, he reached the third round, before being beaten by 1842nd-ranked Dutch Tim van Rijthoven in three tight sets.[20] In doubles, Rublev and Kozlov lost to Brazilians Orlando Luz and Marcelo Zormann in three sets, attaining his first junior Grand Slam final in doubles.[21]

Rublev took a break before competing at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics, where he played in all three events as first-seeded. In singles, he lost to Kamil Majchrzak in three sets, but received a bronze medal for beating Jumpei Yamasaki. Partnering with fellow Karen Khachanov in doubles, Rublev reached the finals, where they again lost to Brazilians Luz and Zormann. He and his mixed partner Daria Kasatkina only reached the second round, where they were defeated by silver medalists Ye Qiuyu and Yamazaki.[citation needed]

In April 2015, Rublev finished his junior career by winning the inaugural ITF Junior Masters in Chengdu, China. In the final, the Russian beat Taylor Fritz in three sets.[22]

Professional career

[edit]

2013–2014: Early career and Davis Cup debut

[edit]
Rublev at the 2014 Kremlin Cup

Rublev debuted at the Bulgaria F6 Futures, reaching the quarterfinals. He continued his career in Bulgaria, where he again reached the quarterfinals, but became runner-up in doubles. The 15-year-old reached his first ITF Futures final in 2013 in Minsk, Belarus. After an unsuccessful fall, he recorded his first win at the F31 Futures in Bradenton, Florida.

In the 2014 Tour he started in Kazakhstan, reaching a semifinal and a final in the two Futures events in Aktobe, respectively. In the latter he beat Belarusian Yaraslav Shyla for his second win. Rublev reached the final of the Czech F1 Futures in doubles, partnering with Pole Andriej Kapaś, and continued his success in the Russian F3 Futures in Moscow, becoming champion in singles and runner-up in the doubles competition.[18]

2015: ATP debut, first doubles title

[edit]
Rublev at the 2015 Wimbledon qualifying round

In 2015, Rublev entered his first ATP tournament in Delray Beach, where he reached the second round losing to Steve Johnson in straight sets.[citation needed]

Rublev made his debut at the Davis Cup, where in the second round play-off of the Europe Zone Group I, in the third rubber, he partnered with Konstantin Kravchuk and won the match against the Portuguese team Gastão Elias / João Sousa in three sets.[23]

The Russian participated at his first Masters 1000 entry in Miami, where he defeated Pablo Carreño Busta, but lost to John Isner. He entered the clay season at the Barcelona Open, where as a qualifier he reached the second round after overcoming Fernando Verdasco.[citation needed]

With his win over Finn Jarkko Nieminen at Geneva Open, 17-year-old Rublev repeated Nadal's success in winning at least once on five ATP tournaments in one season as a teenager who is under 18 years old. (Nadal did that in 2004.)[24][25]

Rublev was called for the Davis Cup team in the 2015 Davis Cup Europea/Africa Zone Group I match against Spain, held in Vladivostok. After losing his first match against Tommy Robredo, Rublev won his second match against Pablo Andújar in the decisive fifth rubber to complete a 0–2 comeback for Russia against five-time champion Spain. This secured team Russia a place in the World Group play-offs. Russia played in the World Group play-offs last time in 2012, losing then to Brazil 0–5.[26]

He made his major debut at 2015 US Open as a qualifier. Rublev won his first ATP title at the 2015 Kremlin Cup in doubles, partnering with comeback Dmitry Tursunov.

2016: Challenger title

[edit]

Rublev started the 2016 year at the Chennai Open, losing to Stan Wawrinka in the second round. He reached only the first and second rounds of ATP 250 and Challenger tournaments. In March, this poor performance led to his decision to part ways with his coach Sergey Tarasevich. Immediately after that, on 6 March 2016 he made a turn by winning his first Challenger in singles, defeating Paul-Henri Mathieu in Quimper, France. As a result, Rublev jumped 47 positions from 208th to 161st ranking position, a new career-high.[27] In April, he joined 4Slam Academy in Barcelona, run by Galo Blanco.[28]

2017: First ATP title & major quarterfinal, top 50

[edit]
Rublev at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships

Rublev started well in the 2017 ATP World Tour, reaching the second round of the Australian Open after qualifying. On the way he beat 60th-ranked Lu Yen-hsun, but then lost to Andy Murray. Rublev was successful in some Challenger tournaments. He reached the 2017 Open de Rennes Challenger final, losing there to Belarusian Uladzimir Ignatik. Again in Quimper, France, Rublev reached the semifinals, losing to Peter Gojowczyk. Rublev also reached the semifinals in Irving, Texas.[citation needed]

The Russian had some success on grass-court tournaments. He got into the quarterfinals of the Halle Open, losing there to his compatriot Karen Khachanov in a tight match. In the next tournament, the Wimbledon Championships, Rublev could reach round two, losing there to Albert Ramos Viñolas. Despite losing in the qualification round, Rublev as lucky loser reached his first ATP singles final at the Umag Open, beating in the quarterfinals defending champion Fabio Fognini. In the final, he beat Paolo Lorenzi in straight sets to win his first ATP singles title. It was the seventh time that a lucky loser would win a tournament, the last tennis player doing so at that time was Rajeev Ram in 2009 Hall of Fame Tennis Championships.[29] He reached the top 50 at world No. 49, on 24 July 2017.[30]

Rublev went on to compete at the 2017 US Open as a direct entrant. He grabbed his first win against top-10 player, beating No. 9 Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets and made it through to the quarterfinals, beating David Goffin in the fourth round in straight sets. Rublev lost in straight sets to world No. 1 and eventual champion, Rafael Nadal, in the quarterfinals.[31]

He qualified for the Next Generation ATP Finals in Milan and made it into the finals, but lost to Chung Hyeon.[citation needed]

2018: First Masters doubles final

[edit]
Rublev at the 2018 US Open

Rublev commenced the 2018 season in Doha, where he went to the final, eventually losing in straight sets to Gaël Monfils. Next, he reached the round of 32 of the Australian Open, where he was seeded for the first time in a Grand Slam event at No. 30, but lost to third seed Grigor Dimitrov, in four sets.[32]

Rublev continued his run of good form by reaching back-to-back quarterfinals in Montepellier and Rotterdam, losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Grigor Dimitrov, respectively. The Russian then had a first-round exit in Acapulco, losing to David Ferrer. He did not compete at the 2018 French Open or 2018 Wimbledon due to a back injury he sustained at the Monte-Carlo Masters where he lost in the third round to Dominic Thiem after having had a match point.[33]

Later in the season after returning to active play he lost to Frenchman Jérémy Chardy in the first round of the US Open.[citation needed]

2019: Top 10 wins, second ATP title

[edit]
Rublev at the 2019 Paris Masters

Rublev opened 2019 by making the round of sixteen in Doha at a tournament in which he had been the runner-up in the previous year. This loss came at the hand of the fifth seeded Nikoloz Basilashvili who defeated Rublev in straight sets in only 61 minutes.[34] Next, in the 2019 Australian Open, Rublev lost in the first round in four sets to American Mackenzie McDonald.[citation needed]

In the Hamburg European Open, Rublev achieved his second win over a top 10 player by defeating the top seed and world No. 4, Dominic Thiem, in the quarterfinals. He lost to fourth seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in the final.[citation needed]

In August, Rublev had the biggest win of his career so far at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, where he defeated world No. 3, Roger Federer, in the third round in straight sets, handing Federer his fastest loss in some sixteen years.[35] Rublev then went onto to lose to the tournament's eventual winner Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.[36]

