Rublev Opens With Burn, Depression

Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday August 11, 2024

2024 has been a tough season Andrei Rublev. To say the least.

Ever since the 26-year-old was suspended for a verbal attack on an official in the Dubai semi-final, the Russian has had a hard time consolidating his emotions on court.

He managed to win the Madrid title, but beyond that victory, he was still not himself. He lost in the third round at Roland-Garros, where the explosion during his loss to Matteo Arnaldi was a big story. At Wimbledon he advanced to World No.122 Francisco Comesana in the first round.

Last night’s win over World No.1 Jannik Sinner, Rublev hopes, marks the start of an upward trend, both in terms of results and emotionally.

“I was mentally out of shape. I don’t know how to say it,” said Rublev about his last few months on tour.

He continued to open up, revealing that his problems had returned in the past few years and that depression played a role.

“I think it was just a long time for everything, and I started to burn out because I was struggling for many years with depression, I had a lot of things outside the court,” he said. “I think this year is when I won’t be able to hold it anymore, it started to explode. It started to explode a lot in the court because in life I could control myself but inside the court I was burning everything.

Rublev, who faces Matteo Arnaldi in Sunday’s semifinals in Montreal, is one of those players who always walks a fine line between chaos and control. He seems to be fueled by his anger but he crossed the line so many times this year that it is clear that it has started to weigh on him.

He hopes that this summer will mark the opening of a new page in his career.

“In the end, yes, I was struggling,” he said. “Now in the last months I feel really good, and the tennis has improved immediately.”