Andrey Rublev says that being at your best is absolutely necessary if you want to have any chance against Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Rublev, who defeated Djokovic in last year’s Belgrade final, has one win and three losses against the Serb.
Against Nadal, Rublev has one win and two losses. “When you face players like Novak or Rafa, you have to have a perfect day. You have to put everything, everything fits, both mentally and physically. You must be fresh, your shots must be very clean and you must go out on the field. cut with a very clear idea in mind.
The service must be excellent, also the return. If all of that happens, you will have a good chance of fighting against these types of players. If there is something that does not make you feel good, such as serving, or you feel physically tired or mentally challenged, they take advantage of it instantly.
That is why they are much better than the rest,» explained Rublev, according to break point.
Rublev inspired by Djokovic
Earlier this year, Rublev suffered a straight-set loss to Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. At Melbourne Park, Rublev had hoped to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final or final, but Djokovic didn’t let that happen.
After beating Rublev, Djokovic won his 22nd Grand Slam title. Rublev, who is 25 and hopes to one day also be a Grand Slam champion and world number 1, believes that Djokovic is the best example that anything can be achieved with hard work and commitment.
“He shows that basically anything is possible, that at 35 he can still be the best player in the world and break all records. If you do the right thing, you can perform at the highest level, regardless of your age. This is what Novak represents to me.» Rublev said about Djokovic last week.