At the US Open, the unseeded Rublev defeated eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas in four sets in the first round. In the second round, Rublev won the first set against Gilles Simon, but Simon retired early in the second set, sending Rublev into the third round. There he defeated Australian Nick Kyrgios in straight sets, catapulting him to the round of 16 at a Grand Slam tournament for the second time.[37] There, he lost in straight sets to Matteo Berrettini.[38]

Later in the 2019 campaign, Rublev lost in the second round to Fabio Fognini, in straight sets, at the China Open in Beijing, after having beaten Grigor Dimitrov in the first round.[39]

On his 22nd birthday, Rublev won his second ATP title at the Kremlin Cup, defeating Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in straight sets in the final.[40]

2020: Five ATP titles, world No. 8

[edit]

Rublev entered the 2020 ATP season by winning back-to-back titles. Not allowed to compete in the newly established ATP Cup, as only a country's top two singles tennis players qualified, Rublev instead entered the Qatar Open, this time winning the trophy as he failed to do so two years ago. Next, Rublev took part in the maiden Adelaide International. Third-seeded, Rublev overcame Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime in a three-set marathon match in the semifinal, before reaching the final and soundly defeating qualifier Lloyd Harris. Together with his results at 2019 Davis Cup Finals, this was 12th consecutive win for Rublev. He became the first player to win two ATP tournaments in the first two weeks of the season since 2004, when Dominik Hrbatý won tournaments in Adelaide and Auckland.[41]

Next up for Rublev was the first of the year's four Grand Slam tournaments, the Australian Open where Rublev extended his early 2020 undefeated winning streak to 11 matches by coming from behind for a four-set third round victory over the 11th seed David Goffin of Belgium. His unbeaten 2020 run then ended the fourth round where he lost in straight sets to the seventh seed Alexander Zverev of Germany, who advanced to his first Australian Open quarterfinal.[42][43]

Next in the Rotterdam Open, the seventh-seeded Rublev advanced into the quarterfinals with a round of 16 victory over Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan. However, he then lost in straight sets to Filip Krajinović of Serbia who then advanced to the semifinals.[44] Then, in February at the Dubai Championships, Rublev made it to the quarterfinals where he lost in straight sets to the unseeded Dan Evans of Great Britain.[45]

After tournaments that should have started but were cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the late 2020 season saw a number of replacement exhibition tournaments. Rublev participated at the Adria Tour, taking place in the Balkans. The tournament was split into four groups of four players each. Rublev, playing in the Alexander Zverev group, in Zadar, Croatia, beat Marin Čilić, Danilo Petrović and Zverev to qualify into the final, where would have competed with Novak Djokovic. However, one of the participants, Grigor Dimitrov, was tested positive for the coronavirus, and so the final match was cancelled.[46]

Later in the season when competition resumed prior to the US Open, Rublev lost in three sets in a two out of three-set-match to British player Dan Evans in the opening round of the Western & Southern Open, which was played this year at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, home of the US Open, instead of Mason, Ohio, where it is traditionally being held.[47] Seeded 10th at the US Open, Rublev defeated Jérémy Chardy and Grégoire Barrère,[48] Salvatore Caruso,[49] all in straight sets. Rublev's round of 16 match pitted was a rematch against a player he lost to in the same round in 2019, the fifth seed Matteo Berrettini. This time, Rublev won in four sets and advanced to his second US Open quarterfinal.[50] He then lost in his quarterfinal match to Daniil Medvedev in straight sets with two tiebreakers.[51]

Next, Rublev achieved his third tour title of the year at the Hamburg European Open, where in the final he defeated second seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas in three sets.[52] However, Tsitsipas returned serve by defeating Rublev in straight sets in the quarterfinals of the French Open. However, this performance guaranteed him a place in the top ten of the ATP rankings on 12 October 2020.[53] Rublev then won his fourth title of the year at the St. Petersburg Open, defeating seventh seed Borna Ćorić, in straight sets.[54] He reached a career-high of World No. 8 on 19 October 2020.[30]

In late October, Rublev achieved his fifth title of 2020 by winning the Vienna Open as the fifth seed. He defeated qualifier Norbert Gombos in straight sets to win his first match of the tournament. Rublev would then beat Jannik Sinner in three sets with Sinner retiring after only three games due to injury. Rublev would then upset second seed and defending champion Dominic Thiem. Rublev would then eliminate Kevin Anderson, Anderson would retire in the second set due to injury. Rublev won his match with Anderson. Rublev would then defeat lucky loser Lorenzo Sonego to win the 2020 Vienna Open singles title.[55] With this win, Rublev qualified for the ATP Finals in London, which was his first ATP Finals appearance.[56]

In mid-November, at the ATP Finals, Rublev was placed in Group London 2020, where he would be eliminated in the round-robin phase. He started off his ATP-Finals debut with a match against Rafael Nadal – the second seed. Nadal beat Rublev. Two days after his loss, Rublev would face off against defending champion and sixth seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas. In his match, Rublev got match point on serve during the deciding set tiebreaker, but he double faulted, and lost the tiebreak and the match. Tsitsipas won, and Rublev was eliminated from the tournament.[57] Two days later, Rublev faced his final opponent: third seed Dominic Thiem whom Rublev defeated to conclude his ATP Final debut.[58]

2021: Mixed doubles Olympic gold, world No. 5

[edit]
Rublev at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships

Rublev started his 2021 season with a title at the ATP Cup, a country-based team event. Playing for Russia, in a team with Daniil Medvedev, Aslan Karatsev, and Evgeny Donskoy, Rublev bested Argentina's Guido Pella and Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka in the group stage to help his team advance into the semifinals. There he defeated Jan-Lennard Struff, coming back from a set down to win. In the final of the ATP Cup, Rublev beat Fabio Fognini in straight sets.[59]

Rublev advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open after defeating Yannick Hanfmann, Thiago Monteiro, Feliciano López, and Casper Ruud.

Rublev then won the Rotterdam Open, defeating Márton Fucsovics in the final. He also bested top-ten player Tsitsipas en route to the final. With this title, Rublev reached a twenty match winning streak at ATP Tour 500 tournaments, which is the third longest ATP 500 winning streak in tennis history.[60]

The next week, he went on to win doubles at the Qatar Open partnering Aslan Karatsev but lost his first singles match to Roberto Bautista Agut in the semifinal. Rublev's previous rounds were won by walkovers due to his opponents' injuries.[61] The week after at Dubai, he extended his winning streak to twenty one matches with his victory over Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round. With this 21st consecutive win at ATP 500 events, Rublev tied Andy Murray for the second-longest winning streak at the tournament level (since 2009) and also second overall, the only other player to own a longer run of ATP 500 victories being Roger Federer (28).[62] Rublev went on to reach the semifinals defeating Taylor Fritz and Márton Fucsovics in the quarterfinals (for the third time in 2021), losing to wildcard and eventual champion Aslan Karatsev in the semifinals.[63][64]

In April, seeded fourth, Rublev reached his first semifinal at a Masters 1000 level at the 2021 Miami Open[65][66] where he was defeated by the eventual champion Hubert Hurkacz.[67]

In Monte-Carlo, Rublev reached his first singles Masters 1000 final, defeating 11-time champion Rafael Nadal en route. Although he lost to Tsitsipas in the championship match, he reached a career-high of world No. 7 and overtook Roger Federer in the rankings for the first time in his career.[68][69]

At the French Open, Rublev was upset in the first round in five sets by Jan-Lennard Struff.[70][71]

At Wimbledon, Rublev reached the fourth round for the first time in his career defeating 26th seed Fabio Fognini.[72] This marked the first time three Russian players reached the fourth round at the All England Club since 2006, when Elena Dementieva, Anastasia Myskina and Maria Sharapova made their run.[73] He was finally defeated by Márton Fucsovics whom he beat in five consecutive meetings between the two since his win at the 2020 French Open including Fucsovics's withdrawal in Qatar.[74]

