Andrey Rublev admitted that he started running after going down a break to Andrey Rublev and that led to a lot of mistakes and ultimately losing in straight sets. In the semifinal of the ATP Finals, Ruud beat Rublev 6-2 6-4.
Rublev routinely served his first two service games, but then dropped two straight game points in the fifth game as Ruud opened up a 3-2 lead. Rublev got so frustrated with himself after wasting game points and giving up a break.
Ruud made the most of Rublev’s loss of focus as Ruud won nine straight games to open up a 6-2, 4-0 lead. Rublev managed to win back a break and cut the deficit to 5-4 in the second set, but Ruud had no trouble serving for the match on his second attempt.
Andrey Rublev on what went wrong against Casper Ruud
«I think I started off pretty good, and then, I don’t know, Casper was too good. He played very well, very solid. When I lost my serve, I started to rush a little bit.»
I was trying to play aggressive, running. I start to miss it more and more,» Rublev said, according to Tennis Majors.
Andrey Rublev: «I think I started quite well, and then, I don’t know, Casper was too good. He played very well, very solid.
When I lost my serve, I start to rush a bit. She was trying to play aggressive, running. I start to miss it more and more.» #ATPFinals pic.twitter.com/Xf11xsRCcP — Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) November 19, 2022
Furthermore, Rublev acknowledged that Ruud serving extremely well didn’t help him either.
«It’s hard to do anything when you have, I don’t know, almost 80% of the first serve serving 215. It’s hard to do anything. Then when the match was almost over, when I managed to relax a little bit and still play aggressive, but it was too much afternoon.
It was too good,» Rublev added.
Rublev: «It’s hard to do anything when he has, I don’t know, almost 80% first serve serving 215. It’s hard to do anything. Then when the match was almost over, I managed to relax a bit and I was still playing aggressive, but It was already too late.
It was too good.» #ATPFinals — Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) November 19, 2022
Meanwhile, Rublev reached the semifinal of the ATP Finals for the first time in his career. In his previous two appearances at the season-ending tournament, Rublev failed to make it past the group stage. This time, Rublev was able to go one step further.