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he won the mixed doubles title with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeating compatriots Aslan Karatsev and Elena Vesnina in the final. Rublev was playing mixed doubles for the first time in his professional career and has no plans to continue until the next Olympics.[75][76]

At the Western & Southern Open, Rublev reached his second Masters 1000 final defeating Marin Čilić, Gaël Monfils, Benoît Paire in the quarterfinals[77] and compatriot and top seed Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal, his maiden win over the world No. 2 and the biggest win of his career.[78] In the final, he lost to Alexander Zverev in straight sets. The match, lasting just 59 minutes, was the shortest final contested in the history of the tournament.[79][80]

At the US Open, Rublev was seeded fifth in lieu of the absence of such players as Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem. He lost in the third round in five sets to Frances Tiafoe of the United States.[81] As a result of this run, he made his top 5 debut on 13 September 2021.[30]

At San Diego, he reached his eighth semifinal of the year defeating sixth seed Diego Schwartzman.[82]

At Indian Wells, he reached the final in doubles partnering Aslan Karatsev where they were defeated by John Peers/Filip Polášek duo. As a result, he reached a new career-high ranking in doubles of No. 59 on 18 October 2021.[30]

2022: Four titles, ATP Finals semifinalist

[edit]
Rublev at the 2022 Monte-Carlo Masters

Rublev reached the third round of the 2022 Australian Open where he was defeated by Marin Čilić.[83]

Rublev reached his first final of 2022 at the Open 13 in Marseille, defeating three French players en route Richard Gasquet, Lucas Pouille and ninth seed Benjamin Bonzi with all matches going to three sets.[84] He defeated world No. 9, Félix Auger-Aliassime, for his ninth singles title. At the same tournament he reached the quarterfinals with Ukrainian Denys Molchanov.[85] The duo won against the French pair of Bonzi/Albano Olivetti to reach the semifinals and Hugo Gaston/Holger Rune to reach also the final. He lifted the doubles trophy as well just hours after winning the singles to make it a Marseille double against South African Raven Klaasen and Japanese Ben McLachlan. With the victory, he became just the third player to sweep both the singles and doubles titles in the tournament's 30-year history.[86]

On 26 February, Rublev won the Dubai Championships defeating Czech player Jiří Veselý in straight sets to gain his tenth ATP singles title.[87] Rublev also made international news headlines when, after winning his semifinal match, he wrote "No war please" on a camera lens a few days into the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[88]

Next, Rublev defeated 33rd seed Grigor Dimitrov in the quarterfinals at the Indian Wells Open, before losing in straight sets to the 20th seed and eventual champion, Taylor Fritz.[89]

In April 2022, Rublev defeated in three sets world No. 1 ranked Novak Djokovic, in the final of Serbia Open.[90] At Roland Garros, Rublev reached the quarterfinals where he lost in a fifth set tiebreak to 20th seed Marin Čilić.

The All England Club announced a ban on all Russian and Belarusian players, including Rublev, from competing at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[91]

Seeded ninth at the US Open he reached the fourth round, defeating 19th seed Denis Shapovalov in a five set thriller with a fifth set super tiebreak lasting over four hours, for the fourth time at this major.[92] Next, he defeated seventh seed Cameron Norrie in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals, where he was subsequently defeated by Frances Tiafoe.[93]

Rublev won his fourth title of the year at the Gijón Open in Spain where he defeated Sebastian Korda in straight sets.[94]

Seeded sixth, the world No. 7 Rublev qualified for his third ATP Finals in a row and reached the semifinals for the first time defeating two former season finale champions world No. 5, Daniil Medvedev, and world No. 3, Stefanos Tsitsipas, to set up a meeting with world No. 4, Casper Ruud.[95][96] In the semifinal, he lost in straight sets to Ruud.[97]

2023: Monte-Carlo title, three major quarterfinals

[edit]
Rublev at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters

Rublev advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the second time, where he then lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic, winning just seven games.[98]

Rublev reached his first final of the year in Dubai as the defending champion defeating Filip Krajinović, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Botic van de Zandschulp & Alexander Zverev (for the first time) before losing to Daniil Medvedev.[99]

In Monte-Carlo he recorded his 250th career win by defeating Jaume Munar. Rublev became the 25th active men's player to record 250 career wins, the ninth man born in 1990 or later to achieve the feat, and just the fourth man born in 1995 or later to do it after Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.[100] Following wins over Karen Khachanov, Jan-Lennard Struff, Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune he lifted his first Masters 1000 trophy, the biggest of his career. In the final, Rublev defeated Rune in three sets, coming from 1–4 down in the third set to claim victory.[101]

At the Banja Luka Open, he reached his second consecutive clay-court final following wins over Juan Pablo Varillas, Damir Džumhur, and Alex Molčan, but lost to Dušan Lajović in the final in three sets. Next, at the Madrid Open, he reached the fourth round in singles but lost to compatriot Karen Khachanov. In doubles, the pair went on to win the title after defeating seventh seeds Matthew Ebden/Rohan Bopanna in the final.

He reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the first time in his career, defeating Max Purcell, Aslan Karatsev, David Goffin & Alexander Bublik, before losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets. Rublev won the Swedish Open, defeating Casper Ruud in the final.[102]

Seeded eight at the US Open, Rublev lost to Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals, becoming the first player to lose his first nine major quarterfinals.[103][104]

Seeded fifth at the China Open, he reached the second round defeating Cameron Norrie but lost to Ugo Humbert.[105] At the same tournament, in doubles he reached the semifinals with Karen Khachanov.[106] Also seeded fifth at the Shanghai Masters, he defeated this time 32nd seed Ugo Humbert and 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov to reach his second Masters final of the season.[107] He became the only player, male or female, to record 50 wins in each of the past three years.[108] He lost in the final to 16th seed Hubert Hurkacz.[109]

2024: Madrid Open title, 300th win

[edit]

As the top seed in Hong Kong, Rublev won his first title of the season, defeating Liam Broady, Arthur Fils, Shang Juncheng, and Emil Ruusuvuori.[110] At the Australian Open, Rublev reached the quarterfinals,[111] but lost to fourth seed and eventual champion Jannik Sinner. En route to the quarterfinal, Rublev recorded his 300th win, defeating tenth seed Alex de Minaur from 2–1 down and winning in five sets to reach his tenth major quarterfinal.[112] He became the eighth man born in 1990 or later to reach this milestone, and the fourth man born in 1995 or later to do so after Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas.[113]

Seeded second in Rotterdam, Rublev defeated Zizou Bergs and Félix Auger-Aliassime before losing to Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals.[114] As the top seed in Doha, Rublev received a bye into the second round and beat Richard Gasquet before being upset by world No. 116 Jakub Menšík in the quarterfinals.[115][116] Seeded second in Dubai, Rublev reached the semifinals after a defeat over Arthur Cazaux and an early retirement by Sebastian Korda. At 5–6 in the third set of the semifinals against Alexander Bublik, Rublev was defaulted for verbally abusing a line judge.[117] However, the ATP later restored Rublev's ranking points and prize money from the tournament.[118]

After his default in Dubai, Rublev struggled with form. Seeded fifth in Indian Wells, Rublev beat Andy Murray before losing to 32nd seed Jiří Lehečka.[119][120] In Miami, Rublev received a bye into the second round and was upset by world No. 60 Tomáš Macháč.[121] Defending his title in Monte-Carlo, he received a bye into the second round before losing to 46th ranked Alexei Popyrin in straight sets.[122] As the top seed in Barcelona after Carlos Alcaraz's withdrawal, Rublev fell to world No. 87 Brandon Nakashima.[123] However, Rublev returned to form in Madrid and won his second Masters 1000 title after defeating Facundo Bagnis, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Tallon Griekspoor, second seed Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Félix Auger-Aliassime in the final.[124][125] With this win, Rublev became the only man to win in both singles and doubles in Madrid.[126] At the French Open, Rublev defeated Taro Daniel and Pedro Martínez, but was upset by Matteo Arnaldi in the third round, marking his second consecutive third-round exit at the tournament.[127][128]

Rublev began his grass season seeded fourth in Halle, but was upset in the first round by Marcos Giron.[129] He was also defeated in the first round at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships by major debutant Francisco Comesaña.[130][131]

At the 2024 National Bank Open, he first reached the quarterfinals with wins over Tomas Martin Etcheverry and qualifier Brandon Nakashima and completed the career set of both Masters and Grand Slam quarterfinals becoming the first man born in 1997 or later to achieve the feat and the third man born in 1990 or later, after 1991-born Grigor Dimitrov and 1996-born Daniel Medvedev. He was also the seventh man after Dominic Thiem (1993), Stefanos Tsitsipas (1998), Alexander Zverev (1997), Grigor Dimitrov (1991), Daniil Medvedev (1996) and Hubert Hurkacz (1997), all born after 1990, to complete the nine Masters 1000 career set.[132] He subsequently reached the semifinals for the first time in Canada, having played two matches on the same day, with an upset over top seed and defending champion Jannik Sinner, recording his second win over a world No. 1.[133][134] He reached his sixth Masters 1000 final defeating Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets,[135][136] but was upset by Alexei Popyrin. At the end of the season, Rublev was ranked number 8 in the world.

2025: Doha title

[edit]

At the 2025 Australian Open Rublev lost in straight sets to 18-year-old Brazilian João Fonseca at his Grand Slam tournament debut.[137]

He won his first title of the season in Doha defeating Alexander Bublik, Nuno Borges, Alex de Minaur with which he earned his first top 10 win of the season, Felix Auger Aliassime & Jack Draper in the final. With his title win, he finally won a tournament twice after winning 16 different titles.

Ahead of the clay season, Marat Safin joined as the new head coach of Rublev's team.

At the 2025 French Open he lost in straight sets to the top seed, Jannik Sinner of Italy in the fourth round.[138]

Playing style

[edit]

Rublev is an offensive baseliner with a big forehand – his favorite shot, and has a dangerous and an inconsistent two-handed backhand. His running forehand is particularly lethal because of his consistency and comfort with the shot, making many passing shots with it. Despite his power, Rublev is often hyper-aggressive and can enter situations where he makes consecutive unforced errors, causing technical and mental difficulty to follow. However, he can also demonstrate periods when his forehand is elusive. He states that he does not prefer a particular tennis surface.[17]

Rublev has a powerful first serve that often reaches 200+ km/h (125+ mph). His second serve, however, is underwhelming because of his high number of double faults during matches, as well as being much slower than his first serve. In 2020, Yevgeny Kafelnikov said the following about Rublev's game: "I think his whole game, it just has some elements of playing junior tennis, hitting the ball harder and harder. If he improves in those two departments, his footwork and second serve, his whole game is going to change."[139]

Endorsements

[edit]

Rublev has been endorsed by Head for racquets,[140] Italian luxury brand Bulgari for watches[141] He used to be endorsed by Wilson for racquets and by Nike for apparel and shoes.[142] In 2023, Rublev launched his own clothing brand Rublo, that is "not about clothes". Rublo has been created to drive awareness around equality and kindness with the hope of making our world a better place, as he claims.[143] K-Swiss has been on the brand's list of collaborations since August 2024.[144] In July 2025, Ra Optics released their new frames, a limited-edition collaboration with Rublev.[145]

Personal life

[edit]

Outside tennis, Rublev practices boxing and basketball.[146] Rublev also creates his own electronic music like his idols – Martin Garrix and Alan Walker.[147] Rublev is nicknamed the "Rublo'", akin to the Russian word 'ruble'. He speaks Russian, English, and Spanish, and he is a longtime fan of the Golden State Warriors (NBA)[148] and a supporter of FC Barcelona.[149]

Rublev is an Orthodox Christian and can be regularly seen crossing himself after matches.[150][151] He is the godfather to Daniil Medvedev’s daughter, Alisa.[152]

Career statistics

[edit]

Grand Slam tournament performance timeline

[edit]
Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
To avoid confusion and double counting, these charts are updated at the conclusion of a tournament or when the player's participation has ended.

Current through the 2025 US Open.

Tournament 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 SR W–L Win %
Australian Open A A A 2R 3R 1R 4R QF 3R QF QF 1R 0 / 9 20–9 69%
French Open A A Q2 1R A A QF 1R QF 3R 3R 4R[b] 0 / 7 14–7 67%
Wimbledon A Q2 Q2 2R A 2R NH 4R A[c] QF 1R 4R 0 / 6 12–6 67%
US Open A 1R Q1 QF 1R 4R QF 3R QF QF 4R 4R 0 / 10 27–10 73%
Win–loss 0–0 0–1 0–0 6–4 2–2 4–3 11–3 9–4 10–3 14–4 9–4 8–4 0 / 32 73–32 70%

ATP 1000 tournaments

[edit]

Singles: 6 (2 titles, 4 runner-ups)

[edit]
Result Year Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 2021 Monte-Carlo Masters Clay Greece Stefanos Tsitsipas 3–6, 3–6
Loss 2021 Cincinnati Open Hard Germany Alexander Zverev 2–6, 3–6
Win 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters Clay Denmark Holger Rune 5–7, 6–2, 7–5
Loss 2023 Shanghai Masters Hard Poland Hubert Hurkacz 3–6, 6–3, 6–7(8–10)
Win 2024 Madrid Open Clay Canada Félix Auger-Aliassime 4–6, 7–5, 7–5
Loss 2024 Canadian Open Hard Australia Alexei Popyrin 2–6, 4–6

Doubles: 4 (1 title, 3 runner-ups)

[edit]
Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 2018 Miami Open Hard Russia Karen Khachanov United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
6–4, 6–7(5–7), [4–10]
Loss 2019 Paris Masters Hard Russia Karen Khachanov France Pierre-Hugues Herbert
France Nicolas Mahut
4–6, 1–6
Loss 2021 Indian Wells Open Hard Russia Aslan Karatsev Australia John Peers
Slovakia Filip Polášek
3–6, 6–7(5–7)
Win 2023 Madrid Open Clay Karen Khachanov India Rohan Bopanna
Australia Matthew Ebden
6–3, 3–6, [10–3]

Summer Olympics

[edit]

Mixed doubles: 1 (gold medal)

[edit]
Result Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Gold 2021 2020 Tokyo Olympics Hard Russia Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Russia Elena Vesnina
Russia Aslan Karatsev
6–3, 6–7(5–7), [13–11]

Records

[edit]
  • These records were attained in the Open Era of tennis.
Tournament Year Record accomplished Player tied
Croatia Open 2017 Winning an ATP tournament as lucky loser Heinz Günthardt
Bill Scanlon
Francisco Clavet
Christian Miniussi
Sergiy Stakhovsky
Rajeev Ram
Leonardo Mayer
Marco Cecchinato[154]
Kwon Soon-woo[155]
Australian Open / French Open / Wimbledon / US Open 2017–2024 Lost first ten Grand Slam quarterfinals[104] Stands alone

Awards and honours

[edit]
International
National

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Andrey Rublev (born 20 October 1997) is a Russian professional tennis player who turned pro in 2014 and competes on the ATP Tour.[1]
He has achieved a career-high singles ranking of world No. 5, reached on 13 September 2021, with a career win-loss record of 367-207 as of 2025.[1][2]
Rublev has secured 17 ATP singles titles, including two Masters 1000 victories at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters and the 2024 Madrid Open, along with the 2025 Qatar ExxonMobil Open.[3]
His powerful baseline game has propelled him to semifinals at the US Open in 2023 and quarterfinals at multiple other majors, though he has yet to claim a Grand Slam title.[4]
Named ATP Most Improved Player of the Year in 2020 after rising from No. 23 to No. 8 in the rankings that season, Rublev is recognized for his aggressive stroke production and on-court emotional intensity, which has occasionally led to disciplinary incidents such as a 2024 default in Dubai later overturned on appeal.[5][6]
Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, he has played in most ATP events and Grand Slams as a neutral athlete without national insignia, while being barred from events like the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.[7]

Early life and junior career

Early life

Andrey Rublev was born on October 20, 1997, in Moscow, Russia.[8] His father, Andrey Rublev Sr., is a former professional boxer who later worked as a restaurant manager, while his mother, Marina Marenko, is a tennis coach.[5] [9] Rublev also has a sister, Arina, who serves as a tennis coach.[5] He was raised by his paternal grandparents every weekday of his childhood until he was 15 years old.[10] Rublev's family background emphasized athletic pursuits, with his mother's profession providing direct access to tennis facilities and instruction from an early age. He began playing tennis at the age of three, initially treating the racket as a toy before formal training commenced under his mother's guidance at the Spartak Tennis Club in Moscow.[11] [9] This early immersion, shaped by his parents' sports-oriented influences, laid the foundation for his development in the sport.[12]

Junior career highlights

Rublev achieved the world No. 1 ITF junior ranking on June 9, 2014, following his Grand Slam success that year.[13] His most prominent junior title came at the 2014 French Open boys' singles, where he defeated Jaume Munar of Spain 6–2, 7–5 in the final to become the first Russian winner of the event.[14][15] This victory propelled him to the top of the junior rankings and marked his breakthrough on the international junior circuit.[16] Later in 2014, at the Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China, Rublev secured a bronze medal in boys' singles by defeating Alex Rybakov of the United States in the bronze-medal match.[17] In doubles, partnering with Karen Khachanov, he earned silver after losing the final to Brazil's Orlando Luz and Marcelo Zormann 7–5, 3–6, 10–3.[17][18] Rublev capped his junior career by winning the inaugural ITF Junior Masters in Chengdu, China, in late 2015, defeating top juniors in a round-robin format to claim the title as the year's leading performer.[19] He retired from junior tennis in April 2015, having amassed successes including multiple Tennis Europe Junior Tour titles across age categories and the No. 1 ranking in the 14-and-under division.[20]

Professional career

2013–2016: ATP debut and initial titles

Rublev entered the professional circuit in July 2013 with his debut on the ITF Futures tour, primarily competing in lower-tier events to gain experience while still focusing on juniors.[8] He officially turned professional in 2014, securing several Futures-level wins and beginning to contest ATP Challenger tournaments, though without claiming titles at that stage.[8] These early matches honed his competitive edge against older professionals, laying groundwork for higher-level transitions.[8] Rublev's ATP Tour main draw debut arrived in February 2015 at the Delray Beach Open, entering via wildcard; he upset Dudi Sela 6–4, 1–6, 6–3 in the first round before losing 3–6, 3–6 to Steve Johnson in the second.[21] He made his Davis Cup debut for Russia that year, contributing to national team efforts.[22] Later in October 2015, partnering Dmitry Tursunov, Rublev captured his first ATP Tour title in doubles at the Kremlin Cup, defeating the pair of treat Hüseynov and Radu Albot in the final.[3] Entering 2016, Rublev reached the second round at the Chennai Open as a qualifier, falling 3–6, 2–6 to top seed Stan Wawrinka after defeating Lu Yen-hsun in the opener.[23] In March, he broke through in singles by winning his maiden ATP Challenger title at the Quimper Challenger on indoor hard courts, rallying past Paul-Henri Mathieu 6–7(5), 6–4, 6–2 in the final after qualifying; this victory elevated his ranking above No. 170 for the first time.[24] These results signified his emerging consistency at ATP-level events and Challenger dominance, culminating initial professional titles amid steady ranking gains by late 2016.[25]

2017–2019: Breakthrough titles and top-50 entry

Rublev secured his maiden ATP Tour singles title at the 2017 Croatia Open in Umag, entering the main draw as a lucky loser after losing in qualifying and defeating top seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas en route to the final, where he beat Paolo Lorenzi 6–4, 6–2 on July 23.[26] This victory marked him as the seventh lucky loser in ATP history to claim a title.[26] Later that year, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open for his first major deep run, defeating 21st seed David Goffin in the fourth round before falling to Rafael Nadal 6–1, 6–2, 6–2 on September 6; at age 19, he became the youngest man to reach that stage since Andy Roddick in 2001.[27] These results propelled Rublev into the ATP top 50 for the first time, reaching a year-end ranking of No. 39.[25] In 2018, despite a 20–23 win-loss record and no titles, he showed promise by reaching the final in Doha, where he lost to Nikoloz Basilashvili in three sets, highlighting his potential on hard courts amid inconsistent form.[2] Rublev rebounded in 2019 with a 38–19 record, culminating in his second ATP singles title at the Kremlin Cup in Moscow on October 20—his 22nd birthday—defeating Adrian Mannarino 6–4, 6–0 in the final after saving match points in the semifinals against Stefanos Tsitsipas.[28] This home victory, combined with quarterfinal appearances at events like Monte Carlo and Hamburg, solidified his position in the top 50 and established him as an emerging baseline power player capable of competing against top seeds.[3]

2020–2021: Peak rankings and Olympic success

In 2020, Rublev secured five ATP singles titles, the most on tour that year, comprising the 250-level events in Doha and Adelaide followed by consecutive 500-level triumphs in Hamburg, St. Petersburg, and Vienna.[18][1] These victories, achieved amid the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, marked his emergence as a consistent challenger on hard courts, culminating in a year-end ranking of No. 8.[25] Rublev maintained momentum into 2021, advancing to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open before falling to Daniil Medvedev and capturing one additional ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open.[29][30] His sustained performance, including deep runs at Masters 1000 events, propelled him to a career-high singles ranking of No. 5 on September 13, 2021.[25] At the Tokyo Olympics in July–August 2021, competing under the Russian Olympic Committee banner due to international sanctions on Russia, Rublev partnered with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to claim the mixed doubles gold medal.[31] The pair defeated fellow ROC athletes Aslan Karatsev and Elena Vesnina in an all-ROC final, prevailing 6-3, 6-7(5), [13-11] in the match tiebreak after saving three championship points.[31] In singles, seeded fifth, Rublev suffered a first-round upset loss to Japan's Kei Nishikori, 3-6, 4-6, on the host's home courts.[32] This Olympic mixed doubles success represented Rublev's most prestigious achievement to date, highlighting his versatility in team formats despite singles inconsistencies.[33]

2022–2023: Consistent titles and major deep runs

Rublev secured four ATP singles titles in 2022, beginning with the Open 13 Provence in Marseille on February 20, where he defeated Félix Auger-Aliassime 7–6(4–7), 7–6(7–2) in the final.[34] He followed with victories at the Dubai Tennis Championships on March 6, the Serbia Open in Belgrade on April 24, and the Astoria Open Gijón on October 30, all contributing to his consistent performance across surfaces.[3] In Grand Slams that year, Rublev advanced to the French Open quarterfinals on June 1, losing to Marin Čilić 5–7, 6–3, 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–2) after a marathon five-set match marked by his sportsmanship in conceding a point due to a linesman's interference.[35] He replicated this depth at the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to Frances Tiafoe on September 6 in four sets.[36] At the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, Rublev qualified for the semifinals, defeating Andrey Medvedev and Taylor Fritz in group play before losing to Casper Ruud, underscoring his elite-level contention.[2] Transitioning to 2023, Rublev maintained title momentum with wins at the Båstad Open on clay in July and his breakthrough ATP Masters 1000 crown at the Monte-Carlo Masters on April 16, where he overcame Holger Rune 5–7, 6–2, 7–5 in the final after saving match points earlier in the tournament.[3] [37] Rublev achieved quarterfinal appearances in three majors in 2023: the Australian Open, falling to Novak Djokovic 6–1, 6–2, 6–4 on January 25; Wimbledon, where Djokovic again prevailed 4–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–3 on July 11 after Rublev's five-set comeback against Alexander Bublik in the fourth round; and the US Open, losing to Daniil Medvedev 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 on September 6 in humid conditions that tested endurance. [38] [39] These runs highlighted Rublev's sustained competitiveness against top opponents, though he converted zero of ten major quarterfinal opportunities into semifinals during this period.[40]

2024–2025: Masters titles amid form struggles

Rublev began the 2024 season with quarterfinal appearances at the Australian Open, where he lost to Jannik Sinner in five sets, and the Rotterdam Open.[41] He reached the semifinals in Dubai but was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct after allegedly verbally abusing an official during his match against Alexander Bublik on February 28. Despite this setback, Rublev rebounded on clay, advancing to the quarterfinals at the Monte Carlo Masters before falling to Casper Ruud.[41] His standout achievement came at the Madrid Open, where he claimed his second ATP Masters 1000 title on May 5, defeating top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the final 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 after earlier wins over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Arthur Fils, and Ruud in the semifinals. This victory marked Rublev's first title on clay at the Masters level and propelled him to a career-high No. 6 ranking.[1] However, form inconsistencies emerged afterward; he exited in the round of 16 at the Italian Open and suffered a first-round defeat to Jiri Lehecka at the French Open on May 27, ending his Roland Garros streak prematurely despite strong clay-court preparation.[41] On grass, Rublev reached the round of 16 at both Halle and Wimbledon, losing to Arthur Fils and Lorenzo Musetti, respectively.[41] Rublev secured his second title of the year at the Hong Kong Open, an ATP 500 event, on October 6, beating James Duckworth in straight sets in the final.[3] Yet, his hard-court swing post-Wimbledon showed volatility, with early exits at the US Open (third round to Arthur Rinderknech) and several Masters 1000 events like Cincinnati (second round).[41] Overall, Rublev compiled a 43-26 win-loss record in 2024, reflecting resilience amid lapses in converting high-seed expectations into consistent deep runs.[42] In 2025, Rublev started solidly by winning the Doha ATP 500 title in February, defeating Alex de Minaur in the final to notch his 17th career singles trophy.[3] He advanced to the semifinals at the Australian Open but lost to Novak Djokovic.[43] Despite this, persistent form issues surfaced, including second-round losses at Indian Wells and Miami Masters, and a quarterfinal exit at the French Open to Daniil Medvedev.[44] By October, Rublev's record stood at 32-23, with no additional Masters titles and a slide to No. 15 in the rankings, underscoring challenges in maintaining momentum against top competition amid a competitive field dominated by younger players like Sinner and Alcaraz.[42] His performances highlighted tactical adjustments under pressure but revealed vulnerabilities in serve consistency and error management during extended rallies.[45]

2026

Rublev began the 2026 season with a comeback win over Yibing Wu in the round of 16 at the Hong Kong Open, defeating him 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 after dropping the first set to secure his first victory of the year. He advanced to face Nuno Borges in the quarterfinals.[46] In February, Rublev reached his fifth semifinal at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on February 26, becoming the third player in the tournament's history to achieve five or more semifinals, joining Roger Federer (11) and Novak Djokovic (10).[47]

Playing style

Technical strengths and weaknesses

Rublev's forehand is his most formidable weapon, characterized by exceptional power generated through high racket head speed, a compact Eastern grip, and a pronounced shoulder turn that enables flat, penetrating shots with added topspin for control.[48] This stroke allows him to dictate rallies from the baseline aggressively, often overwhelming opponents with pace and depth on faster surfaces.[49] His double-handed backhand provides solid reliability and offensive potential, utilizing a combination of continental and Eastern grips to impart topspin and drive winners, particularly after technical refinements around 2023 that elevated the power position and racquet speed for improved shot quality.[48][50] These adjustments have transformed it from a defensive option into a more assertive tool capable of extracting errors from rivals under pressure.[51] The first serve operates as an effective weapon, leveraging a platform stance with strong coil and uncoil mechanics, alongside excellent shoulder flexibility and pronation to achieve consistent pace and placement, though velocities fall short of the tour's elite servers.[52][48] Rublev complements his baseline dominance with competent net play, transitioning effectively to volley when opportunities arise.[48] Technical shortcomings emerge prominently in the second serve, which suffers from diminished velocity—often dipping to the high 80s mph or below—and inadequate spin, resulting in frequent double faults and vulnerability to aggressive returns.[52] This issue is exacerbated by an extreme pinpoint stance that disrupts balance during toss and contact, amplifying frustration and point losses when the first serve falters.[52][53] Additionally, his predominantly flat-hitting baseline approach, while potent, yields higher unforced error rates on slower surfaces like clay, where the reduced margin for error exposes inconsistencies in depth control and variety.[54][55]

Evolution of game

Rublev began his professional career as an aggressive baseline player whose game centered on a potent forehand, characterized by an Eastern grip, compact takeback, and exceptional racket-head speed that enabled flat, penetrating shots to dictate rallies.[56][48] This stroke, often ranked among the tour's elite for its power and consistency, allowed him to overpower opponents but exposed vulnerabilities in shot variety and defensive capabilities early on.[57] A pivotal evolution occurred in his backhand, initially a one-handed slice or flat drive prone to errors under pressure, which he refined into a two-handed weapon capable of generating winners and redirecting pace. By 2023, adjustments including a higher power position and more bent arm—drawing comparisons to Carlos Alcaraz's technique—boosted racquet speed and shot quality, as demonstrated in his Monte Carlo Masters title run where backhand groundstrokes forced seven errors in a key set against Holger Rune.[50] These changes reduced predictability, enabling Rublev to attack from both wings and sustain longer rallies against top returners. His serve also progressed from a functional but inconsistent tool—particularly the second delivery, which yielded high break rates in 2018—to a more potent weapon with increased velocity and placement variety.[58] Recent enhancements in stance and toss allowed better court positioning post-serve, opening angles for his forehand and contributing to Masters-level success in 2023–2025 despite form fluctuations.[59] Overall, these technical refinements shifted Rublev from a forehand-reliant aggressor to a more balanced, versatile competitor, though his game retains a high-risk, power-oriented profile suited to fast surfaces.[48]

On-court behavior and mental health

Notable incidents and disqualifications

On March 1, 2024, during the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Rublev was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct in his match against Alexander Bublik. At 5-6 in the deciding set, following a disputed line call on Bublik's serve, Rublev approached the linesperson and yelled in Russian, which the official interpreted as including profane language equivalent to "f***ing moron."[60][61] Rublev denied using obscenities, insisting he only called the judge an "idiot" ("debile" in Russian) out of frustration without additional vulgarity, and argued the decision relied on the linesperson's subjective translation rather than video evidence.[62][63] The chair umpire defaulted him on the spot, awarding the match to Bublik by the score of 6–7(4), 7–6(5), 6–5; Rublev forfeited all tournament ranking points (up to 500) and prize money (approximately $214,000), dropping him from world No. 5 to No. 6.[64][65] Rublev immediately appealed the ruling to the ATP, which reviewed footage and witness statements but upheld the default on March 3, 2024, citing insufficient evidence to overturn the on-site judgment.[62] The incident drew comparisons to past high-profile defaults, such as those of Tim Henman (1995 Wimbledon) and Novak Djokovic (2020 US Open), though Rublev's case hinged on verbal abuse rather than physical contact.[66] He later described the event as a turning point, prompting mental health interventions that contributed to subsequent improvements, including a Masters 1000 title in Madrid later that year.[67] Prior to this, Rublev had no ATP-level disqualifications but accumulated fines for code violations, including verbal abuse and racket smashing. In October 2023, during a loss to Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Masters, he struck his knee six times with his racket in frustration, drawing blood and a warning but no further penalty.[68] Similar outbursts, such as 24 racket smashes in a single match during junior development or bench-kicking at the 2024 French Open, resulted in crowd boos and fines up to $42,500 for profanity at the 2025 US Open but avoided defaults.[69][70][71] These episodes highlight a pattern of emotional volatility under pressure, often self-directed or aimed at equipment rather than opponents or officials.

Struggles with anxiety and depression

Rublev has publicly discussed experiencing chronic depression for over five years, which he described as a persistent state that affected his daily life and performance on the tennis court.[72] In a January 2025 interview, he revealed reaching a personal "rock bottom" during the 2024 season, marked by intense emotional emptiness and self-harming tendencies during matches, such as smashing his racket or hitting himself.[73] He attributed these episodes to underlying anxiety and stress that built up without resolution, despite maintaining a top-10 ranking, noting that the pressure of professional tennis exacerbated but did not solely cause his condition.[74] To address his depression, Rublev took antidepressants for approximately one year starting around 2023, but discontinued them after finding they did not fully alleviate his symptoms.[72] He emphasized a preference for non-pharmacological approaches tailored to individual circumstances, expressing skepticism toward universal medication solutions while acknowledging their role for some.[73] Conversations with former world No. 1 Marat Safin proved pivotal, providing perspective on mental "resets" and helping Rublev reframe his struggles outside of tennis-specific triggers, leading to noticeable relief by early 2025.[75] By February 2025, Rublev reported significant improvement, stating he no longer experienced "crazy anxiety and stress" or depressive episodes, though he cautioned against labeling himself fully recovered.[74] His openness drew support from peers, including Paula Badosa, who commended his candor on anxiety and depression in a public message.[76] Rublev has since participated in mental health discussions, such as a July 2025 panel at the National Bank Open in Toronto alongside Casper Ruud, advocating for awareness without prescribing solutions.[77] These efforts reflect his view that mental health challenges in tennis stem from broader life factors, requiring personal introspection over external fixes.[78]

Political stances and external pressures

Opposition to Russian invasion of Ukraine

Following his semifinal win over Jiří Lehečka at the 2022 Dubai Tennis Championships on February 25, 2022—one day after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine—Rublev wrote "No war please" on a television camera lens, marking one of the earliest public anti-war statements by a prominent Russian athlete.[79][80] This gesture, captured during on-court celebrations, drew international attention amid widespread condemnation of the invasion and bans on Russian participation under national flags or anthems by the ATP, WTA, and International Tennis Federation.[81] Rublev reiterated his opposition in subsequent months, emphasizing the personal toll of the conflict. At the 2022 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on March 18, he stated that the war weighed heavily on his mind during matches and advocated for peace without directly criticizing Russian leadership.[82] In November 2022, after a match at the ATP Finals in Turin, he again inscribed an anti-war message on a camera, explaining it as an instinctive response to ongoing violence rather than a calculated political act.[83][84] The following year, Rublev continued voicing calls for an end to hostilities. After reaching the final of the 2023 Dubai Championships on March 3—echoing his 2022 title run there—he publicly urged peace, noting the impossibility of ignoring the "terrible situation" amid global sports restrictions on Russian athletes.[85][86] In July 2023, during Wimbledon, he expressed gratitude for the tournament's support while reiterating dismay over the invasion's persistence, which he had first protested by writing "No War Please" on camera.[87] These statements positioned Rublev as an outlier among Russian sports figures, many of whom remained silent due to domestic pressures, though he later reflected that family discussions, including with his mother, influenced his willingness to speak out despite risks.[88]

Impact on career and neutral status

Rublev's public opposition to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, beginning with his inscription of "No war please" on a camera lens during a February 25, 2022, match in Dubai, aligned with broader ATP, WTA, and ITF policies implemented shortly after the February 24 invasion, mandating that Russian and Belarusian players compete under neutral status without national flags, anthems, or official team affiliations.[89] This status, which Rublev has maintained through 2025, lists him in tournament draws simply as "Russia" or under the Russian Tennis Federation banner without symbolic representation, preserving eligibility for individual events while excluding participation in national team competitions like the Davis Cup.[90] The neutral designation imposed minimal direct disruption to Rublev's ATP Tour schedule, as the governing bodies permitted continued competition provided players condemned the war or distanced themselves from state support; Rublev's early and repeated anti-war statements, including reiterations in Dubai 2023, satisfied these conditions and avoided personal bans.[85] However, it amplified internal tensions within Russian tennis circles, exemplified by a reported 2022 confrontation with compatriot Karen Khachanov, who supported the invasion, highlighting divisions that strained Rublev's domestic standing without ATP repercussions.[91] Professionally, the policy's most tangible career impact was the All England Club's 2022 outright ban on all Russian and Belarusian entrants—unique among majors—which excluded Rublev from Wimbledon despite his top-10 ranking and prompted his criticism of it as "complete discrimination," coupled with an offer to donate any potential winnings to Ukraine aid efforts.[92] Wimbledon's reversal of the ban for 2023 onward, influenced by legal challenges and IOC guidelines, restored Rublev's access to all Grand Slams under neutral terms, enabling sustained high-level performance; he secured ATP Masters 1000 titles in Monte-Carlo (April 2023) and Madrid (May 2024) post-invasion, alongside consistent top-15 rankings through October 2025.[3][93] His outspokenness, while risking backlash in Russia—where he trains primarily abroad in Spain and Dubai—bolstered his international image without forfeiting sponsorships or earnings, as evidenced by ongoing top-tier participation and no reported sanctions from tour organizers.[88] This neutrality has thus far preserved rather than derailed his trajectory, though it underscores ongoing geopolitical constraints differentiating his status from pre-2022 norms.[94]

Personal life

Family background and relationships

Andrey Rublev was born on October 20, 1997, in Moscow, Russia, to Andrey Rublev Sr., a former professional boxer who later worked as a restaurant manager and businessman, and Marina Marenko, a tennis coach at the Spartak Tennis Club who served as his primary early trainer.[5][9][95] His mother's involvement in tennis directly influenced Rublev's introduction to the sport at age three, when she began coaching him alongside other children, fostering his initial skills through structured practice at Moscow facilities.[95][8] Rublev has an older half-sister, Anna Arina Viktorovna Marenko, from his mother's previous relationship; she is a former professional tennis player who competed on the WTA circuit before retiring and transitioning to coaching.[96] The siblings share a connection through tennis, though Rublev has expressed reluctance about her attending his professional matches, citing personal boundaries in his competitive focus.[96] In his personal relationships, Rublev has been in a long-term partnership with Anastasija Homutova, a Latvian model, former competitive tennis player, and part-time coach, with reports indicating they began dating around 2014 or 2016.[97][98][99] The couple maintains a low public profile, with Homutova occasionally sharing indirect hints on social media about their commitment, including suggestions of marriage in 2025 posts, though no official confirmation of wedlock has been announced.[100][101] Rublev has described his family and partner as key sources of emotional support amid his career demands.[102]

Religious beliefs and philanthropy

Rublev identifies as an Orthodox Christian and frequently makes the sign of the cross before and after matches, a practice consistent with Russian Orthodox traditions.[8][103] He has won ATP titles on Orthodox Easter Sunday in multiple years, including the 2024 Madrid Open on May 5, aligning with his faith's liturgical calendar.[103] In May 2024, following his Madrid victory, Rublev wrote "Samadhi now I'm free" on a courtside camera lens, referencing a concept from Hindu and Buddhist traditions denoting a state of meditative absorption or liberation; this prompted speculation about influences beyond his Orthodox background, though no explicit shift in beliefs has been confirmed.[104] In March 2024, Rublev established the Andrey Rublev Foundation, dedicated to providing resources for children worldwide facing critical medical conditions, with initial funding exceeding $150,000 from profits of his "Play for the Kids" clothing line launched in December 2023.[105][106] The foundation partnered with Rome's Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in June 2025 to support pediatric care.[107] It has collaborated with events like The Boodles Tennis in 2025 to raise additional funds for affected children.[108]

Equipment, endorsements, and finances

Sponsors and racket setup

Rublev signed a multi-year apparel and footwear endorsement deal with K-Swiss in August 2024, which includes collaborative collections such as the Rublo line blending his personal style with the brand's performance gear.[109][110] He also founded and promotes his own streetwear brand, Rublo, launched to reflect his values of hope and positivity, often wearing its clothing during off-court appearances and select matches.[111][112] For equipment, Rublev uses the Head Gravity Pro racket, customized to approximately 365 grams strung weight, with a 31 cm balance point and 341 swingweight.[113][114] He strings it with a full bed of Luxilon Adrenaline 1.30 mm polyester monofilament at around 26 kg (57 lbs) tension, providing spin and power suited to his baseline game, though he has experimented with alternatives like Head Lynx Tour in recent tournaments.[113][114][115]

Earnings and net worth

As of October 2025, Andrey Rublev's career prize money from ATP Tour singles and doubles events totals $30,495,653, ranking him among the top earners in professional tennis.[1] This figure encompasses winnings from 17 ATP titles, including five ATP 500 events and one Masters 1000 crown at the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters, where he earned €568,000 as champion.[1] In 2025 alone, Rublev has accumulated approximately $2.94 million in prize money through September, bolstered by consistent deep runs in high-stakes tournaments such as the US Open and ATP Masters 1000 events.[116] Beyond on-court earnings, Rublev generates additional income from endorsement contracts with brands including Head (rackets and apparel), Bulgari (luxury watches and jewelry), and Penhaligon's (fragrances).[117] These deals, typical for top-10 players, contribute undisclosed but substantial revenue, often estimated to supplement prize money by 20-50% annually for athletes of his profile, though exact terms remain private.[118] Net worth estimates for Rublev range from $5 million to $7 million as of 2025, primarily attributing value to accumulated prize money, sponsorships, and limited public investments, net of taxes, coaching fees, and travel expenses that can exceed 30% of gross earnings.[118][119][120] These figures, reported by sports outlets, appear conservative relative to his verified $30 million-plus in career earnings and do not account for potential assets like real estate or family trusts, as Rublev has not publicly disclosed comprehensive financial details.

Career statistics and records

Grand Slam and ATP Masters performance

Rublev has accumulated a 73–32 win–loss record in Grand Slam main draw matches across his career.[121] Despite achieving consistent results, including ten quarterfinal appearances, he has never reached a semifinal, recording a 0–10 mark in those encounters.[5][122] His earliest deep run occurred at the 2017 US Open, where, ranked No. 53, he upset No. 9 David Goffin and No. 7 Grigor Dimitrov en route to the quarterfinals before falling to Juan Martín del Potro.[2] Additional quarterfinals followed at the 2020 French Open (lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas), 2020 US Open (lost to Dominic Thiem), 2021 Australian Open (lost to Tsitsipas), 2022 US Open (lost to Pablo Carreño Busta), 2023 Wimbledon (lost to Novak Djokovic), 2023 US Open (lost to Djokovic), 2024 Australian Open (lost to Jannik Sinner), and 2024 French Open (lost to Carlos Alcaraz).[122] In 2025, Rublev exited early at the Australian Open in the third round to João Fonseca, the fourth round at Roland Garros to Sinner, and the fourth round at Wimbledon to Alcaraz.[123][124][125] In ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, Rublev maintains an 82–61 career record with two titles.[121] His first came at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters on clay, where he defeated Holger Rune 5–7, 6–2, 7–5 in the final after navigating a draw featuring victories over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Taylor Fritz.[3] He defended his Madrid Open title in 2024, beating Alexander Zverev 4–6, 7–5, 7–5 in the championship match following wins against Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul.[3] As the defending champion in Madrid the following year, Rublev suffered an upset third-round loss to Alexander Bublik.[126] These clay-court triumphs highlight his proficiency on the surface in high-stakes events, though he has yet to reach a Masters 1000 final on hard courts.[2]

Olympic achievements

Rublev won the gold medal in mixed doubles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (postponed to 2021), partnering with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova under the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) flag due to Russia's suspension for state-sponsored doping violations. On August 1, 2021, they defeated fellow ROC athletes Elena Vesnina and Aslan Karatsev in the final, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 10–5, securing Russia's third consecutive Olympic title in the event.[31] [33] In the men's singles draw at Tokyo, Rublev exited in the first round, losing to Japan's Kei Nishikori 3–6, 4–6 on July 25, 2021.[18] Rublev did not compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics, prioritizing recovery from recent health concerns—including struggles with form and injuries—and preparation for the North American hard-court swing, where he advanced to semifinals in Umag and quarterfinals in Washington prior to the event.[127] [128] As a junior, Rublev earned a bronze medal in boys' singles at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, defeating Japan's Jumpei Yamasaki 6–1, 6–3 in the bronze-medal match after a semifinal loss, and a silver medal in boys' doubles.[17][18]

Notable records and awards

Rublev has secured 17 ATP Tour singles titles as of October 2025, with notable victories including two ATP Masters 1000 events: the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters on clay, where he defeated Holger Rune 5–7, 6–2, 7–5 in the final, and the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open on clay, defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime 4–6, 7–5, 7–5.[18][3] His 2020 season marked a breakthrough, winning five titles—Adelaide International, ATP 500 events in Hamburg, St. Petersburg, and Vienna, plus the ATP 250 in Doha—making him the first player since 2002 to claim three ATP 500 titles in a single year.[129][130] He attained a career-high singles ranking of world No. 5 on September 13, 2021, after consistent performances including semifinals at the ATP Finals in 2020 and 2022.[1] Rublev's career win-loss record stands at 367–207 in singles main draw matches.[1] At the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Rublev reached his fifth semifinal in 2026, becoming the third player in the tournament's history to achieve five or more semifinals, joining Roger Federer (11) and Novak Djokovic (10).[131] In ATP awards, Rublev was named Most Improved Player of the Year in 2020 for his rapid ascent and title haul.[129] In 2023, he and doubles partner Karen Khachanov received the Fans' Favourite Doubles Team award for their bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and on-court camaraderie.[132]

References

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